As she poured, she was startled when the Nickleback song blasted behind her, but even as she spilled the wine all over the counter, her face split into a happy smile. “Crap!”
Alex, the display announced the caller, and she smiled, happiness rushing through every cell in her body. “I am so screwed here,” she muttered as she picked up the phone and answered. “Hello?”
“I waited as long as I could stand. Are you done working?” Alex’s velvet voice ran over her like warm silk. A smile softened her face, memories of the night before warming her skin and throbbing through her body.
“Just finished.”
“What are you doing?”
“Well, I was just going to make some pasta.”
“Pasta sounds good. What kind?”
A wicked giggle burst from her lips. “Hot naked.”
“You’re shitting me, Angel,” he said in a deeper tone, chuckling. “You’re a naughty tease.”
“No, seriously,” she laughed softly, moving to get a rag to wipe up the spilled wine. “I’m making hot naked. It’s really yummy. And super easy.” She was smiling so hard her cheeks were starting to hurt.
A low laugh preceded his words. “Yes, I’m sure it is. I can make hot naked, too. But my version is hard.”
Fuck, he was sex personified, she thought with a grin. “You have no idea.”
He laughed again and her nipples actually hardened at the sound. “Oh, but I do. Those are my three favorite words.”
She frowned slightly and bit her lip. “Hot, naked, and yummy?”
“No, hot naked, Angel.”
“Want some?” she teased, knowing full well what she was implying. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement, so much pleasure in just talking to him, imagining what her words were doing to his body.
“Some hot naked Angel? You don’t have to ask me twice.”
She was giggling by now, so hard she almost snorted. “No, hot naked pasta. It’s only fresh garlic sautéed in butter, poured over angel hair with fresh Parmesan. If you want it a little more dressed, I can add parsley and chopped Roma tomatoes.”
Alex laughed with her. “No, babe, I want all naked, all the time.”
“Okay.”
His voice sobered and deepened slightly, his tone inquiring if this was an invitation. “Okay?”
The implications were clear. This was decision time. Should she give herself a chance? Should she give Alex a chance? “Yeah, okay.”
“Now?”
“Alex, just get your ass over here. But I warn you, I’m not fancy tonight, so don’t go getting all beautiful.” She looked down at her jean shorts and plain white T-shirt. Quite a change from how he’d seen her last.
“Should I bring anything? Dessert?” They both laughed softly together, so in sync; knowing exactly what the other was saying and the sexy game that they played so well.
“Nope. I got this.” She felt mischievous and delirious all at the same time. Knowing he’d be in front of her in a fraction of an hour excited her more than she wanted to admit.
“Yeah… you do. But we’ll negotiate the dessert later. But I warn you, I have one hell of a sweet tooth of late.”
8
Hot and Not So Naked
Excitement flowed through Alex as he waited outside Angel’s door. There was something between them that made it impossible to resist.
His heart pounded heavily in his ears as he pressed his hand to the cherry wood. The smooth, elegant surface gave no hint as to what lay behind it. So much like the woman who lived there. Angel held herself in such control—sophisticated and subdued—but underneath there was passion like Alex had never experienced. Her sharp wit and potty mouth were unexpected. He shook his head in amazement at the juxtaposition.
Stepping back slightly, his eyes widened in surprise as the door swung open. Gone was the polished business suit and elegant cocktail dress, replaced by tattered jean shorts and a non-descript T-shirt, similar to the first time he’d seen her. Her legs were long and golden, and Alex took in every inch as he worked his way up her body. Her chestnut tresses were piled atop her head in a messy knot, held in place with some sort of elastic band, and she had some rectangular metal glasses sitting on her pretty nose.
Angel leaned on the doorframe, her arms crossed and one foot crossed over the other. “Hmmph.” Her left eyebrow shot up above the charcoal-framed glasses. “Take a picture, it might last longer,” she scoffed with a teasing smirk. “I told you I was a mess.”
Alex himself was casually dressed in jeans and a black V-neck T-shirt, which lightly clung to his muscular torso. He was ripped, and all she could think about was how it felt to be in those strong arms. It created vivid recollections in her mind of how the muscle played beneath her fingers and how his breath came in uninhibited pants the night before. His jaw was dusted with just a smattering of stubble, and his hair was the same perfect disarray that she ached to thread her hands through.
He put a hand on his chest. “Um…” he began as her eyes raked him over in a similar fashion. Angel stepped aside and ushered him inside. He grinned and her heart did somersaults. “Take a picture, it might last longer,” he retorted.
She laughed softly as he moved past her. “Hey, what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.”
He turned to watch her close the door and bolt the lock; the gentle curves of her hips, the slimness of her back, and round fullness of her rear, getting his full attention.
“What?” he asked incredulously when their eyes met.
“Oh, nothing.” Angel shrugged slightly. “Just something my nana used to say when I was growing up. It means…”
“Yeah, I know what it means.” His green eyes burned, and her full lips lifted at the corners in the start of a smile. “That you give as good as you get. I like that a lot.”
Alex longed to grab her and press his mouth to hers but somehow managed to resist the urge. He needed her to trust him. It was the only way she’d open up and he wanted that for the first time in his life. He actually wanted to know her. The thought stunned him, and Alex tugged on the hair at his right temple in agitation.
Angel sauntered back into the kitchen, shooting a look over her shoulder indicating that he should follow. He did, but before she got far, he reached out and slid his hand down her arm until his fingers closed warmly around hers, pulling her gently back toward him. Her free hand came up to rest on the solid wall of his chest and she felt the heat of his skin radiating through the material of his shirt.
Angel tried to mask the shivers running through her; to hide the electricity she felt at his slightest touch. The firm muscles under her hands did little to calm her down. Angel’s mouth dropped open slightly as her lids became hooded and Alex couldn’t help but register the implications. Still holding her hand, he cupped her cheek with the other and brushed the pad of his thumb over the fine bones in her cheek and then gently across her full lower lip.
“I told myself I wouldn’t touch you tonight, but I can’t seem to help it,” Alex murmured softly, his forehead coming to rest gently against hers. Her breath rushed out and he sucked it into his lungs. He wanted every nuance of her, and the knowledge rushed over him in waves, but he held himself firmly in check. He was used to taking what he wanted, but this time, what he wanted was Angel to give.
Angel’s body pulsed and her breathing quickened. She longed to press into him; to feel his hardness against her soft curves and have his mouth and tongue inflicting the sweet torture she knew he was capable of.
“Mmmm…” Involuntarily, her face lifted, offering Alex access to her mouth but his hovered without making connection. Eyes closed, his breath was hot as she waited. “Maybe I want you to touch me,” she whispered against her will. “Just a little.”