Pleased, they tucked into their food. The quiet between them was peaceful as they refueled and unwound.
“You brought the food, at least let me help you clean up.”
“Nu-uh.” He shook his head.
Sighing, she frowned. “Alaric.”
“Nope. I’m treating you tonight, sugar. Just let it happen.”
Pouting, she leaned back.
“It’s a shame you aren’t used to being spoiled. We’ll have to fix that.”
Gathering their garbage, he started up a small batch of dishwater. He didn’t have enough to fill a dishwasher, and he didn’t want her to have any work to do.
“You know there’s something sexy about a man wrist-deep in soapy water.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. He leaned back against her, soaking up her lavender scent before he continued with the dishes.
“I aim to please, sugar.” She rested her head against his back. Finishing, he placed the plates on the drying rack. “I think it’s the bubbles that do it for you,” he teased.
“I think you do it for me, hero.”
“Why don’t we explore that theory more closely, hmm?”
“What?” She released him, and he spun, pinning her against the sink. Plopping a pile of bubbles on her nose, he smiled as she giggled.
“I still can’t tell if it’s me or the bubbles.” He leaned in and captured her lips in a slow kiss, ignoring the tickling sensation as the bubbles popped on his skin. Her soft lips yielded, and he slipped his tongue inside, savoring the sweet flavor of the cannoli. Parting her legs, she cradled his body with her own. Her eyes darkened with desire. She nipped his bottom lip and tugged, pulling a moan from his throat. Cupping her face, he smeared the lingering bubbles across her cheek as he sucked on her tongue. She ground her hips against him, whimpering into his mouth.
Pulling back, he brushed her lips with his and hummed. “Still not sure.”
“Alaric. Don’t tease.” Her breathy response and the feel of her curves pressed against him made his pants uncomfortable.
“Tease? I’m simply conducting an experiment.” He nibbled his way down her neck.
“It’s you.” Her raspy tone made him twitch. She wiggled.
“You keep squirming, and I’m going to end up showing you more than the relaxing evening I had planned.”
Her lips curved up into a wicked smile. “I want you to show me, hero.”
“You sure about that?” He leaned back, studying her face. They’d gotten hot and heavy, but this would be a foray into new territory.
“So, sure.” She rocked with every word. Gripping her hips, he lifted her up onto the counter beside the sink and devoured her lips. He slipped his hands beneath her soft sleep shirt, and caressed the smooth, heated flesh beneath. Skimming around to her front, he teased the curve of her breast, learning the shape and weight with light touches.
“Alaric,” she wrapped her legs around him, “I need more.”
“Tell me what you want, sugar.”
She arched her back. “Touch me.”
Stroking her beaded nipples through her silken bra, he pinched the distended pebbles lightly and tugged.
“God, yes.” Her head fell back, and he watched the passion that painted her face.
Pushing her shirt up, he latched onto her right breast, massaging the other. Jerking, she clutched the back of his head as he took as much of her into her mouth as he could, suckling while he teased her opposite breast, rolling her swollen nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Heat seeped from her thin sleep shorts, nearly scorching him. He released her.
“No.”
“Shh.” Unbuckling her bra, he released the golden-brown mounds with dime-siz