Her Big Neighbor

“Why?”

His smirk is playful. “I have enough confidence in my skills to hope that I could fuck you into being hungry.”

“I didn’t even think about the food. Did it get here? Is it just sitting outside?”

He shakes his head, slowly pulling away from me and grabbing a robe that he hands to me. It’s clearly his. Soft, dark, and way too big. “I bribed my assistant into picking it up for me. If he’s as good as he claims—and he is—he’ll have it all set up downstairs already and will be gone.”

My eyes go wide. “Oh my God, did your assistant just hear us having sex?”

Edward pulls on a pair of soft grey sweatpants and grins. “No, he’s classier than that. I didn’t tell him to, but I would bet good money that he had headphones in with music or something. He was so happy to hear that I actually had a date, he practically jumped at the chance to help. He’s been trying to set me up for a long time.”

“Sounds like a good assistant.” I don’t say out loud that I’m happy that his assistant is male. Normally I wouldn’t consider myself the jealous type, but Edward is beautiful and smart and young, and I’ve heard too many horror stories from my mother about the lawyers in her former office fucking their assistants.

Though I suppose it’s worth noting that with her extreme prejudice against men, some of those stories could be exaggerated. “What kind of food?”

“Italian.”

My stomach growls again. Italian honestly sounds amazing. Edward takes my hand, and just like he said, there’s practically an Italian feast set out in his dining room. “Oh my God.”

“He outdid himself,” Edward mutters. “I’ll have to do something nice for him.”

“Yes you will.”

I sit down and dig in. Not only is it Italian food, it’s good Italian food. I go straight for the chicken alfredo, and I love it. It’s delicious and creamy, and we’re both so busy eating that I don’t think we say a word. Got to love carb-loading after a bout of heavy sex.

By the time we’re finished, I’m stuffed with pasta and feeling more than a little sleepy. Edward’s offer to stay over is more and more appealing. “That was amazing. Your assistant deserves a raise.”

Edward chuckles. “Don’t worry, he makes a very generous salary.”

“Good.” Right now, something hits. This feels too good and too comfortable, and I’m selfish enough to keep it. “Edward?”

He smiles at me, waiting.

“Take me to bed.”

15

Edward

I’m constantly surprised by simple things. I never thought that I would be so excited by something as little as spending the night with Julia. But seeing her in my robe, and then seeing her shed the robe and climb naked into my bed, is a sight that I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing.

And Christ, her body. I’m addicted to it. Touching it. Making it mine. Tasting her. I like watching her blush when I tell her the things that I want to do to her. And I like watching as those things sink in and seeing her realize that she wants those things too. What I wouldn’t give to see that look on her face every day.

She glances over her shoulder at me as she climbs up onto the bed, and it’s a look that’s pure sex. I don’t waste any time stripping off my pants and joining her, this time pulling the sheets and blankets up over us. I pull her against me so that her back rests against my chest and my cock fits perfectly in the groove of her ass. It’s hard, because of course it is. I’m going to have to get used to it, because I don’t think there’s going to be a time when she doesn’t turn me on.

This position is also perfect if I decide I want to tease her clit. But after earlier, I think she might need a break, even if I’m tempted. She’s already drifting. “You’re so warm.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

She makes a little sound in the back of her throat. “It really is. I love being warm.”

“I’ll warm you up as long as you like.” She giggles, a sleep-drunk sound that is adorable. Slipping my arm around her waist, I pull her more firmly against my body. She doesn’t realize what I’m actually saying, and that’s okay. She doesn’t need to. But I do mean it. I’ll warm her up for as long as she likes. For the rest of her life, if she’ll let me. Because I’m completely gone on Julia Palmer.

She sighs. “Good night.”

I kiss the skin just below her ear, loving the way she stretches to give me even more access to her. “Good night.” I wait until she’s fully drifted off before I whisper the words against her skin. “I think I am in love with you.”