“That’s ‘I’m a stud’ in Spanish. Just in case anyone in the streets didn’t speak English.”
Britt practically doubled over with laughter at his hubris. Truly she was overjoyed that he was once again the same audacious, clever hot guy who’d bought her two margaritas at Tamarind the night they met and gone home with her, too. It was nice to see the flirtatious, brash boy who’d caught her eye had now begun to emerge from the fog of his sadness. She rushed back to the bathroom and put a plush robe on over her panties and tank top just because she felt the need to cover up. Jack just zipped up his pants and strutted in off the balcony like he’d just accomplished a major success. She laughed at him again.
“No more cava for me. It makes me reckless.”
“Wrong answer. LOTS more cava for you!” he laughed.
He captured her and kissed her.
“I think I need to eat something.”
“Did I wear you out? Are you starving from all the exertion?” He waggled his eyebrows at her and she burst into another fit of giggles.
“You’re terrible! That ego! No, I just get hungry because it’s—”
“Mid-afternoon?”
“It’s lunchtime at home.”
“Sure, right. It was my incredible prowess that depleted all your reserves of energy. I’d suggest carb-loading like athletes do before a major event. We don’t want you fainting from ecstasy later.”
“It’s a good thing you’re cute,” she said.
“Oh, you know I’m not being conceited. It’s only the plain truth of the matter.”
“I hate to admit it, especially with your massive ego, but you are, in fact, exactly that amazing in bed.”
“I must be if you mistook that balcony chair for a bed.”
“I wasn’t concerned with the surface we happened to be using.”
“Further proof of my superiority.”
“Indeed,” she acknowledged with a smile. “I do declare you to be quite as good on a chair outdoors as you are in a more comfortable and conducive location. That’s quite a stellar recommendation and I suggest you add it to the list of accomplishments on your resume immediately.”
“I don’t have a resume. I have a corporation,” he said.
“How nice for you!” she teased. “I still have a resume so you must forgive my peasant mindset, thinking of such details. Speaking of details, it’s your birthday. I have to get you a present! What would you like? A piñata? A nice plate of clams that won’t make you ill?”
“Hmm...let me think. There must be a nice lingerie store somewhere in Madrid. There’s nothing I would rather have for my birthday than you. Wrapped up in a pretty package or wrapped in nothing whatsoever.”
“So for your birthday, I get to go shopping and buy pretty lingerie?”
“Absolutely. Only I’m buying.”
“Blasphemy. You can’t pay for your own gift.”
“Certainly I can. I intend to take you to a shop a bit more....luxurious than what you’re accustomed to and I wouldn’t want our fun inhibited by your reaction when you see the price tags. Trust me, this is a treat for me and it’ll be much more enjoyable for us both if you haven’t any concern over the cost of the articles we choose.”
“Hey, I’ve bought a matching bra and pantie set from Victoria’s Secret, I’ll have you know. Those things are not cheap,” she said.
“I’m sure they aren’t, relatively speaking. I have an eye toward something from Agent Provacateur and their prices list a bit north of those.”
“If you insist,” she said grudgingly. “But first I want to eat something.”
“Call room service if you like. I’m going to have a true siesta just now, to recharge my batteries so I’ll be perfectly virile for your enjoyment later.”
“I didn’t realize that virile studs like yourself required a nap. I thought that was more for old men,” she teased him and he flexed a bicep for her to admire.