Page 33 of Two Favors Repaid

His green eyes darkened, and his pupils got larger. He gripped the kitchen counter behind him. “Get in the shower, Emma. You’ve been through a difficult experience today, and I’m trying hard to do the right thing.”

Have it your way.

She lowered her eyes and went into the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later she raced out of the bathroom wrapped in a big, fluffy towel that covered her from her chest to way below her knees. She loved extra-large bath towels and had made sure to bring her own towel from home. As she closed the door to her room, she heard Rob groan.

Not so unaffected, then.

She dressed quickly in matching panties and bra, both a beautiful turquoise color. She loved colorful underwear, but it wasn’t easy to find it in cotton, and she loved the feel of cotton on her skin. She wanted both. She wanted everything. Maybe that was a kind of metaphor for her life.

She’d had plenty of time to think while in the shower. Rob was wrong if he thought she only wanted him to take her to bed because of her earlier trauma. She’d had the same thoughts the night before. She wanted him, and he clearly wanted her. They were two unattached adults.

I just have to make him see it’s okay for us to want each other.

Emma finished dressing quickly in a dark blue strappy summer dress with tiny pink flowers. It flowed loosely around her hips and butt but hugged her chest and waist. It was one of her favorite dresses, and she was glad she’d thought to pack it.

She walked out, ready to tell Rob exactly what she thought about the two of them together, when she was assaulted by the thick smell of perfectly grilled nachos. Her mouth instantly started salivating.

“Wow,” she said, “I guess I am hungry.”

“Madam.” Rob bowed, pointing at the large tray on the kitchen table. “Your nachos.”

The first bite was heaven in the shape of a perfectly crisp triangle. She’d managed to get everything on it: beans, cheese, salsa and a tiny slice of jalapeño. She moaned.

“Aren’t you going to be having any?” she asked. “There’s no way you’ve had much time for food today either.”

He nodded, but his eyes were on her, not on the food. He chose a nacho and popped it in his mouth.

“I do make some decent nachos, if I may say so myself.”

“I don’t think your ego needs to be stroked, Rob, but you make some mean nachos, indeed,” she said, smiling as his jaw froze in mid-bite.

They ate together in silence, and she wondered how she could feel so comfortable with him and at the same time so turned on.

“I don’t think I can eat anymore,” she said, moving away from the tray. He arched his eyebrow at the remaining bits.

Emma wondered what the best way was to make it clear to him that she was ready to move on to the next part of the evening.

Should I be subtle? Should I be direct?

Rob took the decision from her by taking her left hand and gently guiding her out from behind the table.

“Emma,” he said gruffly. “I need to know if you were serious earlier. About wanting … this,” he said, holding her to him. His hand caressed from her cheek down to her chin, her neck, and just grazed her breasts and waist.

Her skin burned where his fingers had touched her. She raised her eyes so she was looking straight at him. She didn’t want any misunderstanding between them.

“I want this, Rob. I want you.”

He groaned softly and lifted her by the waist so she was sitting on the dining table. He leaned down and kissed her, gently at first then with more urgency. Her lips opened, letting him in, and their tongues met in a timeless dance. Emma could have kissed him all night ,but she was also greedy and wanted more, much more.

She tugged at his shirt to untuck the ends then moved her hand along each button, undoing it. It took a while because they were still kissing, and the pleasure made it hard to concentrate on anything else. Finally all buttons were loose, and she could take off his shirt.

She exposed his muscular torso with a sharp intake of breath. Unlike some men, who wore too tight clothes to highlight their muscles, Rob wore his clothing a bit loose. As such, she didn’t realize until this very instant just how defined his muscles were. She ran her hands appreciatively around his thick, wide shoulders, down his chest muscles and flat stomach.

God. Is that an eight-pack?

He shivered as her hands stroked along his waist and to his back, her fingers lightly grazing his belt. She’d never felt this powerful before.