“What the hell?” Sara clapped a hand over her mouth. “She thought I wasn’t coming home.”
“Yeah, but I bet she’ll check on you later tonight. She’s a mama bear just like you. That way you won’t have to field early morning texts asking you where you are.”
“Sorta brilliant,” she conceded, futzing with the doll’s hair. “But what about you?”
“She doesn’t check on me. She expects me to be out cutting a path through town with my throbbing member.” When she laughed, he leaned forward, hooked his fingers in the vee of her blouse and half-tugged her across the bed. “I’ll lock the door and leave the music on. We’ll be safe.”
“Think I’m a sure thing, hmm?”
“You? Absolutely not.” He raised a brow at the jammies she held against her hip. “Do those have fuzzy sheep on them?”
“The pants do.” Her smirk absolutely shouldn’t have turned him on. “They’re comfy to sleep in.”
“Oh, I can do you one better. Prepare to meet the wrath of my strategically ripped sweat pants.”
She laughed again and he fell headfirst into a vat of lust. That it had a rickety trapdoor at the bottom that led straight to something much more dangerous made it even worse.
“I’m not scared of you, O’Halloran.”
“Since you’re not, bring your favorite toy with you.” He flicked his thumb over her chin and backed up. “I’ll bring mine.”
“You have a favorite toy?”
“Doesn’t everybody?” Leaving her to ponder that, he went to get the bathroom ready.
On his way down the hall, he heard another round of spirited moaning from downstairs. Jesus, he really needed to invest in a pair of earplugs. The things his innocent ears had been privy to.
And oh, the things they were about to be privy to again, way up close and personal.
In his bedroom he picked up his portable speakers to go with his iPhone, then grabbed a couple of stubby ca
ndles he kept on hand for when the power went out. They didn’t smell and were sort of misshapen, but he’d stick them on the back of the toilet and give the place some ambience.
A quick detour to the nightstand netted him exactly zippo condoms. Great. Maybe she’d think to bring some. Or maybe she’d make his life complete and let him experience heaven via the slide of her bare skin on his.
A guy could hope.
At the last second he remembered his toy comment. Grinning, he snatched his favorite and strode into the bathroom to set everything up. He grimaced and bypassed the “babymaking music” playlist on his iPhone, an unfortunate reminder of his ex-wife’s sucky sense of humor—and something he’d have to delete as soon as he figured out how—and zeroed in on something much more appropriate.
Namely the Beatles’ greatest hits, starting with “Ticket to Ride” on repeat.
He turned on the hot tub and dumped a bunch of bubble crap in it before turning on the jets. He’d just lit the candles and hit the lights when Sara appeared in the doorway, auspiciously clad in a towel. “Well, look at you,” he said, studying the play of candlelight over her long, sleek legs.
“I left my pajamas on the bed. And I locked the door. Then put a chair under the knob.” A small smile lifted her lips at his laughter. “I’m lying about the last part.”
“Whatever makes you feel more comfortable works for me.” He stepped closer and freed her hair from its pesky knot. “Though I insist on lack of clothes and loose hair. It’s a bathroom requirement.” He tugged on her towel and let it fall on the floor between them. “There. Much better.”
“It is.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her mouth to his pec. “So why are you still dressed?”
He released a dramatic sigh as he gestured toward the room. Bubbles bubbled, candles flickered, the Beatles jammed. “I’ve been slaving over this bathroom for hours and you don’t even say anything nice before you try to get me naked? I have feelings, you know.”
“You did a great job. Love the candles. Love the bubble bath.” She tugged on the button of his jeans and yanked down the zipper. “Mmm. Especially love that you’re commando.”
He swatted her bare ass. “We do aim to please. Now get in that tub and get nice and wet for me.”
She batted her lashes at him. “I’m already nice and wet for you.”
“Tease,” he growled.