Page 79 of In Case You Didn't Know

“I like coffee,” I murmur, dragging my fingers along her thigh. Because a lot can happen in twelve hours.

And I intend to make it count. Turning in bed, the phone calls forgotten, I catch her mouth with mine. But the rumble that comes from deep inside her has nothing to do with the delicious way our tongues tangle.

And everything to do with hunger of the food variety.

She starts to laugh against my lips, the sound warm but shaky. “I’m sorry. Apparently orgasms aren’t a sustainable food group.”

I grin, brushing her hair from her face. “Your body went through a workout. You need to eat.”

“I can wait,” she whispers, dragging her fingers down my chest. Her thigh shifts over mine, warm and insistent. “Please don’t make me wait. I need you.”

Fuck.

My entire body tightens. She doesn’t know what she’s asking. Or maybe she does. Either way, I’m seconds from giving in.

But I can’t. Not yet.

I cup her face, kissing her gently. “If I take you now, it won’t be slow, Francie. I’ve been holding back for longer than you can imagine. And you need food, not just me.”

She groans, dropping her forehead to my shoulder like I just canceled Christmas. “This is torture.”

“I’m trying to take care of you,” I murmur against her hair. “You almost passed out earlier. Your head took a hit. And I promised myself that the first time I’m inside of you, you’ll feel everything. No distractions. No weakness. Just us.”

She lifts her head and glares at me, all flushed and glowing and gloriously naked. “You’re lucky you’re hot,” she mutters.

I chuckle, rolling out of bed and reaching for my pants. “You have no idea how lucky you are that I’m being noble right now.”

She props herself on her elbow, watching me with narrowed eyes. “This better be the fastest meal in history.”

I glance over my shoulder, letting my gaze roam over her naked, still-glowing body. “It will be,” I promise. “And after,” I tell her, dragging my eyes across every inch of her flushed, satisfied skin, “I’m going to fuck you until you know exactly who you belong to.”

FRANCIE

In the time it takes me to drag myself up and out of bed, Asher is already showered, dressed, and banging around in the kitchen like he’s auditioning for Hot Chefs of Liberty Island. His collar is damp from his hair, his jaw shadowed because he obviously forgot – or couldn’t be bothered – to shave this morning, and his biceps flex every time he lifts a pan. He looks annoyingly put together.

Meanwhile, I look like I just crawled out of bed after being thoroughly debauched. Which, to be fair, I was.

I need to shower. But right now, I’m standing in the hallway, eyeing the bathroom like it might attack me at any minute.

I don’t want a repeat of earlier. Getting caught naked and shrieking on the floor isn’t exactly part of my seduction playbook.

If I had one, that is.

“You need backup?” Asher asks, amusement in his voice. He’s standing in the kitchen doorway watching me. “You know I’m fully trained in spider relocation and post-trauma naked recovery.”

Stupid smirky handsome guy. “You’re not helping.”

He lifts a brow. “That’s not what you said earlier.”

I stick my tongue out at him, because apparently I’m five years old, then push the bathroom door open like I’m storming a castle.

But of course, there’s no spider there. He’s long gone, freed by Asher the Magnificent. And now, of course, I’m thinking about the way he made me come. I definitely need a cold shower.

I clean myself faster than the speed of light, managing to wash my hair, body, and shave myself everywhere. When I’m dry, I dress in shorts and a soft tank top, finally feeling human again.

When I pad into the kitchen, Asher’s at the stove, flipping what looks suspiciously like chocolate pancakes. My stomach growls in betrayal.

He looks over his shoulder, his gaze heated as he takes me in. “Took you long enough. I was about to send in a SWAT team.”