Chapter 12
“How can you eat like that when we’re going to start filming next week? Because I’ve read that script, and I swear, you’re shirtless in half of it.”
“It’s the love,” he said as he cut into a steak, next to a mound of mashed potatoes and green beans. “And I haven’t shown you the gym yet. It takes up a good part of the basement.”
“Ahhh …”
“And just sayin’, sex between us is bound to be great cardio. So, you’ll be able to eat more too.”
He was so matter-of-fact about it, and Windsor was grateful Marta had left them alone in the dining room for dinner with a comment like that.
“Now, if only you looked at me like you do at these mashed potatoes, I’d be a lucky man.”
Windsor burst out laughing. “I mean, do you have any idea how long it’s been since I had mashed potatoes? I have definitely had sex since then, and that’s saying something.”
His expression took on a curious cast. “Has it been that long?”
“For the mashed potatoes or the sex? Because it’s been a lot of years for both, although I can’t believe I’m admitting that.”
“Like how many years?”
Her cheeks heated, something she rarely had happen, and yet with him, it was turning into a regular occurrence.
Must be all that honesty …
“More than four. And if you tell anyone …”
“Why in the hell would I do that? Plus, after tonight … it’ll have been only a few minutes.”
Heat bloomed between Windsor’s legs, and she crossed one over the other to ease the need growing within her.
Bo noted her movement, and hunger flared in his aquamarine gaze. “How much more are you planning on eating?”
“I could be done.”
“Good.”
“What are we going to tell Marta? I don’t want to offend her.”
Bo looked at her with his eyebrows raised. “The woman has six kids. Trust me, I bet she gets it.”
Windsor laughed and fanned her face to stop the flush. “In that case, I’ll be upstairs, and you can make our excuses.”
He grinned. “Done.”
Windsor shoved back from the table and rose. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.” She sounded so proper and polite, which seemed at odds with what they were about to do. Because Windsor assumed—no, hoped—there would be nothing proper or polite about it.
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”
It was like a line from a script, but it was perfect.
“Until then.”
She had to tear her gaze away from his and focus on her breathing and remember how to get back to the master suite in his giant house.
Thankfully, the stairway was impossible to miss, and the upstairs only had two rooms.
Once inside the master suite, Windsor shut the door behind her and leaned against one solid wood slab.
Her heart pounded, and her palms were sweaty against it.
“This is really happening,” she said to the empty room. “Finally.”
Thankful she had hardly touched her supper, she pushed off and crossed to the bathroom and connected dressing room. She needed to pull herself together because she felt like the virgin she hadn’t been on her wedding night.
Do I even remember how to do this?
It had been forever and a day.
Don’t worry; he knows how, a voice within her said.
With his looks, his résumé, and his charm, she knew he had no trouble with women.
He was probably light-years more experienced in bed.
Being who she was, Windsor had taken care with her reputation.
She hadn’t been a saint, but she hadn’t been a slut either.
Her father would’ve killed her if she’d had a reputation for being easy.
After her divorce, she hadn’t been a big fan of men for quite a while. Then came the question, did she still know how to do it?
Remember, it’s like riding a bike, except you’re riding a cowboy.
She would be fine.
She heard the door click as it opened.
Well, that didn’t take long at all. Apparently, he was finally done waiting. Thank God.
She’d had some absent thought about seducing him, but instead, she’d just stood in the dressing room and done nothing.
Don’t try to control the river. Just go with the flow, she thought.
Windsor turned for the door … and there he was … standing at the doorway to the en suite.
“You all right?”
She nodded and let out a breath.
“Just giving myself a pep talk.” The honesty thing was getting easier. Actually, it was easier than searching for a lie to cover the truth.
“Did you need a pep talk? ’Cause I got you, if you do.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as she found herself walking toward him. “And what exactly would you say?”
“You don’t have to worry about a thing, darlin’. I’ll take care of everything. All you gotta do is let go and enjoy.”
“And let you do all the work?”
“That’s what a man does.”
Her confidence coming back, she touched the front of his shirt. “And what if I want to do some work?”
His lower lip pushed out for a beat. “That can be arranged.”
She trailed her finger lower, and his hand gripped hers before it reached his belt buckle.
“You don’t need to seduce me, Win. I’m already seduced.”
She was an intoxicating mix of boldness and bravado, shyness and sweet reservation. And he was seduced. Had been. For years.
Now, he finally had his chance to stake his claim with the woman he’d wanted to make his forever.
His own words floated through his mind. Let go and enjoy.
And that was exactly what he planned to do. He slid his fingers between hers.
“How’d that happen?” she asked.
“You breathed. You exist. It didn’t take much, just … you being you.”
The softness that filtered over her features added a stunning clarity to her beauty. The mask was down. And she was just Win.
“You are dangerous,” she whispered.
“Not to you.”
“Especially to me.”
“Why?” He lifted their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingers.
“Because of this.”
“You afraid you’re going to fall for me?”
“I’m afraid I already am.”
The truth coming from her exquisite mouth was an aphrodisiac like none other.
“You want to know a secret?”
She nodded slowly.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’ve already fallen for you.”
“But what if—” she started, and he lowered his mouth to silence hers.
“No what-ifs tonight,” he said against her lips, with her sweet taste going straight to his head. “Just be with what is.”
And then he took her mouth, kissing her the way he’d always wanted to. Like she belonged to him and it was his right.
She moaned into his mouth, kissing him back like she had been born to be in his arms.
And she was, Bo thought. Nothing has ever felt this right.
He let go of her hand and slid his arms behind her, locking them under her ass so he could lift her against him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he could feel the heat of her through her jeans.
He walked backward out the doorway of the bathroom toward the bed, never breaking the kiss.
When the backs of his legs bumped the mattress, he sat. Her legs split their hold, and her knees came down on either side of his hips.
She pulled back for a beat. “You bought this bed for us,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
He smiled into her mouth. She was starting to figure him out. “How’d you know?”
“Because … you wouldn’t put a makeup station in the dressing room and then not buy this bed for us.”
She was right.
“I’ve never had another woman here. Ever.”
“Serious?”
“As it gets.”
“Why wait so long?”
“Good things are worth the wait, and all things come to those who can be patient.”
“You’re like Confucius, Bohannon,” she said with a laugh.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“And then take me?”
“Give to you. Everything I have.”
She closed her eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”
He knew his words were a lot for a woman who hadn’t had that kind of honesty before.
“Let go. That’s all I ask.”
“In that case”—she rocked against the hard ridge in his pants—“I’m going to start right now.”