Cherished (41 page)

He took off the cuffs before he left to get rid of the condom. She still lay there where he left her moments before so he got back in bed and turned her over, taking off the blindfold and kissing her wrists where he’d had her bound.

“Hello there.”

He kissed her hard. “Hello there and welcome back.”

“Let’s do that again soon.” She stretched and loved the way his gaze followed the way her breasts moved.

“I like this, by the way.” She slid her hands up her belly and cupped her breasts, knowing he liked it, liking it just as much. There was so much energy between them she swam through it and let it wash over her.

“You left one of your shirts at my house. I slept in it every night for the first week. Then I put it in the trash and then I pulled it out of the trash. But then I had to wash it because hello, trash. And it didn’t smell like you anymore.”

He kissed her softly. “I’d come down and stand in front of the rose, just watching the light, remembering the day when I brought it home and you were here. Christ, I missed you like crazy.”

She hugged him, relieved. “Good. I missed you too. I wish I could have gone on dates and put it in the paper for you to see. Hmpf. Yes, yes, I believe that you didn’t touch any of them. Which is good for you, because if I had doubted that I would have kicked you in the dick. A few dozen times. You’re taking me to all those things from now on. All these women need to get the picture that you are off the market.”

He hugged her again. “I love it when you’re vicious.”

“No, you don’t. My vicious streak is what made me want to punch you in your pretty face. But you like it when I’m jealous.”

“Distinction duly noted.”

“I love you, Levi.”

“Thank God for it because I love you too.”

Her laugh was back in his house again. Her scent on his sheets. Her crap on his bathroom counter and her stuff in the drawers in his armoire.

She lived in him and he had no plans to ever let that change.

It didn’t matter that she was younger than he was. All that mattered was that she loved him and he loved her. The rest they could work out as time passed. She’d keep him in line. Decorate their house and fill it with music and love. And one day with children.

They had time, he realized. Time to be in love and be engaged. Time for her art and his job, time for weddings and honeymoons and nesting. She was his, forever. As deeply as he was hers.

Made the groveling worth it.