“I would wonder,” she began. Then she turned around to face the double doors. The archway over the wooden doors matched the hallway. “I would wonder why you wanted to make love in the bathroom. But . . . ”
He laughed as he closed the space behind her. His hands wrapped around her hips and drew her back against him. “I can’t wait to hear this but,” he growled in her ear.
“But,” she continued, reaching back and placing her palms on his thighs. “I would trust that you have a plan.”
His lips brushed her ear. “Will you still trust me in the morning?”
“Are you suggesting we spend the night together?” She fought to keep her tone light. “In this bathroom?”
“Yes.” He kissed her earlobe. “Will you, Lucy?”
She felt she could spend the next mo
nth, the next year, maybe longer with Jared and still uncover new pieces of the man she’d known most of her life. She’d learn the sides of himself he hid from the rest of the world. Everything from the way he looked when he first woke up in the morning to how he made love before he headed to work.
But another year would require a different level of faith in him.
“I think,” she said slowly. “Trust is something you earn every day. But it becomes easier to give with time.”
“I’ll earn yours again tomorrow,” he said as if she’d tossed out a challenge. He released her hips and stepped around her to push open the double doors. Then he moved to the side and gestured for her to enter.
“This isn’t a bathroom,” she murmured as her feet touched the plush carpet. A low, wooden, enormous bedframe filled one side of the room. The simple, modern style matched the sitting area, but seemed oddly misplaced beneath the vaulted ceilings.
“No.”
He moved behind her. She felt his fingers brushing aside her hair, gently sweeping her long locks over her right shoulder. His lips followed his touch. Soft kisses teased the sensitive skin. A shiver ran through her, and she moaned.
“I like this spot,” he murmured, tracing small circles over the nape of her neck with his tongue.
He guided her forward, using his body to urge her closer to the bed. His free hand released the button on her jeans and drew her zipper down. Then his lips released her neck.
“Tonight, it’s my turn to be selfish,” he said as he turned her around.
“Sounds fair.” She pushed her jeans over her hips and down her legs. As she stepped out of her pants, she stripped off her shirt. She’d selected black, lace underwear for their date—no more boring white.
Jared mimicked her motions, quickly removing his clothes. Standing before her in his black boxer briefs, he gave her a gentle push. And she let her body fall back, melting into the soft mattress.
She watched as his thumbs slipped beneath the band of his underwear. He drew the last piece of clothing off and tossed it aside. She couldn’t see where his boxers landed. Not that it mattered now that his well-defined muscles—and so much more—were on full display. He leaned forward and his abs contracted. His hands wrapped around her ankles.
“Very selfish,” he growled as he positioned her feet on the bed.
She curled up to watch as he lowered to the ground, one knee at a time. “You’ve had a rough few days,” she conceded. “Women bursting into your office—”
“One woman.” He ran his hands up her calves. Her knees were bent, and he urged them apart. He’d planted her feet wide enough to accommodate his broad shoulders. “You were the only woman who walked into my office and took off your clothes.”
“True. But then there was the alligator.”
“You were there for that too,” he pointed out.
“You know, maybe my week was worse.” She tried to draw her legs together, but he placed his hands on her knees.
“Did you deal with a sex tape?” he demanded, keeping his gaze on her face.
“No.” She allowed her legs to fall open.
“Lie back, princess,” he murmured. But he was no longer looking her in the eye as he spoke. His gaze was fixed on the slip of black lace between her legs.
She slid her palms along the comforter and allowed her head to fall back against the bed. She didn’t need to watch. She could map his movements through touch. His hands ran up her thighs . . . his fingers toyed with the edge of her panties, drawing them aside. Then his tongue teased and taunted her, flirting with her most intimate parts before licking a path down, down, down . . .