Christy didn’t answer. Instead she crossed the room and settled gracefully on the bed next to him.
David forced his gaze to her face.
“I want to talk about this friendship thing.” She ran a fingernail along his jaw, and the muscle tensed beneath her touch. “I’ve been thinking more about it, and though I like being friends I can’t see why we should deprive ourselves of other pleasures during this next year.”
“You want us to still sleep together?” His heart picked up speed.
“Sleeping?” She leaned over and brushed her lips against his. “I want you awake.”
David’s mind raced. Was he dreaming? And if not, would they only be hurt more by sharing this closeness? He sat up, taking in the sight and smell of her, and made his decision.
“Are you sure?” He gently fingered one of the tiny lace straps of her chemise.
“Positive.” She smiled.
He returned her smile and hooked the strap with his finger. Slowly he pulled it down off her shoulder. Her smile widened.
David’s heart pounded in his chest and his hand trembled as he swept the other strap off her shoulder.
“David.” Her voice came out in a tremulous whisper.
“I want to make love to you,” he said.
“Well, then, what are you waiting for?” Her eyes darkened with an unreadable emotion, but her voice was low and teasing. “We don’t have all day.”
“No.” His hand moved to her waist and he pulled her to him. “But we do have all night.”
Her lips met his and suddenly all night didn’t seem long enough.
Chapter Twelve
By the time David stumbled half-asleep into the kitchen at seven-thirty, Christy had finished her workout and was ready for another cup of coffee.
“Care to join me?” She lifted the carafe.
He plopped down into the kitchen chair and laid his head on his folded arms.
“I need something,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Christy hid a smile and poured him a large mug of her favorite Colombian blend. She set the cup on the table in front of him and resisted the urge to smooth his hair. “Why are you so tired?”
He straightened with a groan. “As if you don’t know.”
Christy thought back to their night together and chuckled. “I guess some of us just have more stamina than others.”
“Stamina?” He turned his head and met her gaze, all trace of sleepiness gone. The gleam in his eyes sent a shiver of anticipation coursing up her spine.
“I’ll show you who’s got stamina.” In an instant David was on his feet and she was in his arms.
Christy’s heart thudded in her chest as his mouth closed over hers. She returned his kiss with reckless abandon.
“Oh, Chrissy,” he said in a ragged voice. “What you do to me.”
What she did to him?
Christy drew a shuddering breath and brushed back the hair from her face with a trembling hand.
“You kiss me like that one more time,” he said, “and I might have to call in sick and spend the day here.”
“I think you’d be lonely here all by yourself,” Christy said.
“But I wouldn’t be alone,” he said with an impish grin. “You’d be with me.”
Christy couldn’t help but smile at the thought. “I’d give you lots of TLC.”
His eyes darkened for a moment. Then he shook his head as if trying to clear the image from his thoughts.
“It is so incredibly tempting.” He captured her hand with his and pressed a kiss into her palm. “But Grandfather scheduled a meeting this morning with the board.”
“Your loss.” Christy shoved aside her disappointment and flashed him a bright smile. “It could have been one fun day.”
“Keep that thought.” David’s dimple flashed. “Because one of these days it’s going to happen.”
“One of these days?” Christy rolled her eyes and dropped into a nearby chair. “When do you ever have a free day?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” He took a seat opposite her.
“You’re right,” she said with a resigned sigh. “It was a good thought.”
“Don’t lose faith. It can happen,” he said.
She wondered if he was trying to convince her or himself.
“We’ll just have to schedule a time,” he said.
“Schedule a sick day?” Christy said lifting a brow.
“Why not?”
“Okay, I’ll pencil you in.” She kept her tone light and offhand, not sure if he was serious or joking. Her gaze drifted to the clock. “But for now both of us better get moving.”
Surprisingly, David didn’t seem to be in any hurry. He lifted the cup to his lips and took a leisurely sip. “What’s on the agenda for you today?”
“This morning I’m going to answer some e-mail, then I’m heading over to Sara’s for Bible study,” Christy said. “After lunch Tom is flying in from Chicago and we’re going to go over some upcoming promotional events he has planned.”
“Couldn’t you do that over the phone?”
“We could,” Christy said. “But I think he’s really coming to see his sister in Winfield. He’s driving there tomorrow to spend the day with her.”
“What’s he doing tonight?” David asked. “Does he have dinner plans? It might be nice if we took him out.”
“Would you have time?” Christy asked, surprised at the offer.
“I could fit it in,” David said. “If you want me to go, that is.”
“I’d love it.” Christy could hardly keep the eagerness from her voice. “I’ll talk to Tom and give you a call at work. What time will you be out of your meeting?”
“Right now it’s scheduled from nine to noon.” David glanced at the clock on the wall and sprang to his feet. “I’d better get going.”
David grabbed a piece of banana bread from the table and slathered it with butter before heading for the door.
“Call and let me know what’s going on tonight,” he said over his shoulder.
“Will you be home after work?”
David stopped and turned. He paused for a second. “I’m not sure how the afternoon will go. I’d better just plan on meeting you.”
Christy shrugged. “Okay.”
She expected him to head up the stairs immediately. After all, he still had to shower and get dressed. But he stood, shifting from one foot to another.
“Christy.”
She raised a brow.
“I had a really good time last night,” he said. “It was great.”
Last night had gone way beyond making love. She and David had connected emotionally.
“I had a good time, too,” she said softly.
Her heart turned over at the smile he flashed her.
“Get going, mister,” she said, wanting nothing more than to be back in his arms. “I don’t want you to be late.”
He headed up the stairs and Christy leaned back in the chair, a broad smile on her face.