Page 44 of Love Unbound
Those damn butterflies still fluttered crazily in her belly, even as he reached her, sliding his arms around her and pulling her close for a scorching, deep kiss. When he pulled away, she was breathless, and she bit her lip to stop the moan that threatened to escape her. She was already wet.
Free’s eyes darkened and he grinned sexily, coming back to grasp her hips in both of his large hands, angling his hips against hers, chuckling when she gasped when she felt him hard against her. “Dinner first, then dessert.”
He released her and stepped back toward the stove, picking up the wooden spoon again and stirring the contents in one of the pots there.
Turning to set her purse down on the table, she smiled when she saw a bouquet of fresh flowers in the center of the table in a vase from under the sink. “These are beautiful, thank you.”
She moved to stand behind him, sliding her arms around his waist and resting her cheek against the hardness of his back. Her hands clasped together at his waist, and he covered the backs of her hands with one of his, turning his head to look over his shoulder, whispering quietly, “You’re beautiful, Jodi.”
She pressed a kiss to his back, through his shirt, before pulling away.
“It smells wonderful,” Jodi said appreciatively from beside him. “I don’t think I’ve come home to an already cooked meal since I was at Mom and Dad’s.”
Free’s lips tightened, but then he smiled over at her, setting the spoon down and motioning toward the fridge. “I went and got us more beer, and a bottle of wine. I wasn’t sure what you’d like with this meal.”
Jodi moved to where he had pointed, picking up a bottle of red wine. “This looks delicious.”
Free laughed, smiling widely, and Jodi was once again struck with how incredibly handsome he was. He was wearing his usual fitted blue jeans that hugged every inch of his long legs, backside, and cupped his sex. A plain black t-shirt stretched across his chest and back. His dark hair looked soft, like he’d just gotten out of a shower not too long ago, and it curled slightly at the ends. The dark facial hair had become one of Jodi’s favorite things about him. She loved to touch it while they lay together in bed.
“Open ‘er up,” Free said and smiled. “Though I may take a beer while I’m cooking.”
Jodi reached into the refrigerator and retrieved a beer, uncapping it and handing it to him. He took it graciously before tipping it to his lips and taking a long swallow.
Jodi’s body felt hot as she watched his throat work, swallowing the cold beer, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
When his eyes met hers, he grinned knowingly. “Later, sweetheart. I promise.”
Jodi blushed, turning to find a bottle opener, and then picking out two wine glasses from the cupboard. She moved around the kitchen, grabbing plates and cutlery to set the table. Jodi could smell garlic bread in the oven, and her mouth started to water.
Free pulled a large salad bowl out of the fridge, setting it on the table, before walking back to the stove where he picked up the pot that had spaghetti noodles boiling, bringing it to the sink to drain. He moved around the kitchen effortlessly, and as Jodi tried to help, he shooed her out of his way, saying, “Just pouryourself a glass of wine and relax, I’ve got this handled.”
The music on the Bluetooth speaker continued to play, a mix of 90’s and early 2000’s country. They were serenaded by the legendary George Strait, the heavy twang of Reba, and the comedic melodies of Joe Diffy. Free sang along as he worked, making Jodi smile.
As Free set the finished meal on the table, he turned to her and held his hand out to her, which she took. He pulled her into his arms, tucking her against his chest as they swayed to a slow Garth Brooks song, one of Jodi’s favorites.
“I’ve never slow danced in the kitchen before,” Jodi murmured, tipping her face up to his.
Free shook his head, reaching up to tangle the fingers of one of his hands in her curls, and Jodi let him tilt her face toward his, where he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m really not a fan of this ex-husband of yours.”
As the song ended, Free motioned to the table, “Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold.”
They sat catty-corner from each other, and as Free dished the meal onto their plates, Jodi poured herself another glass of wine, and asked with a tilt of the bottle if he would like one. He nodded with a smile and she poured a glass for him as well. A tossed salad, spaghetti with a Boulonnais sauce, handmade meatballs, and crunchy, flaky garlic bread completed the meal.
They dug in, and they chatted companionably. They each asked how the other’s day had been. When their plates were empty and bellies full, Jodi leaned back in her chair and took another sip of her wine, swirling it around the globe of the glass, and said, “That was delicious, Free, thank you.”
“You are most welcome, Jodi,” Free said and smiled over at her, reaching out and clasping her hand in his. The sun was just beginning to lower behind the tops of the trees out the front windows, casting reddish-orange sun rays across the yardand through the windows into the house where they danced on the hardwood floors. He glanced out the back patio doors to the large back deck, where Jodi had several Adirondack chairs. Motioning with his head, he asked, “Do you want to take a drink out to the deck and sit with me for a bit?”
“I would love that,” Jodi said and smiled. Standing, she cleared the plates from the table, taking them to the sink. Free rinsed the dishes and stacked everything in the dishwasher as Jodi poured herself another glass of wine and uncapped a fresh beer for him. Free slid the patio door open and Jodi walked out to the back deck, and he followed, closing the door behind him. They sat in the sturdy wooden chairs, and Jodi watched as Free ran his hands over the smooth finish on the arm rests. The sun had disappeared behind the tree line on the other side of the house, and in front of them the skyline darkened from dusty blue to navy, and hundreds of stars were starting to make their appearance. “Dad made these for me when I bought the house.”
“I thought I recognized your dad’s craftsmanship,” Free murmured, smiling over at her. His hand reached out and slid over one of her thighs, resting there comfortably. Except, at the slightest touch from him, her body tingled, attuned to every move he made. He must have sensed the shift in her, because when his gaze met hers, his aquamarine eyes were hot.
His fingers trailed over her thighs until they parted, and she whispered, “I think I’m ready for dessert now.”
Free sat up straighter in his chair at the same time that Jodi stood, coming to stand directly in front of him. He reached under the skirt she wore and pulled the flimsy, lacy panties she had on down her legs, tossing them aside. Working quickly at his belt and the buttons on his jeans, he freed himself from the tight jeans, and one side of Jodi’s mouth tilted up in an appreciative smile at his readiness.
He reached for her then, but she surprised him when shedropped to her knees in front of him. He gasped sharply, as her breath misted over him. “Jodi, you don’t—”
But she effectively silenced him when she took him into her mouth, her tongue swirling around the tip, then down the hard shaft. She took all of him, and he choked out a strangled sound, as his hands tangled into her curls. She reveled in the sounds he made from above her as she took all of him, again and again. She pressed her thighs tightly together, her own desire amplified by the way his body responded to her mouth on him.
