“Yeah. It’s always easier to concentrate when I’m doodling and just let my mind relax.”
He lifted a torn piece of scratch paper. “This looks like my family crest, but...are those initials?”
Victoria nodded. “I intertwined our initials together. Silly, isn’t it?”
“Amazing how you’re so extremely talented and still hard on yourself.”
He took her hands in his and flashed a wicked smile. “Let’s get out of here. Go down to the beach or have a picnic. Want to go for a ride on my new bike?”
“Is that a double entendre?” she asked, smiling. “How about we take a ride on the bike to the beach for a picnic?”
“And you’ll lay off work the rest of the day?” he asked.
She watched him, those taut muscles beneath his shirt, the way the hat shielded those cobalt-colored eyes. As his best friend she hadn’t been able to deny him anything, so as his wife and lover she definitely couldn’t say no.
“Just today,” she promised. “I really do need to get this line started, and these designs are crap right now.”
Stefan pulled her up as he stood. “All the more reason you need a break. I know how you get when you’re frustrated. Nothing will make you happy until you take a breather, refocus and come back to it. Besides, you’re not sleeping well and I know it’s because of work.”
She jerked back. “How do you know I’m not sleeping well?”
“Because you normally snore like a train,” he laughed. “All you’ve been doing lately is tossing and turning.”
“I do not snore,” she told him with a tilt of her chin. “You’re lying.”
He hugged her closer and nuzzled her neck. “Maybe I’m not wearing you out enough before bed.”
The familiar masculine aroma that she always associated with him enveloped her. Amazing how their time apart didn’t hinder his knowledge of how she worked. They may not see each other in person as often as she would’ve liked, but he still knew every layer to her. Even more so now since they’d slept together.
“If you want to ride my bike, in any form of the term, let me offer myself to your services.”
Victoria laughed, smacking his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re willing to sacrifice yourself for my work.”
With a loud smack, he kissed her on the lips. “Anything for my new bride.”
“Let me change and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
His hand snaked up her shirt, his thumb skimming the edge of her lacy bra. “Do you need help changing?”
His touch affected her in ways she’d never known before, and she had to assume the chills and instant erotic pleasure that came from his fingertips stemmed from their playful, yet intense lovemaking.
“What I need is for you to get that picnic lunch prepared so we can go,” she told him, swatting his hand away and taking a step back.
He shoved his hands in his jean pockets and smiled... Oh, the things that smile did to her insides, touching places she had thought dead since her exploited and humiliating breakup months ago.
She had known Stefan would be there to help her through the tough time, she just never imagined it would be with their clothes off.
Every time she thought of how fast, how thrilling their new relationship was, nerves settled low in her belly. She was already getting too comfortable and she hadn’t even put a dent in this six-month period.
Even though he’d given her control in the end, she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d tire of her, physically, by then and if he’d be eager to get back to his old, playboy ways.
“I already had my chef prepare the food,” he told her. “How soon can you be ready?”
“I’m just going to throw on some jeans and a tank.”
Stefan rolled his eyes. “You are a fashion designer. You never ‘throw on’ anything. You’ll go to the closet and think about it, try something on, discard it and start over.”
Offended that he’d hit the nail on the head, she folded her arms over her chest. “For your information, I know exactly what I’m going to wear.”
He quirked a brow and tilted his head. “Really? Then I’ll just wait.”
In her mind she went through everything she’d brought from the States. She hadn’t had all of her things shipped since they were returning to L.A. after the two-week honeymoon period was over, so her options were limited.
“You’re just waiting to see me naked,” she joked, heading to her walk-in closet.