"You did?" She turned as Alex glanced back and chuckled.
"Yeah. White washes me out."
She burst out laughing, and warmth infused her. With everything they had been through over the last couple months, a day of fun was more than she could hope for, and perfectly timed. "We don't have to go on a run if you don't want." She moved over and bumped his hip, forcing him out of the way as she got the machine working.
"How did you do that? I have three damn degrees and couldn't get it to budge for me." He slid his hands over her hips and pressed himself to her rear.
"I'm this really big-shot's PA/senior advisor. He makes me do all sorts of things that you wouldn't want to hear about." She pressed against him and moaned softly as his hands moved up her front to cup her throat.
He pressed a long hot kiss to her neck and growled low in his chest. "I actually want to hear all about it."
She smiled and pulled from him. "Tonight then. As much as spending the day naked and sweaty sounds like bliss, you haven’t taken me out for a day of fun in forever. I'm opting for that today, and loads of depravity tonight."
"Depravity. I like the sound of that. Let's just say that depravity is exactly what I want for Valentine’s Day. Get me that." He swatted at her butt as she jogged out of the kitchen.
"Already purchased it."
"Good. I plan to unwrap it slowly tonight." His words followed her into the bedroom as she changed quickly into her running outfit.
He had two mugs of coffee ready to go by the time she joined him back in the kitchen. “How about we go for a walk instead?”
She smiled in agreement and the coffee she offered. She walked to the door, but paused when she realized that he wasn't following her.
"Aren’t we going to take Jake along?" Alex asked. He tilted his head to the side, studying her. "I thought he always went with you."
Jamie burst out laughing. "Are you kidding me? He hates going out there. Maybe in the spring time, but I went through a whole bag of treats the other day trying to get him to keep up." She laughed and Alex chuckled, shaking his head at her.
"Then you're doing it wrong." He turned and walked toward the laundry room. "I'll show you how to do it."
"Please do." She put her hands on her hips and waited for the show to begin.
Half an hour later, they were walking by themselves, and Alex was still ranting about picking out a dog that acts more like a king than an animal.
"Leave him alone." Jamie swatted at him as they turned the final corner back toward the house. "He's just a baby. He'll grow out of it."
"Not if we don't train him to." He glanced over at her. "You look hot, by the way."
"You’ve told me that. Ten times."
"I'll tell you ten more, too. You're breathtaking. I wanna make sure you know it." He brushed his hand down her back and popped her butt as they moved up to steps toward the front door. "Can I have some of my gift now? Just a little bit?"
"No. Stop being greedy. The gift is to be unwrapped tonight." She glanced over her shoulder to find his gaze diverted down to her rear.
"Yeah, but those pants hug your ass so nicely." He moved up behind her and cupped her butt again, squeezing as he pressed his chin into her shoulder and gave her a sad look. "Please?"
"No. That puppy-dog stuff doesn't work with Jake, and it's not working with you. Get dressed for our day, and I promise you that, after tonight, you won’t be able to walk right." She turned and kissed his cheek quickly before going into the house.
* * *
The mall was a mess of people, as if no one had a job, or maybe Valentine’s had become a bank holiday. Jamie tried on several nighties, but refused to come out and show Alex simply because she wanted the outfit to be a surprise for later that night.
He stood not-so-patiently at the front of the dressing area and kept trying to peek over the top. The attendant threatened to send him out, but Jamie saved him from getting ejected from the store. She walked out of the dressing room, laughing at him as he gave her a stern look. "What?"
"You told her that you didn't know me. Really?" He reached for her hand and tugged her beside him. "I'm spanking you for that."
"Good. I'll have loads of ass showing later. You'll have plenty to spank." She shrugged as if they were talking about the weather.
"You're such a bad girl. Did you know that?" He locked her arms behind his, trapping her to his front. "I love it. It turns me on in ways I never dreamed possible." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in the middle of the mall, kissing her softly at first and then harder.