Page 37 of Tempt Me-

We fall into bed, a tangle of limbs, and pass out, until I awake to the most delicious feeling of his mouth on my sex, licking me awake and into an almost immediate unexpected orgasm.And after I come down from that one, he is inside me again, turning me upside down with his skill and attention and essentially ruining me for all other men.

Chapter Eight

Mia

Iwake upfirst.I roll over and realize I am sore from the night’s activities.I also remember my last thought before falling asleep for the night… and know I’m not wrong.There is something special between Austin and me, something I doubt I’ll find again with any other man.He is in tune with my body, my emotions, and attentive to what I need and when.I am falling for the man, and it isn’t hard to do.Not when I am living in his house, taking care of his daughter, and caring about everything he is going through with his ex.

But that is the crux of the problem.His ex-wife ruined him for future relationships.He made that clear to me before sleeping with me, so I have no one to blame but myself if he is coming to mean more to me than an easy fling.

I push myself out of bed, leaving the sexy man sleeping on his back.The sheet dips to his waist, revealing the corded muscles, hot tattoo, and sexy sprinkling of hair trailing down to his waist.He flung one arm over his eyes as if covering them from the incoming sun from the window.He breathes in and out in a deep sleep.

I smile at the sight, turn and head for the room where I put my things, and take a hot shower in the spare bathroom.I change into a faded pair of jeans and a red and black flannel shirt, tying my damp hair up in a messy bun.Then I walk into the kitchen to make breakfast for us both, determined to put my emotions on lockdown as I often did as a child.

Yes, my childhood was fine, but I learned to wrap up my feelings and store them in mental boxes with tight lids that wouldn’t, couldn’t open up and spill out all the painful things that could hurt me.

Like Christmas, when all the kids at school listed their many gifts, and I knew I was fortunate to get the one item I received from my foster family.I heard stories from the social workers who spoke in hushed voices about the kids who weren’t as fortunate, who didn’t celebrate Christmas or receive anything for the holiday.

So I told myself I didn’t care about the number of items, that it was the thought and the one I got that mattered.Then I boxed up the pain I felt listening to the others, the hurt that came when I thought about how my parents weren’t alive to celebrate with, and pushed it all aside.

And now, as I crack eggs for our omelets, I box up my growing feelings for Austin because he can never, will never reciprocate them, and tell myself to be grateful for now.For this weekend in the cabin and my time alone with him.Soon enough, we’ll have to deal with the problems that await us back home.

“Good morning!”Austin strides into the kitchen, freshly showered, his hair damp, wearing a pair of jeans that look sexy on his muscular frame and a dark grape-colored Henley.

He looks good enough to eat.

“Morning!”I say as I scoop the second omelet I made with vegetables, cheese, and eggs onto a plate and place both dishes on the table.

“Wow.You didn’t have to do this.”He glances at the meal.“But I’m glad you did.”

I hand him a cup of black coffee the way he likes it and settle into the chair beside him.“My pleasure.So what’s on the agenda for today?”

“I thought we’d take a walk.It’s beautiful this time of year.And then I figured we’d come back here and fuck like bunnies until the real world intrudes.”I catch the sinful look in his eyes as he raises his cup and takes a long sip before he turns more serious.“I’m supposed to get a call from the PI I hired.He’s due to update me on my ex—and I asked him to pull someone in and get them looking into your former boss.We need to prove he’s sending someone after you.Otherwise this shit will keep going on and I won’t have it.”

My body goes from tingling at the mention of fucking like bunnies… to ice-cold at the reminder of the trouble waiting for me in the real world.

“Most of that sounds like a really good day.”I force a smile.

He covers my hand with his.“Sorry for the blunt reminder.But we’re going to get ahead of both things.I have faith.”

And I believe in him.“I know.”We finish our meal in silence.

A little while later, we pull on our outerwear and head for a walk.The air is crisp, and it smells like fall, dry leaves, and grass.My mood lightens at the feel of the cool air on my cheeks and the fresh scents all around me.

To my surprise, Austin reaches out and grabs my hand, holding on as we hike through the woods.“So… let’s just get to know each other,” I suggest into the silence.We began on the car ride up, but there is more I want to know.Little things to learn about him and store away in those mental boxes of mine.

“Okay.Favorite color?”he asks.

“Yellow.Yours?”

“Blue.”

I shake my head and laugh.“You’re such a typical man.Favorite music?”

“Classic rock,” he says.

I eye him with amusement.

“What?”he asks.