Page 250 of Under Her Skin

Amelia made coffee and Jess and Theo dutifully sat with her while she chatted excitedly. ‘Loves, I know this is not the time really, but I want to throw you an engagement party. Max agrees it would be a goodthing.’

‘How isMax?’

Amelia gave them a half-smile. ‘He’s doing better, I think. He seems…. what’s the word? Fiercer. I don’t know but he’s rallying. About thisparty– ‘

‘Mom,’ She interrupted her with a hand on hers, ‘We just flew halfway around the world. Can we please discuss thistomorrow?’

After Amelia left,Jess and Theo, really dragging now, shared a decidedly chaste shower then fell gratefully into bed. They didn’t even bother to push the two dogs off the bed where they’d snuggled in withthem.

In the morning, Theo awoke, opening his eyes to see Jess’s lovely face half-buried in the comforter. He brushed her lips with his, feather-light so to not wake her, but a lazy smile spread across her face. She opened those deep, warmth chocolate eyes, soft withsleep.

‘Heyhandsome.’

‘I didn’t mean to wakeyou.’

She made a cute noise and stretched, wriggling next to him and reaching for his cock. Theo grinned. Even half asleep, she knew how to turn himon.

‘Morningbreath?’

‘Don’tcare.’

Theo pushed the grumbling dogs off the bed and covered her body with his, already rock-hard for her. He slipped a hand between her legs and stroked, feeling her dampen and swell for him. As he entered her, slowly, tenderly, he kissed her throat, felt her moan against his lips. This was one of their favorite times to make love when they were all soft and dreamy from sleep. Theo moved slowly at first as her legs wrapped around him, her limbs malleable, her eyes liquid silk as she smiled up at him, lifting her lips to his to kisshim.

After they’d come, Theo kissed her and slipped out of the bed into the shower. The jetlag was starting to hit and a headache was beginning to pound the back of hisskull.

When he came out, rubbing his hair dry, Jess had obviously fallen back into a deep sleep and was sprawled diagonally across the bed. He dressed quickly and went downstairs. He grabbed a bagel from the pantry, a bottle of water from the refrigerator and went outside to the porch. The bright-white morning sun seared his eyes and he winced, sitting on the swing chair they had always had out there. He alternated gulps of water with air and felt a bit better. He thanked god it was Saturday and he could leave business to Monday. For the next two days, he wanted to settle back into a routine, hang out with Jess and whichever family members decided to interrupt their weekend. Theo smiled to himself wryly – he knew his mom would be back. Once she had a project in mind, there was no stopping her. That she and Jess got along so well was something Theo treasured; Amelia had like Kelly a lot and Kelly had been a sweet girl but she didn’t have the wicked sense of humor that his Mom and Jessshared.

‘Sir?’

Theo looked up to see the head of his security team, Mike, smiling athim.

‘Welcome back, sir. Goodholiday?’

Theo shook hishand.

‘Wonderful, thanks. How have things beenhere?’

‘Non-eventful, thank goodness. No sign of any intruders or snoopers. I’ve put a report on your desk but it’ll be a dullread.’

Theo smiled gratefully. ‘Good, thanks,Mike.’

When Mike had gone back to his post, Theo leaned back and closed his eyes. Jeez, this headache. He felt a wet nose pushing into his hand. Monty or Stan? He looked down. His beloved spaniel was pushing her head under his hand, wanting to be fussed. He picked the wriggling dog up and settled her onto his lap. Stan trotted out of the house and flopped down at his feet. The morning was almost silent except for the breeze through the trees, the wash of water from the beach at the end of the garden. Perfect he thought, ignoring the leaden weight in his stomach. Almost perfect. He wondered if telling Jess about Malcolm would ease that weight – then shook himself. Why should she have to bear his guilt as well as everything else? He could handle anything as long as he had Jess. Still, he reminded himself to call Max and Alan later – he had a responsibility tothem.

‘Theo?’ Jess’s voice from inside thehouse.

‘Outhere.’

Her hair was wet from the shower, and in her simple white shirt and Daisy Dukes, even as tired as she still obviously was, she looked so gorgeous that he forgot anything else. He held out his hand and pulled her onto his lap, burying his face in her neck, breathing in the scent of her shampoo and soap. She smelled ofhome.

‘I just got a text from your mom,’ Jess kissed his forehead. ‘She’s going into town, wants me to go with her, do some weddingshopping.’

She rolled her eyes as Theo laughed. ‘Good luck with that. Want Mike to driveyou?’

She smiled. ‘Your mom’s picking me up. We’ll be fine. Can you imagine going up against her? She’s like aninja.’

Theo chuckled. ‘God, I love you, you absolutenut.’

She stroked his face. ‘Damn. Why didn’t I tell your mom to give an hour instead a halfhour?’