“Deanna,” he called out.
She stopped her ascent and looked over her shoulder at him. Jonas closed the gap, then knelt down behind her and kissed the bruises forming on the soft skin of each cheek. One by one, he touched his lips to each mark he’d left on her perfect skin. “I should be tied up and beaten.”
“Jonas, maybe you weren’t paying attention just now, but I was the one going all cavewoman.” Deanna cupped his cheek, caressing his jaw. “I like the stubbles on you, by the way. You should let it grow out a little.”
He looked up at her from his position, her tender expression and sweet smile tugging at his heart. She was so delicate. From her big, caring heart to her soft, creamy skin. “I could do a little bit of a beard. For you.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Really?”
“Mmm, really.” As he stood back up and took her into his arms, cradling her against his chest, he said, “I’m sorry, kitten. I should have been easier with you.”
“Jonas, please don’t be sorry for needing me as much as I do you. I never want you to be anything other than what you are. You are a passionate lover, but you’re also an incredibly gentle man.”
“If that’s true, then why do you have marks on your ass?”
“Love marks,” she said softly, “and I sort of like seeing them there.”
“You like them, huh?”
“Mmm.”
Her whispered answer drifted over Jonas’s skin. To have his mark on her was a sign of possession in Jonas’s eyes. Knowing she liked it gave him a small measure of hope. He wanted her emotionally involved with him. With all his might, Jonas clung to the small kernel Deanna unwittingly offered. Damn, how he ached to hear Deanna say that she wanted him to make love to her, and not just sate her lust. If he had anything to say about it, she’d give him something before their weekend was over. Some sign that he meant more to her than merely a fun weekend.
As he took her up the stairs to the bathroom, he flicked on the light, then put her on her feet. He went about the task of getting the water in the tub the right temperature before he asked, “How about a bubble bath instead?”
She nodded and crossed her arms over her breasts. “I love bubble baths.”
He pointed to a shelf next to the mirror. “Hand me the bottle on the top shelf.”
She moved to grab it but had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the top. The move put her ass in direct line with his mouth. He grinned and leaned forward, then dropped a kiss directly above her ass cheeks. She yelped and swiveled around, nearly dropping the bottle on his head. He quickly grabbed it and cupped her hip to steady her. She batted his hand away, and Jonas had to turn around to hide
his grin. As he dumped a good portion of the creamy liquid into the warm water, he heard Deanna mumble something from behind. He turned his head and quirked a brow.
“I said, you’re entirely too fascinated with my butt.”
He shrugged, totally unrepentant. “It’s a very nice butt.”
“Just nice?”
He chuckled at her disgruntled tone. “It’s the best butt I’ve ever kissed.”
She stood straighter and shot her nose into the air. “That’s better.”
He gestured to the tub. “Your bath awaits, my lady.”
She smiled and got into the foamy water. Jonas waited for her to relax before stepping in behind her and sitting down. Pulling her against his chest, he ground out, “Ah, yeah, that’s good.”
“I agree one hundred percent.”
They sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the hot water and fragrant bubbles. It was Deanna who broke the silence. “Tell me about your parents.”
Jonas scowled. “Why?”
She tilted her head back to look him in the eye. “Because I want to know more about you.”
“There isn’t much to tell.” He stroked her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. “My mother gave birth to me and so they raised me. That’s about it.”
She slapped his thigh beneath the water. “That’s a fairly cold, short story, Jonas.”