Page 156 of The Surprise Play

I just want to feel her body pressed against mine.

I want to listen to her soft breaths and revel in this moment.

I’m holding the woman I love.

And it can’t get better than that.

CHAPTER 48

ELIZABETH

Holding my breath, I pad out to the kitchen, wondering what my parents are going to say about last night’s escapades.

Dad’s not around, and I sink onto the kitchen stool with a touch of relief.

That poor man.

He’s probably gonna have nightmares for the rest of his life.

“Good morning,” Mom greets me cheerfully.

I smile at her, grateful for the coffee she hands me. “Thanks.” I blow on it and take a sip, testing the temperature.

“Where’s your man?”

“He’s in the shower,” I mumble, heat flushing through me. We both needed cleaning after last night.

My insides tremor, my lips fighting a grin as I momentarily relive our lovemaking. It wasn’t just once either. He nudged me awake with soft kisses sometime inthe early hours of the morning, and we had each other all over again.

Will my body ever recover?

I’m not sure.

Do I ever want it to?

Not really.

Smirking into my mug, I take another sip and don’t even notice my surroundings until Mom starts giggling at me. “You’ve got it bad, Bessie Boo.”

I can’t do anything but laugh along with her.

My cheeks must be fire-engine red right now, but I look up at her anyway. “He’s so amazing, Mom.”

“He certainly looked it.” She waggles her eyebrows at me, then laughs off my baleful glare. “Oh, stop. He’s gorgeous. There’s no denying that.”

“It’s true.” I give her a dreamy smile.

“But he’s more than that.” She tips her head, going back to stir the oatmeal on the stove. She’s added nutmeg and cinnamon. I sniff the air, already looking forward to it. “He’s kind, sweetie. And, unfortunately, that can be a rare quality in a man.”

“Dad’s kind.”

“Oh, yes, he is.” Mom grins.

And I can’t help a wince. “Is he okay? After last night?”

She covers her mouth, laughing behind her fingers. “Not sure he ever wanted to see you that way, but he’ll recover.”

I groan, hiding my face behind my fingers.