In the kitchen, I scoured for a French loaf and cut them up. Taking out a baking tray, I placed all the slices of bread accordingly. I slathered it with butter with a dash of garlic and onion powder and finished it with a hint of dried parsley. I placed the tray in the oven and timed it for eight minutes.
Dinner was served and we devoured the entire dish. We finished the pasta to the last drop of sauce and to the very last crumb of garlic bread. We drank three bottles of red wine together and we were soon feeling the effects of food coma.
Toby stretched lazily, yawned loudly and tapped his flat stomach. “That was marvelous! You’ve delightfully sated my appetite Luce. Now it’s time to quench my other ravenous cravings.”
She laughed and threw a napkin at him. “Toby! Have you no shame?” Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.
“Oh, what rubbish—we all like sex here. What do you say mate? Mind telling us how those two mind-blowing orgasms came about in the mile high club?”
I bit my lip not knowing if I should laugh or cringe. Toby’s tongue was loosened by the wine and he was grilling Blake about his f**king sex life with Ivanna. Toby mentioned the “mile high club” meaning Blake was f**king the lights out of her on his way to Italy. That can only mean one thing….if he brought Ivanna with him to meet his family…then they might be really serious about each other.
“I don’t want to discuss my sex life Toby,” his jaw muscles locked, the question clearly bothered him.
“Toby that’s enough, love. You’re clearly knackered and in dire need of sleep. Go get ready for bed while I clean and wash up.” Luce pulled him out of the chair and directed him to her bedroom.
“You two go—I’ll wash up. You cooked already—it’s my turn to clean,” I offered. Grateful, Luce gave me a quick hug and did the same with Blake and bid us both goodnight.
The flat seemed a bit quiet without those two in the room. Even with the soft music playing, the tension was palpable.
I got up and gathered all the plates and dishes and deposited them in the sink. I rinsed and placed them the dishwasher. Blake quietly handed me all used wine glasses to wash while he took care of wiping the table and the counter. He returned the coasters, table placemats and bottle openers amongst other things on the table and placed them back accordingly to where they’re supposed to be. He knew this apartment like it was his own.
Wiping my wet hands with the dish towel, I went over to where my phone was sitting on the holder and took it out of the music player. Blake was leaning against the counter with his arms folded on his chest and his right foot over the other one. His eyes zeroed in on me, liquid midnight blue/silver eyes beautifully flecked with scattered gold. The silver and blue overpower each other sometimes—depending on his mood. I had slightly forgotten the kind of power his magnetic gaze over me—now I’m fully reacquainted by their compelling magnetism and the sexual aura the owner has.
“Thanks for helping me clean up—you didn’t have to but I appreciated it all the same.” He merely shrugged never taking those liquid silver eyes off me.
Pressing my lips together, I studied his big manly-shaped hands with intense scrutiny and the thought dawned on me that those same hands caressed another woman today.
Don’t. Don’t go there. Don’t torture yourself.
“I’m going to bed now—do you want me to call you a cab or are you going to call your driver to pick you up?”
“I gave Robert the rest of the night off. I didn’t see the need of him waiting whenever I emerged from the hospital. He has a family to go home to.” A considerate man that’ll be running a billion dollar company—I bet the people who worked for him loved that about him. He was a fair man and quite receptive to other’s needs.
“You want me to call you a cab to take you back to your apartment in Mayfair or you’d rather be somewhere else?” I couldn’t bring myself to say “or you’d rather go to Ivanna’s place” because I’m a ninny and I’m not sure I’d love to relinquish on the idea, yet again, about their mile high orgasms.
“I don’t go home to Mayfair. I could go to my office or get a room at the Savoy but I can’t be bothered. I’m exceptionally and genuinely knackered. Do you mind if I crash on the couch?” asking whilst raking a hand through those wavy locks of his.
What happened to his flat in Mayfair?
“Are you sure? You’re quite tall…you won’t fit in there.”
Fuck, why wouldn’t he just go home and leave me in peace?
“I’m sure. All I need is pillow and a blanket then I’m quite set to snooze.” He did look tired but still dangerously…breathtakingly handsome…and sexy…and I’m sexually frustrated.
“Why don’t you just share the bed with me? The size would allow us enough room and still sleep comfortably.” Stupid, stupid woman! Go ahead and set yourself up with more torture.
Sweet torture, perhaps?
“You don’t mind?” he asked, bewildered. I shook my head feeling nervous all of a sudden.
Fuck! Blake in my bed…again! Shit. Don’t get too excited or have you forgotten about Ivanna? There it was. The thought cleared away all of the fog hanging over my semi-functional brain.
No sexy time for me. I should rejoice really…not a good choice to hook up with an ex…that I’m not over with.
Turning off the lights in the kitchen, I strolled to my bedroom. I was fully aware of Blake’s presence following closely behind me. Once in the room, I took my nightwear from the drawer and excused myself to the bathroom to shower. I hung my pistachio-colored silk sleep shorts with a matching silk camisole on the silver rack. I was about to take my clothes off and cursed myself for being an idiot. How the hell am I going to take this damned corset off? I can’t reach it.
Reaching the doorknob, I waltzed back to my bedroom with Blake lying on my bed fully clothed without his shoes and his eyes shut. Crap, do I wake him up? He looked so peaceful.
I moved a little closer to the bed wanting to drown in his dark beauty. Dark, long lashes sat fanned above his cheekbones. The memory of those lips and what it did to me made me flush with need. I wetted my dry lips and swallowed. Maybe it’s been too long since the last time?
Hell, yeah it’s been long! And what….plan to have Blake execute that burning dilemma? No! Yes…maybe? Ivanna… think of that name and you’ll snap right back.