Page 157 of Easy
‘I didn’t,’ he replies calmly. ‘Hal did, but I’m pleased it’s provoked some kind of emotion. Jealousy definitely suits you, darling.’
‘It’s an emotion I could do without,’ I growl, unsuccessfully trying to pull free of him. I move the hair that has fallen across my cheek with a savage gesture of my free hand. ‘I don’t want to feel like this. I didn’t want to get involved!’
‘What are you shouting at me for? That’s not my fault,’ he replies, no less amused.
‘I didn’t say it was your fault, but I am blaming you!’ With that, I cut off any answer. Curling my fingers around the back of his neck, I seal my mouth over his. I kiss him hard, our joined hands still absurdly in the air. After a stunned moment, Dan responds in kind. Teeth clash and lips bruise as our hearts pound against the other’s skin.
‘I blame you,’ I say finally, my breath laboured and raspy. As my gaze levels on his, his eyes flare like a lit flame. And at that very moment, I want nothing more than to throw myself onto the pyre of him.
As Dan’s grip loosens, I rest my hand flat on his chest, the other still knotted in his hair. I push my body against him, walking him backwards until the sofa hits his calves, as I kiss and tease his lips with every stumbled step. Pushing him down hard, I climb onto his lap, my legs straddling his. Fingers pull at clothing, each of us frantically wrestling for control and possession, though neither of us quite manages it, and neither of us keeps score this time.
My back arches as I feel the length of him through his jeans. I exhale a ragged breath, pressing my hand over his mouth as he begins to speak. Grinding myself against him, I’m desperate to get closer, to climb under his skin. We stay like that—Dan beneath me, covered by my fingerprints and need. I rub shamelessly against him until the point I come when my movements become as jagged as my breath.
We end in a tangled heap on the floor, breathless though eventually sated. Grazed and definitely sore. Wordlessly, Dan carries me into the bedroom, placing me on the bed as though I’m someone to be worshiped. Someone he adores.
Streetlamps light the room, playing shadows of trees against the walls. Dan climbs on the bed pulling me closer—pulling my hands above my head. With his mouth against my ear, he whispers softly, ‘Darling, come blame me some more.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
DAN
Breakfast was a quiet affair, the holiday Monday meant Louise didn’t have to be at work. The radio plays quietly in the background, a station she’d never have chosen. One I hadn’t chosen, either, come to think of it.
‘Can I expect The Archers anytime soon?’ she asks, gesturing to the radio with her head.
Pulling a mock indignant face, I shook out the newspaper in an exaggerated motion before covering my expression with the sports section.
‘The Archers and Earl Grey. You certainly know how to show a girl a good time.’
I don’t answer, instead collapsing the paper and reaching for my cup. I sip, then hesitate before placing the cup down, all the while studying her, making her feel the weight of my gaze.
‘You object to the station?’ I ask eventually.
‘Part of the pipe and slipper brigade?’ she responds sugar-sweet. ‘Whatever gave you that idea?’
My eyes slide to the Bose system from where the classical music emanated. I rarely have the radio on, the current channel either random or one of Belle’s choosing. ‘It’s just background noise,’ I reply. ‘Turn it off if it offends you. It’s just a station. Not my choice.’
I probably should’ve qualified that. Though for shits and giggles, I don’t.
Louise sighs and begins destroying her toast with her fingers, crumbs mounting on the plate.
‘Don’t play with your food,’ I say without menace, though my tone may have been a little hard.
I turn back to the sports section when a sizable crumb bounces off my shirt. She wants my attention. So I give it to her by way of the lift of an indolent brow.
‘Sorry,’ she murmurs, lowering her gaze. ‘Promise I’ll be good ...sir.’
My cock twitches, and my response is in the air without thought.
‘Don’t play with your food, and don’t play with me. Not unless you mean it.’ I tilt my head to the side, considering. ‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to goad me into action.’ Given how she felt yesterday, I’m relieved to see she’s all play. And that she appears to mean it.
Louise’s brow furrows, eyes falling to the plate in front in an unsuccessful attempt to hide her growing smile.
‘And if I were, hypothetically speaking, trying to goad a reaction,’ she asks, dusting the crumbs from her fingers before raising her head. ‘How would that... what’s the expression? Go down?’
‘Going down is always welcome.’ I smirk, folding the crushed newspaper in half. Leaning back in my chair, I fold my arms. ‘At the risk of sounding trite, are you trying to be a naughty girl?’
Hers is an instinctive response. ‘No, not at all.’
