An almost foreign urge to tease him filled her body. “Oh, so if I hadn’t been on board, what would you have done?”
He traced the curve of her cheek. “Lots of touching.” He leaned down and nuzzled his whisker-covered cheek against hers. The stubble sent a little thrill through her body. She barely heard his whisper, “Not to mention using your fondness for my stubble to soften
you more.”
“What else?”
Moving his head until his eyes met hers again and his lips were less than an inch away, he answered, “Then I would kiss and tease you until you begged for more.”
Heat coursed through her body and Petra all but forgot about the pain in her leg. “I rather think I’ll be the one teasing you until you begged for more.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“I may end up limping for the rest of my life, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.” She grinned at the heat in his gaze. “And now I’ll have you thinking of what they may be until my leg is healed enough to use them.”
Will gently kissed her and murmured, “I have a few fantasies to share while we wait. If anything, you’ll be the impatient one.”
Petra laughed. “You’ve just issued a challenge, Will. Even in our former lives, that was dangerous. I’m out to win.”
“So am I.”
As they stared into one another’s gaze, Petra raised a hand and lightly caressed his jaw. “In all seriousness, I never thought I’d have this chance again with you, Will. Let’s promise right here and now to discuss anything that happens. I should’ve done so two years ago, but while I can’t turn back the clock, I can make a fresh start.”
“Not a fresh start, love. We’re just righting ourselves after a small bump in the road.”
Petra had no idea how she deserved the man above her. “I love you, William Evans.”
“Just as I love you, Petra, er, which last name are you using now?”
“Brandt.”
His eyes grew tender. “I love you, Petra Brandt.”
At Will using her full new name, Petra ran her hand into his hair. “Then kiss me, Will.”
Lowering his head, his lips moved slowly at first before Petra opened her mouth. With each stroke of his tongue, Will melted her heart a little more.
The man she had betrayed seemed to have forgiven and accepted her. Petra only hoped they had a future. Because with each claim on her mouth, Will was ruining her for all other men. Sexy and smart were a rare package, and this time, Petra was going to fight with everything she had to keep him.
Chapter Twelve
A week later, Will pushed Petra in a wheelchair down the hall to one of the small meeting rooms. As he tried to maneuver the bloody thing around the corner, Petra sighed and said, “You should’ve let me use the crutches.”
He grunted. “Not yet. Even the doctor suggested a few more days off your feet to give you the best chance at healing.” Will made the turn and headed toward the entry to the meeting room. “And the only reason I’m taking you to this blasted meeting is because Neena requested it.”
She clicked her tongue. “And because I wanted to go. Sometimes your protectiveness is endearing, but at other times, it annoys the hell out of me. Once I’m healed and out of this chair, I’m going to be a lot less complacent. I hope you’re ready.”
He lowered his voice for dramatic effect. “Oh, I’m more than ready, love. Taking care of you is nice, but I look forward to matching wits.”
Petra snorted and Will bit back a smile. Challenging each other had definitely become one of their favorite pastimes and he couldn’t wait to start fighting them out.
The door opened to reveal Millie Ward. Despite the bruise on her cheek, the woman was smiling. Petra was the first to ask, “What happened to you?”
Millie shrugged. “Sean Reilly was a little bit of a challenge.”
Will beat Petra to the punch. “You took care of him?”
Millie winked. “But of course. He may have been a challenge, but his cockiness was his downfall. Well, and his weakness for pretty women.” She motioned behind her. “But enough about that bastard. I brought you back a surprise.”