“Since they’d have to hear it from you, I’d know who it was that really needed the spanking.”
He turned his head to resume watching the movie, as if he hadn’t just knocked the wind out of me. Gideon was a man who’d lived an entirely solitary life, and yet he’d accepted me into it so completely that he could envision a future I was afraid to imagine. I was so scared I’d only be setting myself up for a heartbreak I couldn’t survive.
Noting my silence, he set his hand on my bare knee and glanced at me again. “Still hungry?”
My gaze remained trained on the open Chinese take-out boxes on the coffee table in front of us, and the black magic roses, which Gideon had brought home from work so we could enjoy them over the weekend.
Not wanting to make more of his statement than he’d intended, I said, “Only for you.”
I put my hand in his lap, feeling the soft heft of his cock within the black boxer briefs I’d allowed him to wear for dinner.
“You are a dangerous woman,” he murmured, leaning closer.
Moving quickly, I caught his mouth with my own, sucking on his lower lip. “Have to be,” I murmured, “to keep up with you, Dark and Dangerous.”
He smiled.
“I need to check in with Cary again,” I said with a sigh. “See if Mom’s left yet.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” I leaned my head on his shoulder. “There’s nothing like a little Gideon therapy to make things look up.”
“Did I mention I make house calls? Twenty-four-seven.”
I sank my teeth into his biceps. “Let me take care of this, then I’ll make you come again.”
“I’m good, thanks,” he shot back, clearly amused.
“But we haven’t played with the girls yet.”
He bent down and buried his face in my cleavage. “Hello, girls.”
Laughing, I shoved at his shoulders and he pushed me backward until I sprawled on the floor between the sofa and coffee table. He hovered above me, his arms tight and hard from supporting his weight. His gaze roamed, caressing my bra, then my bare tummy, then my thong and garters. The ensemble I wore post-shower was fire-engine red, chosen to keep Gideon revved.
“You’re my lucky charm,” he said.
I squeezed his biceps. “Really?”
“Yep.” He licked the upper swell of my breast. “You’re magically delicious.”
“Oh my God!” I laughed. “Cheesy.”
His eyes smiled at me. “I did warn you about me and romance.”
“You lied. You’re the most romantic guy I’ve ever dated. I can’t believe you hung those CrossTrainer towels in your bathroom.”
“How could I not? And I wasn’t kidding about you being lucky.” He kissed me. “I’ve been working on offloading my share of a casino in Milan. Those black magic roses arrived just as a bidder threw in a small winery in Bordeaux that I’ve had my eye on. Guess what it’s called … La Rose Noir.”
“A winery for a casino, huh? So you remain the god of sex, vice, and recreation.”
“Endeavors that help me satisfy you, my goddess of desire, pleasure, and corny one-liners.”
I ran my hands down his sides and slid my fingers beneath his waistband. “When do I get to try the wine?”
“When you’re helping me brainstorm the advertising campaign for it.”
With a sigh, I said, “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when I want something, no.” He rose to his knees and then helped me sit up. “And I want you. Very, very much.”
“You have me,” I said, using his words.
“I have your heart and your insanely sexy body. Now, I want your brain. I want everything.”
“I need to save something for me.”
“No. Take me instead.” Gideon’s hands reached around to cup the bare cheeks of my ass. “Not an even trade in quality, I’m sorry to say.”
“You’re bargaining like mad today.”
“Giroux was happy with his deal. You will be, too, I promise.”
“Giroux?” My heart thudded. “No relation to Corinne?”
“Her husband. Although they’re estranged and facing divorce, as you know.”