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Butterfly wings tickled my insides, replacing nervous jitters with syrupy sweet emotion. And since there weren’t words to show him just how much it meant to me, I tilted my chin up and met his lips with mine. His touch mingled with the breeze against my skin and sent tingles down my spine.
“Come on,” he said, his voice a whisper. His lips a smile.
I nodded, biting my bottom lip, and slipped my fingers through his. Going to his place with him, with our fingers linked, was so different than the first time. I’d been so nervous, insecure, but now he made me feel beautiful, desired, and I was high on the feeling.
He let go of my hand to get his keys and slipped them into the lock before leading me in. His scent hit my nose even stronger, a fresh mix of leather and linen that was just as sexy as the man before me.
“Did you spray your cologne as air freshener?” I asked. “Because I’ll gladly buy some off you.”
Chuckling, he said, “My sister sells candles, so I bought a few off her. She did a whole scent profile for me and everything.”
I closed my eyes, savoring the smell. “She’s got some real talent.”
“I’ll let her know you said so,” he replied as he slipped off his suit jacket and went to hang it up in the coat closet. There were three other coats in there—a rain jacket, a Northface outer shell and then a thicker winter coat. Everything he needed and nothing more. I liked that about him too.
I kicked out of my heels, breathing a sigh of relief as my feet flattened on the carpeted floor. “That feels so good.”
“I can give you a foot rub,” he offered.
“And make me fall in love with you?”
He laughed. “That’s the goal.”
I shook my head, still smiling, and said, “Can I borrow a pair of socks? I’d hate for you to be disgusted by my feet.”
Acting exasperated, he took my hand and pulled me onto the couch with him. He sat opposite me and took my feet in his lap. I knew I’d hoped for sexy times, but the way this man rubbed my foot... It had to be orgasmic. “That feels so good,” I sighed, leaning my head back against the couch cushion.
“You’ve had a long few days,” he said. “With your grandma and the wedding... I bet you’re exhausted.”
With his words, I felt down to my bones how true that was. “I am. When you’re a woman in business, you start to feel like you can’t show any emotions, any weakness, or people won’t take you seriously. And at home—I know I have it good, being able to live there basically rent free. It feels wrong to complain.”
“You have every right to feel however you feel. I love my folks, but I couldn’t share a sink with them. My mom’s so particular about dishes that she rewashes the plates my dad cleaned after he goes to bed.”
“Seriously?” I laughed. “I would just be happy someone’s doing the dishes who isn’t me.”
“You don’t like dishes?”
I shook my head. “It’s the worst. And knowing all that dirty water is soaking into your skin. Yuck.”
“You know they have this fancy contraption called rubber gloves.”
“And have my hands soak in their own sweat? No thank you. And god forbid some of that dirty water gets in there and starts growing something. No, no, no.”
He chuckled, reaching for my opposite foot. “As long as you’re with me, I’ll do the dishes.”
I bit my lip. “So. Freaking. Sexy.”
Waggling his eyebrows, he said, “You should see me with a toilet brush.”
“Talk dirty to me.” I winked, resting my head back on the couch.
39
Tyler
Henrietta’s eyes slid closed, and her breathing slowly evened out. I smiled, feeling her completely relax in my hands, her legs growing heavy in my lap. I’d wanted to please her tonight, but this, knowing she felt safe enough to let her guard down with me... it was just as good.
I looked at her feet in my hands, soft from the spa day, and her toes were painted with a shiny olive-green paint. For a moment, I sat, watching the rise and fall of her chest, gliding my palm over her shins, just enjoying the peace that came with her presence. Something about having her here made my apartment feel less lonely than it usually did, and I dreaded the moment she’d eventually have to go.