Naked Games (Hard to Get 3)

Put like that, Dean knew the pair of meddlers were right. As Jonas had put it, he needed to get his head out of his ass. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on both their cheeks. “Thank you for being so nosy.”

Deanna beamed. “Anytime.”

After the performance, Gracie and Wade dropped Catherine off at her hotel. She’d had a great time, but she’d been so tired that she’d yawned, more than once. Gracie had noticed and asked her about it. Catherine had caved and told her sister about Dean showing up at her hotel, and about what happened afterward. She’d thought Gracie would be happy, but if anything she appeared more worried than ever. Catherine didn’t understand it.

She kicked off her black high heels and stripped out of her clothes, then slipped into an old nightshirt. She looked at her cell phone, wondering if Dean was still awake. She glanced at the clock by the bed—ten in the evening. He would probably need to be up early for work. She should let him sleep. She was exhausted anyway.

“I can make it through one night without hearing his voice,” she told herself.

Besides, she was about to fall over from lack of sleep, thanks to Dean and his insatiable appetite. Not that she was complaining, she thought with a grin. Catherine crossed the room and pulled back the covers. That was as far as she got before her cell started to buzz. She froze and stared at it, willing it to ring. Could it be? When the perky little tone sounded again, Catherine fairly leaped across the bed to grab it.

“Hello?”

“I was wondering when I was going to hear your pretty voice.”

Her heart did a few cartwheels when Dean’s deep baritone came over the line. “I just got back. I thought about calling, but I was afraid to wake you.”

“I’m a night owl. Call me anytime.”

Catherine liked the ‘anytime’ part. It made her think of their relationship as long term. “I’ll make a note of that.” She scooted backward on the mattress and got under the covers. Once she was comfortable she said, “I missed you tonight.” She thought of how that might sound to a man like Dean who seemed to covet his independence, and thought to add, “Not that it’s a big deal, considering it hasn’t been that long since we saw each other.”

“I missed you too.” He went quiet a moment, and Catherine was afraid the call had been dropped. “I have a surprise for you,” he said in a quieter voice.

Equal amounts of shock and excitement zipped through her. “You do?”

“Yep,” he said. “I hope you like it.”

Intrigued, Catherine asked, “What is it?”

She heard him chuckle, and the deep, sexy sound sent shivers up and down her spine. “It’s a surprise,” he replied. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

She scooted up higher on her pillow. “When will you show it to me?”

“Are you busy tomorrow night?”

“No. Yes. Well, sort of. I’m going over to Wade and Gracie’s tomorrow for lunch and to hang out, but my evening is free.”

“Good, I’ll show it to you then. Want to come over around seven? Or I could swing by and get you, if you want.”

Her heart began to beat faster at the thought of seeing Dean. “I’ll drive, but thanks.”

“Now that that’s settled, what are you doing right now?”

She picked at a stray thread on the blanket and said, “I’m in bed.”

“Mmm,” he murmured, “nice visual.”

All the blood in Catherine’s body seemed to rush south at Dean’s sensual tone. “What are you doing?” she asked, curious if he was in bed as well. An image of him naked and all sprawled out in his big bed sprang to mind. Yum.

“I’m on the couch,” he replied, kicking her visual to the curb. “I was waiting for you to call me, but the phone never rang.”

She winced, hating that he’d waited in vain. “I’m sorry. I was afraid to wake you.”

“Tell me what you’re wearing and maybe I’ll forgive you,” he said with a hint of mischief.

Catherine laughed. “A snowsuit and cowboy boots.”

His chuckle seemed to go straight to her pussy. “Very funny.” He paused a second before saying, “Maybe you need a spanking. What do you think?”