Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street 4)

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Damn Ian,” he muttered. “I was hoping to wake you up myself and keep you in bed.”

“You can’t keep me in bed indefinitely,” she teased him, a smile breaking through.

“Who says?” he asked, scowling at the same time he stepped toward her, his arms surrounding her. “Now let’s just get rid of this,” he murmured matter-of-factly. He tugged at her towel and it fell between them. “That’s more like it.” He pressed close against her naked, shower-warmed body. It felt decadently good. He hadn’t showered yet. Ian’s arrival must have got him out of bed, either that, or he’d gotten up to take Angus out. He smelled like soap and sex and man. Without thinking, she sunk her teeth gently into what was in front of her—a dense pectoral muscle covered in thick, smooth skin. She sampled his skin with her tongue and felt his cock twitch behind his jeans. His hands moved in her hair, releasing the restraining clip she’d put in it for her shower.

“Now that’s much more like it,” he growled, delving his fingers into the loose strands and tugging. Her head fell back and he swooped down, claiming her mouth. By the time he lifted his head a minute later, Kam’s cock had stiffened next to her belly and Lin’s flesh—to say nothing of her brain—had turned to warm goo.

“I’m going to make you into a complete hooky addict,” he stated smugly as he nipped at her lips.

“You’re off to a good start,” she murmured, nibbling his mouth back hungrily as she spoke. “There’s only one problem.”

“There’s no problem,” he corrected, pulling her closer in his arms. She pulsed her hips against his cock. He hissed and bit at her a tad harder.

“I don’t have any clothes here except for an evening dress,” she reminded him.

“You won’t need them.”

“I will so. I’m not doing the walk of shame in my rumpled evening dress tomorrow morning. Plus, I told Ian when I called I’d get a few things to him by the end of the evening.”

He lifted his head and arched his brows, looking down at her. “You are not going to work today.”

“You can be awfully dictatorial for a man who lived alone for so long and had nobody to boss around. I feel a new kinship to Angus,” she complained without any real heat. He gave her a bland look. “It’s just a few things.”

“You’re a grown woman. When will you learn to live a little? There’s more to life than work, little kitten,” he coaxed, running his firm lips along her cheek and temple.

“There’s an important memo I need to draft.”

He lifted his head and scowled.

“At the very least, I have to check a few e-mails this morning and answer them.”

“You can use my computer for that, but after that, you’re done with work,” he said, his hands running over her back, massaging her . . . influencing her. He knew precisely what he was doing, she admitted as her flesh softened and warmed even further under his touch. “And you’re only going to need one set of clothes, because otherwise, I’ll want you naked,” he murmured near her temple. He undoubtedly felt her shivers of pleasure beneath his stroking hands at the sound of his rough voice in her ear. “I’ll shower in the other bathroom and run out right now to one of the stores on Michigan Avenue. I’ll get you some dog-walking clothes.”

“Dog-walking clothes?” Lin asked, her eyes drifting closed under the influence of his big, rubbing hands moving so deftly on her muscles.

“Yeah. Casual, easy, weekend clothes—the kind I hardly ever see you wear. You’ll need something for when we take breaks and take Angus for walks.” She blinked her eyes open, his hot stare telling her precisely what they’d be taking breaks from. He kissed the end of her nose and then her mouth, lingering for a moment to penetrate her lips ever so briefly with his tongue, sampling her.

“Well?” he prompted as he backed up, his gaze lowering over her naked body.

“Well what?” she asked, made stupid by the way he looked at her with such heat.

“My computer is out in the living room. Do whatever you need to do while I shower and I run out, because when I come back, you’re mine for the next twenty-four hours. And you’re going to get it if I catch you sneaking any work after that.”

Her heart leapt when she noticed the hard glint in his eyes. She shook her head and rolled her eyes, trying to discount his threat. He arched his eyebrows, giving her a pointed glance that told her loud and clear he hadn’t been teasing. Her eyes widened.

“That’s right. I meant it, mon petit chaton,” he assured quietly. “For the next twenty-four hours, I’m your boss. If you test me by focusing on anything but relaxation, fun, or pleasure, I’ll have to prove it to you with a punishment.” She blinked. He grinned suddenly, a brilliant flash of good humor. She laughed when he swooped down to give her one last kiss. He started to back out of the room but pointed at her foot.

“Shoe size?” he demanded.

“Seven,” she replied breathlessly. He nodded, turned and headed toward his shower.

For several seconds, she just stood there, dazed. Despite that charming smile that radiated sex appeal like a beacon, Lin was left with a sneaking suspicion accompanied by an illicit thrill that Kam had been dead serious about what he’d said.

Cocky and incorrigible, she thought with wry amusement as she retrieved the towel. She refastened it around her breasts and met her own gaze in the mirror. Her smile faded.