Page 135 of Crash Course
Highly unusual.
Still, she couldn’t help but smile and all thoughts of work vanished. Maybe, given the time, she’d snuggle next to him. If the last few times they’d made love were any indication, it wouldn’t be hard to rouse him from sleep. She’d make it worth his while.
Sure would.
Already, her nipples tingled, pressing against the fabric of her soft cotton pajamas.
She shook her head. Wasn’t this her problem? Allowing herself to get distracted? Today, up early, she could put a dent in her to-do list. And that’s what she’d do.
Get it done.
"I feel you looking at me," Cruz mumbled.
She whipped off a smile he couldn’t see but made everything inside her come alive. Happy. Somehow, after the hellacious night, she found herself happy. "You’re easy to look at."
"Wanna come back to bed and I’ll put a smile on your beautiful face?"
"You already did. You just can’t see it."
"Good to know. Always room for more, though."
"My kinda fella." She stood, then bent over the bed, popping a quick kiss on his lips, morning breath be damned.
He lifted his hand from his chest, reached out for her and she grabbed hold, entwining her fingers with his. "Go back to sleep. I need to get to the office. If I stay here, you’ll tempt me. Just pull the door shut when you leave."
"No," he rolled to his side and rubbed his free hand over his eyes. "I gotta get back home. I’m already on Zeke’s shit list and he wants an update on my research yesterday. Mind if I grab a shower with you?"
Mmmm. . .this might be a lovely way to start the day with a bang. Literally. "Not at all. Maybe you'll put that smile on my face again."
"Honey, you know I will."
An hourand two orgasms later, Cruz and Cilla stepped out of the elevator on the parking garage level under her building. Beyond the security gate, a horn blared as a truck and a few cars cruised by.
The early crowd on their way to work.
If Cruz hauled ass, he’d be home by 9:15 and could brief Zeke on Cilla’s case. Then he’d catch up on the other BARS projects in the hopper. All this time commuting back and forth to Charlotte and Asheville was definitely jamming him up. Which didn’t play nice with trying to stay off Zeke’s radar.
Beside him, Cilla, dressed to kill in a navy pantsuit and stilettos, shifted her purse to her opposite shoulder while they walked to the assigned space for her unit. The spaces on either side were vacant, leading Cruz to think either those units were empty or the owners already gone. Two down from her car, he’d parked his truck in a visitor’s space.
He glanced around, counted half a dozen vehicles parked opposite of theirs. Overall, this area seemed quiet.
He paused at the rear of the truck, unlocking it. He'd toss his overnight bag in and walk her to her car.
"Do you have a lot to do today?" Cilla asked.
Still holding the bag, he paused. "Some. I’ll get caught up. If you need anything, make sure you call."
"I’m not your responsibility. You have a job. I can’t have you running to my rescue every time my father gets mad at me."
"I’d say last night was a little more than him being mad. Will you see him today?"
"Not unless he comes to my office. Which, I don’t think he’ll do. He’s predictable when angry. The silent treatment is his principal weapon. He’ll stay away and not call me until I call him."
"Wow," Cruz said. "That’s rough. Will you reach out?"
She shook her head, sending her chin-length hair swaying. "Not today. The way I feel now, it may be a good long while.
"I didn’t sleep much last night," she added. "It gave me time to think about needing space. Room to breathe away from my father. I’m under his thumb. My office is two floors below his. I never thought much about the symbolism in that, but it’s as if he’s on top of me all the time."
