Perhaps the dreams were saying that Justin’s attempts at wooing her made her feel attractive and powerful. Perhaps her rebuffing him made her feel in control and even sexy. That kind of made a sort of sense, Holly supposed.
It also made it so that she didn’t have to admit that she was subconsciously lusting after Justin Bricker.
Holly grimaced at that thought and knew it was true. She’d thought the man was attractive from the start, but ever since he’d kissed her . . . She let her breath out slowly. Yes, she was lusting after Justin Bricker like a bitch in heat. She wanted to experience more of his kisses and enjoy his caresses for real, see if they felt as good in reality as they had in her dreams.
“Which is just too darned bad,” she told her reflection grimly. “You are a married woman, and a -couple of hours of pleasure aren’t worth risking your marriage over. So get over it, concentrate on what you need to learn and get the heck out of here and home to your husband.”
Nodding in response to her own lecture, Holly did up the jeans she’d pulled on, then quickly tugged on a T--shirt over her bra and smoothed it into place. She hadn’t gone wild on the clothes shopping. Gia had said to buy as much as she wanted, but she’d restricted herself to two pairs of jeans, a -couple T--shirts, a pair of black dress pants, a pair of blue dress pants, and a -couple of blouses. Basically, she’d pretty much replaced the small wardrobe she’d owned prior to turning and becoming too small for her own clothes. It would do. Once she’d graduated and was working full--time, she could buy more clothes, but she didn’t want to have to explain to James how she had come by a sudden wealth of clothes now.
After running a brush through her hair, Holly left her room and headed downstairs. She made it all the way to the hallway outside the kitchen door before her courage failed her. Pausing there, she bit her lip and told herself not to be a ninny. Justin would not be able to tell, just by looking at her, that she’d been dreaming of doing the nasty with his naked self all night.
“Dear God,” she muttered under her breath and pushed the door open to enter the room. At first, she thought it was empty, but then a rattle drew her attention to the refrigerator. Justin was standing in the open door, surveying the contents. He glanced over now and smiled at her.
“Good morning.”
Holly felt a shiver run down her back at his husky tone. It was the same pitch his voice had dropped into last night when he’d growled, “Say my name.”
Giving her head a shake, she managed a smile and moved nervously to the table. “Good morning.”
Good Lord, she sounded like a Victorian chick with the vapors, Holly thought with disgust as she heard her weak voice. Really? That was the best she could do? She couldn’t—-
Her self--flagellation ended abruptly as Justin suddenly grabbed a can of whipped cream out of the refrigerator, tipped his head, aimed the spout into his mouth and shot some of the creamy foam onto his tongue just as she had done in her first dream last night. That had been just before he’d entered the room, and kissed her and then begun to—-
Holly cut that thought off quickly and forced her gaze away from him. “So, training,” she said in strained tones.
“Right.”
She braved a glance in his direction to see him returning the can to the refrigerator and felt herself relax a little. Good, the last thing she needed was to be thinking about what else he’d done with that whipped cream in her dreams . . . which she was doing now, she realized with dismay as her nipples began to tingle. She could vividly recall the feel of his tongue rasping across her nipples as he laved away every last drop of whipped cream and then—-
The refrigerator door slammed closed with a jingle of bottles and Holly jumped guiltily, then instinctively caught the bag of blood he tossed her.
Justin headed for the door to the garage, saying, “Actually, we’re going out today.”
“What?” Holly asked blankly. “Where?”
“To my parents’ place,” he responded, opening the door and then turning sideways for her to precede him out to the garage. “It’s Sunday. They’d never forgive me if I didn’t go see them while I’m in town.”
Holly remained by the table, biting her lip.
“Come on,” he insisted, waving toward the open door.
Holly shifted uncertainly and then said, “Maybe I should just stay here. Dante and Tomasso could teach me to . . . well . . . do whatever,” she finished lamely, and then rushed on, “And you can visit your parents in peace.”
“Nope.” He shook his head firmly. “Gia and the twins are just backup. Lucian made it plain that you are my responsibility. You’re with me. Besides,” he added with a smile. “I have a surprise for you.”
Holly grimaced and blew her breath out on a sigh. Another surprise. Great. Probably more fish, or flowers, or something to do with nature that she would absolutely hate. Jeez.