Page 59 of Fake It Till You Make It

Embarrassment curled around his brain as the back of his neck heated at his stupidity. If he had a cane, he’d yank his sorry excuse of a romantic gesture right off the stage. Women expected jewelry, not outdoor gear.

He opened his mouth to apologize, but Amarie lunged for him. Opening his arms, he caught her around the waist, hauling her close. When she pressed her lips to his, instinct took over. Eli knew she smelled terrific, but the taste of her was intoxicating. And he drank deep, plunging into the warmth of her mouth, hunger and starvation stretching his restraint to the limit. Inside his need crawled at him to take more, pushed them both to the breaking point. When she breathed out, moaning, he stroked her tongue with his.Eli took full advantage, continuing his exploration, cataloging every sensation she unlocked that he’d walled off months ago. He thought he missed the caress of a woman, but then his brain registered a new revelation. He’d never experienced a connection this tangible with anyone before Amarie.

How scared should he be that her passion carried the same take-charge, adventurous energy she brought to everyday living? On a deep inhale, he grabbed hold of the last threads of his control and pulled away. Amarie, undeterred, continued to sip from his mouth, taking little nips at his parted lips. Hers were swollen from his attention, and he gave in to one last succulent taste.

“Thank you. I love them,” she whispered, planting another kiss on his mouth, and then totally taking him by surprise when she bit his bottom lip.

“You bit me,” he said more than questioned, sucking the tender flesh between his teeth.

“I’ve wanted to do that.”

He raised a brow. “Draw blood?”

“Sounds so clinical when you say it that way.” Her voice dipped, low, husky, sensual. “I’ve wanted to taste you. Take a bite of temptation.”

“And your verdict?”

Her eyes sparkled like those pretty toes he spied on every morning. “You’re delicious. Thank you for the gift and… indulging my new fetish.”

Sliding one arm around her back and the other beneath her thighs, he lifted. Sitting in the chair she’d just vacated, he settled Amarie across his lap.

“You’re welcome,” he rasped, nuzzling her neck. “And from now on, you come here after work. I’ll cook. You study. Then I can review the material with you, preferablyin my lap. A couple of pop quizzes in between anatomy lessons. I’ll even pack your snack packs for the next day. What do you think?”

“Hmm, I guess. Considering I have no clue when or where I’ll find a job once I pass my exam, I might charge you for lap-sitting.”

Darn it, she sounded so innocent when she talked dirty. “I’d gladly give you every nickel I have.”

He buried his nose in the soft fold right above her shoulder, inhaling her fruity scent. Sighing in contentment, Eli just held her. Relishing the feel of his woman’s body, listening as she breathed in and out.

Amarie’s head rested on his chest. “You’d do that for me?”

“And more. It’s important to you—so, it’s our priority. But a word of caution. I’ve been accused of being a stickler for rules.” Could she hear the gallop of his heart? Somehow, she’d wiggled her way under the ice-packed organ, and Eli wanted to kiss every inch of her in thanks.

“Well, I’ve been known to break a few.” She wiggled her brows. “I accept.”

And because he’d been putting off the question he should’ve asked days ago, he asked, “Do you want to attend Caleb and Gracie Lou’s wedding with me?”

“I do” was all she said, but his chest tightened when she started to hum. With her fingers, she drew curls over his heart. “Next time, don’t make me wait.”

“Won’t happen again.” And he would honor his word. Not because of duty but because Amarie deserved better from him. Darn it, he was acting like a boyfriend, not a business partner.

Chapter Fifteen

ELI HAD SKIPPED,figuratively, down the dirt path between the clinic and his cabin. Call it what you will, but he had fallen under Amarie’s spell. Last night he’d dreamed of Amarie’s magic fingers wrapped around a part of him below the belt. He’d spent the workday harder than a Corso’s jawbone. Could he be addicted to Amarie after one kiss?

“What do you mean someone is living in my house?” Red clouded his vision. Amarie’s suggestions to his real estate listing had increased the online queries fivefold. Spotlighting the key features of the home with larger images while removing the pictures of the multiple peace gardens and the wasted square footage had boosted the viewings. But this…

“Mr. Calvary, please lower your voice, I can hear and I want to keep it that way.”

This being his third agent, but the first to actually coax a buyer to return, he promptly bottled his anger, but the pressure continued to build.

“Who’s in my house?”

“As I tried to explain. I went to show the house to an interested couple, and a woman answered the door.”

“What woman?” Eli swallowed. Bile constricted his throat because he knew the answer.

“Your ex-wife?”