Page 43 of Reckless Dynasty (Knight's Ridge Empire 9)

Taking the tea towel from her hand, I throw it in the direction of my washing machine and move the pan back to the hob, ensuring the temperature is down.

“I fucking love having you here, Demon,” I growl, nibbling around the shell of her ear.

“Dinner is going to be ruined if you keep this up, Tobias.”

“I’m happy eating you instead,” I confess, working my way down her throat until my lips collide with the neck of the jumper she’s wearing.

“Yeah, well,” she mutters, twisting out of my hold. “I’d rather eat, if it’s all the same to you.” Her stomach growls loudly in agreement, and when my eyes find her face, her cheeks are burning red.

“Go and take a seat, baby. I can finish up here.”

Stepping forward, she takes my cheeks in her hands.

“No,” she says firmly. “I told you that I’d cook and have dinner ready for you, so that’s what I’m going to do. Go change. It’ll be five minutes.”

“But I thought you liked me in the suit,” I tease, wrapping my fingers around her wrists and dragging them down over the lapels of my black jacket.

Her throat ripples with a swallow.

“Trust me, I do. But right now, I want you in sweats.”

She gasps as I force her hand lower until she’s grasping my length through my trousers.

“You just want to see exactly what you do to me, don’t you, Demon?”

The most wicked smile curls at her lips.

“Guilty.”

I shake my head at her, desperate to twist my fingers in her dark locks and force her to her knees, but I hold myself back. For now.

“Later,” she promises. “I’m gonna need dessert after all.”

“You, Jodie Walker, are fucking perfect.”

I leave her hand exactly where it is as I crush her to my chest and kiss her as if I’m not going to get another chance.

“I feel like a grown-up,” Jodie says lightly as she takes her seat opposite me at the dining table and reaches for her wine.

She’s stayed with me here all week, so this isn’t the first meal we’ve eaten together. But the others were takeaway and sitting with tubs around us didn’t feel quite so… real, I guess.

“I like it,” I confess, running my bare foot up her calf.

“I didn’t say I didn’t. It’s just—”

“I know I’m a lot, Jodie. I know all of this is a lot,” I say, gesturing to the building surrounding us and the people who are living inside it.

“I love being here. Doing this, it makes me happy,” she admits.

“Yeah?”

A coy smile plays on her lips.

“So you wouldn’t hate the idea of living here with me then?”

“Whoa,” she says with a laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far yet. I still haven’t worked out what annoying traits you have that will drive me to the edge of insanity.”

“You’ve seen my worse, baby, and you’re still here. I’m not sure leaving dirty socks around will come anywhere close to all of that.”