“I’m famished. I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks.”
He’d known she was hungry. Amanda didn’t function well on an empty stomach. “You didn’t eat on the plane.”
After entering the kitchen, she sat at the table and picked up a fork, then dug into the potato salad. “I was too worried.”
Leo took the seat across from her and dug into his own food. “And now?”
She swallowed, then picked up her glass of pop. “This might sound crazy, but I think this weekend is going to work.”
He waited for her to take several drinks before replying, “You doubted me?” He slapped his palm over his chest. “I’m crushed.”
She laughed and shook her head before turning her attention back to her plate. By the time she finished it off Leo had cleared his plate. He sat back in his chair, happy to watch her devour her meal one delicate nibble at
a time.
“This pie is heavenly,” she said, spooning up some of the cherry treat.
“It was tucked in the back on the bottom shelf. I could kiss your mom for thinking of it.” Leo rubbed his stomach and said, “Cherry is my favorite.”
Amanda peeked up at him, then winked. “I know, silly. I told her that on the phone.”
Leo sat up straighter. “So the pie was your idea?”
Dabbing at her lips, Amanda said, “Yep,” clearly pleased with herself.
Leo pushed the plates aside, then leaned across the small round table. “Then maybe I should kiss you instead.”
Amanda licked a stray crumb. Her brown gaze seemed glued to his mouth. “Maybe you should.”
Ah, Leo thought, the magic words. “Close your eyes for me, sweetheart.” When she obeyed without question, Leo’s cock saluted. He wanted to play. To drive her so wild she’d do everything he wished. Her lashes began to flutter open, but he touched each lid with a kiss, effectively keeping them closed. “No. I haven’t thanked you properly yet.”
She remained quiet, her eyes staying closed, thrilling the hell out of him by her gentle submission. Leo reached out and took the towel wrapped around her head and tugged. It loosened and fell to the floor freeing her long, golden blonde hair, still damp from the bath. He caressed the shiny wet strands, letting them filter through his fingers. “You have such beautiful hair, Amanda. So soft and baby fine.”
Leo trailed his hand down the length of it, then smoothed one finger over her neck. Her head fell to one side and she let out a breathless moan. When he touched the pulse beating wildly in her throat it seemed to quicken right under his fingertip. He leaned in closer, as close as the table would allow, then inhaled her feminine fragrance. “You always smell like cinnamon rolls.” He inhaled, then adjusted his assessment. “No, that’s not it. It’s the icing on the cinnamon rolls. Tasty. Makes me want to lick you from head to toe.”
“Leo, please,” she begged, leaning toward him, as if as turned on as he.
“I’ve been thinking of this, sweetheart. Every second since that kiss in your backroom. Kissing these pretty lips and hoping it won’t stop there.”
Amanda’s mouth fell open. As if to protest? He wasn’t going to wait to find out. Covering her mouth with his own, Leo tasted the sweetness of the cherry pie, and if he wasn’t mistaken, hot womanly arousal. He kept it quick, a gentle touch of lips and tongue. Damn, he really didn’t want it to be quick, but there were things that needed to be settled before they moved further. If they moved further.
“Do you know what I want, Amanda? Can you guess?”
Her eyes slowly opened, and she bit her lip. The heat of her espresso colored gaze tore a path straight to his groin. “What do you want, Leo?”
The huskiness of her voice nearly did him in. Hell yeah, she was most assuredly aroused. But was she ready for more than a few tame kisses in the kitchen? “You’re sure you want to know?”
She bobbed her head and reached a hand across the table, covering his fist with her palm. “Please, tell me.”
Opening his hand, Leo entwined their fingers. The act seemed as natural as breathing. “I want you lying under me in that king-sized bed, baby. Naked,” he answered. Amanda’s fingers tightened. It urged him on. “Your soft, curvy body pressed against mine while I sink my cock deep. I’ll be slow and easy, sweetheart. I promise. All I can think about is watching you come all around me. I want to touch you. Suck you. Fuck you.”
“God, Leo.”
She started to release him, but he held firm. “Do I stop?” He badly wanted to continue. “Tell me. Whatever you ask, it’s yours, Amanda. I won’t push. Not unless it’s what you want.”
“It’s shocking to hear the words coming from you of all people. But I’m not going to sit here and pretend I don’t like them all the same. Everything you said, it’s what I’ve been imagining too.”
He shook his head and murmured, “Christ, baby, you can’t know what’s been going through my head. I have a hell of a dirty mind, sweets. And I’ve had my fair share of hot, sweaty dreams of you these last few nights.” His voice grew raspier with the fever that ran through his veins. “There’s nothing I want more than to drag you off to the bedroom and make love to you until dawn. But you have to know I’m feeling pretty damn intense about you lately. I don’t want a fling here. This isn’t a what happens in Lake Tahoe stays in Lake Tahoe sort of thing. Not for me.” He bent his lips to her pulse and licked the length of the vein pounding beneath her satiny skin.