Page 94 of A Shot at Love
Her quick grin died when he yanked her flat on the bed and crawled over her. He was at full arousal now, throbbing against her as he nudged her legs open.
“I didn’t think you could get any sexier.” He skimmed her jaw and collarbone with wet lips. “But watching you work just now? That was hotter than anything I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re saying that because I did it naked.” She chuckled and fanned her fingers across his shoulders. “I’m usually clothed when I work. Nothing sexy about that.”
“I disagree.” He kissed her once, twice; fast. “Naked or not, there’s something stimulating about watching you work.” This time he took his time with the kiss. “Your mind goes someplace else. You’re incredibly focused and in control. Totally in control. That’s beyond arousing in ways I can’t even put words to.”
“Speaking of arousing.” She pushed up against him.
His breath caught. “I’m trying to pay you a compliment here, woman.”
“I don’t need compliments.”
Ky’s gaze bore into hers in a way that, if she thought about it, would have made her uncomfortable with its scrutiny. Too many times in the past few days he’d looked at her the same way, as if trying to get to her core, see into her soul; determine what made her tick.
“What do you need?” he asked in that growl that turned her insides to quivering mush.
“This.” She ground her pelvis into his. “You. Now.”
Right before his lips covered hers he told her, “You’ve got me.”
*
After a quick nap that they both needed, they rose and, without showering again, dressed. Then, it was Ky’s turn to make dinner. Kandy had sent several proteins with Rick, so he opted to make a chicken dish of his mother’s he thought Gemma would like.
With a dish towel tucked into his pants, he set about cooking while Gemma uploaded her pictures to the secure computer Bannerman had brought for her.
“Again,” she set her fork down next to her plate, sat back in the chair and closed her eyes, “you’re gonna need to give this recipe to my sister. This chicken tastes insane.”
“I’m sure my mother won’t mind giving it to someone not in the family, since it’ll be to her favorite chef-lebrity.”
Gemma took a large sip from her soda glass. “Do all the people in your family cook?”
Ky nodded. “Two of my older brothers run a restaurant together, their wives included. My uncle is the head chef. My father grew up in the food industry so he’s as good a cook as my mom and YiaYia.”
“I love that word,” Gemma said with a smile.
His stomach muscles tightened at the expression on her face. Forget the dinner in front of him. He could live off that smile and never know hunger. “What? YiaYia?”
“Yeah. It sounds so, I don’t know…like someone who’s cherished and adored.”
Ky considered that, then nodded again. “She is. Both. Her ninety-fourth birthday is in a few weeks. My parents have a huge celebration planned.”
“Did you grow up with her in the house?”
“Yes. She’s been living with my parents since before I was born. She came over from Greece when my grandfather died. My dad’s the oldest, so naturally, she came to him.”
“Why naturally?”
“In our culture, the oldest child assumes the adult responsibilities of a widowed parent.” He shrugged. “She’s been with us for almost forty years.”
“She never remarried, or found someone else to be with?”
Ky laughed out loud at the notion of his grandmother hooking up with any other man. “No. Like swans, Greeks tend to mate for life.”
Gemma sighed and glanced down at her plate.
“That doesn’t sound like a very happy sigh,” he said, lifting his water glass to his lips.
“No. It’s okay. I’m okay. Just…I don’t know.” She took a swig of her soda then laid her elbows down on the table, hands clasped in front of her.
Ky stretched across the table and wrapped his hands around hers. “What? Tell me.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his and he saw the sadness flitting in them. Worrying her knuckles with the pads of his fingers, he squeezed her hands and said again, “Tell me.”
