Page 63 of Back To Our Beginning

“Oh, so there was a reason I woke up.”

“I told you. Part of my job is planning. And Baby, I excel at my job.”

I thrust my fingers into his hair and moved my face closer to his. “That’s for me to judge.”

His eyes twinkled. “Feel free.” He slanted his head and softly met his lips to mine. With slow tantalizing swipes, he tempted me to follow him, and I did, tasting beer, bread and Beau. Soon it was a conflagration of heat and fire. I couldn’t get enough of this man.

I was so caught up in the kiss, in the wild burn, that it wasn’t until I was shivering that I noticed he’d untied my robe.

I wrenched away from his mouth for just a moment to ask. “Seriously? The counter?”

He didn’t bother to answer. He pulled my head back and soon I was dizzy with lust as our kiss deepened even more. How it was possible, I didn’t know. Teeth, tongues, lips and bites. My breasts were heaving and my panties were soaked.

When I felt his calloused hands cupping my breasts, I jolted. So good. It was just so good. Beau pulled my hands out of his hair, and slowly divested me from my bra and pulled down my robe, but as he laid me down on the granite countertop, I realized I was resting on soft wool. My body shook for just a second as I choked back a sob. The sneak had placed the wool throw from the couch somewhere handy so I wouldn’t be lying on hard granite. I had never felt so cherished in all my life, as I did by that one little act of kindness by the man I loved.

“Maddie, are you okay?” Of course, Beau picked up on my feelings. We were back to how we always had been.

“I’m fine, baby,” I choked out my answer. He paused and gave me an intent look. I must have passed muster, because he smiled.

“You definitely are fine,” he agreed with a wicked grin. Beau could do wicked so well.

“This has to go both ways. I want you to take off your shirt, too,” I demanded.

He looked up, and I knew he was looking at the timer on the stove. “No can do, Chickie. We now only have seven minutes left on the clock.” With that, he lifted me up and pulled the robe out from under me.

“Like the panties. You look good in yellow.”

I waited.

He tugged them downwards. Then he chuckled. “Especially in damp yellow panties.”

Yep, I knew he was going to go there.

I leaned up on my elbows. “No oral sex, you bastard. You’ve bought two boxes of condoms, so there is no excuse for you doing something for me when I can’t return the favor.”

His face got serious.

Oh shit.

A lecture.

“We don’t have time for one of your lectures.”

“Apparently we have to make time, sweet cheeks.”

“And don’t call me sweet cheeks!”

“Our sex life is not about quid pro quo. It’s about enjoyment. Fun. Connection. Communication.” Then he leaned in close, so that he was practically on top of me, his nose almost pressed against mine. “And in my case, it’s about love. It is definitely not about keeping score. Am I making myself clear?”

His blue eyes had turned the color of molten silver. My heart was the consistency of mush. “I love you, too, Beau.”

“And we’re not keeping score? You’re not just saying that because I said it?” he prompted.

I grabbed him by his ear and twisted.

“Ow!”

“I would never fuck around with saying the love word. Of course I love you, you big oaf. I adore you. You broke my heart fifteen years ago, and I know loving you now comes with risk, but I’ve never been surer of anything. Loving you right now is more important than thinking about the future. I want to be in the now with you. You are my soulmate.”