Her hands immediately find my hair.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?” she asks. Her voice is hushed in the darkness. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s a manifestation of my imagination.
“Sometimes, it’s just hard to unwind after a shift at the pub. What woke you?”
“I don’t know. I just turned over, and you weren’t there. The sheets were cool, and I wondered where you were.”
“So, you found me.”
She smiles softly. “I did. I have a question for you, Shawn.”
“All right.” I lean back and watch her beautiful face, shadowed in the low light. “What is it?”
“I guess I wasn’t as blasé about that woman in the kitchen as I thought I was. I want to make sure that she’s not your girlfriend or anything.”
I frown up at her. “If she was, don’t you think she would have fought a lot harder than she did? Thrown a fit?”
“Well, most would, but not all. Some women are doormats, Shawn. And I know that what’s happening here is casual, but I don’t want to hurt someone who might be in love with you.”
I soften toward her even more. “You’re a sweet woman, Lex. That woman, Taylor, is someone I dated about five years ago. It lasted maybe two weeks before I figured out that she’s definitely not for me. So, no, you’re not encroaching on anyone’s territory. She does seem to still have a thing for me. Though, honestly, who can blame her? I’m handsome. Funny. Charming.”
A smile slips across her delectable mouth. “Humble.”
“That goes without saying, of course.” I lean in and press my cheek to her belly as I wrap my arms around her waist and hug her. “I don’t want to think about her—or anyone else for that matter.”
I only have Lexi here for a few more weeks. I’ll be damned if I waste precious moments on thoughts of Taylor or any other woman when the one I want is standing right in front of me.
I tug the hem of the shirt up, uncovering her bare pussy, and plant a wet kiss on her inner thigh, making her gasp.
I fucking love how responsive she is. How willing to explore new things, and how she trusts me with her body.
I kiss her other thigh and then urge her legs apart just a little more so I can taste her. My lips fasten to her clit, and I press a finger inside her, just as her legs start to tremble.
Christ, I’ll never tire of this. Of watching her body come to life with the touch of my fingers, my tongue.
She’s pulling my hair and crying out as I send her over the first crest, and then without giving her a break, I turn her around, bend her over my desk, and quickly protect us both before easing my way inside her. With one hand planted on the small of her back, and the other gripping her hair, I set a rhythm.
She reaches back for me, and I take her hand and pin it behind her, grinning down at her.
Over the past few days, I’ve learned that Lexi enjoys being restrained. I can’t wait to introduce her to my ropes, but for now, my hands will do.
I tug on her hair, and she stands, easily following my wordless commands.
I kiss the ball of her shoulder, release her hand, and reach around to press my fingertips to her clit.
She comes spectacularly, shivering and moaning, and I can’t help but follow her over.
I pull out of her, turn her to face me, and wrap her in my arms. She’s the perfect match for me sexually, and I plan to take advantage of every opportunity I have to explore with her while she’s here.
She’s bloody amazing.
“Why are we getting along so well?” Lexi asks me several days later as we sit in the office, working on the screenplay. “Like, we haven’t yelled at each other in days.”
“I told you we’d hit our stride,” I reply. “And we have.”
“You’re also not quite so hardheaded,” she replies. “At least, not as bad as you were that first week.”
I grin because I know she’s not going to like my next question.
“But speaking of that, we need to talk about this next scene. The one where she thinks she’s catching the killer, but it’s the wrong guy. I want to discuss the dialogue here. I just don’t think it flows well.”
She blinks at me, and then that scowl slides into place, and I know I’ve pissed her off.
“I’m not trying to make you mad here, Lex. I’m trying to make it sound as good spoken as it does on the page.”
“How do you propose we change it?”
“I want her to speak softer. I know she’s in a potentially dangerous situation, but instead of yelling and being so aggressive, I think her voice should be hard but not raised.”
She shakes her head and rubs her temples. I’m in for a fight.
“I think it’ll be more believable, given how you’ve written her before this scene. She’s not one to fly off the handle.”
“And she’s not doing that now,” she insists. “She’s doing her job.”
I lick my lips. “She’s being a showboater. She’s showing off, Lexi, and that’s out of character for her.”
“Are we even reading the same book, Shawn? Because that’s not how it’s written at all. Maybe you’re one of those men who’s intimidated by women who feel confident in their job and their skin and know what the hell they’re doing.”
“I’m staring at one of those women, and trust me when I say, I’m not intimidated by you in the least.”
“Well, change my story, and you will be.”
I blow out a gusty breath and stride out of the office, heading straight for the kitchen.
“Don’t run away,” she says as she follows me. “We have to resolve this.”
“After lunch,” I reply as I start pulling out the ingredients for hoagie sandwiches. “I’m hungry, and we need to cool down.”
She sighs and sits on a stool, brooding.
“You’re sexy when you’re mad.”
She doesn’t reply. She just frowns at me.
I finish her sandwich, cut it in half, and slide the plate across the island to her, then start building my own.
“Why are you trying to change my story?” she demands before taking a big bite of roast beef and swiss.
“I’m not.”
“You are. You’re changing her. And I wrote her the way she is for a reason, Shawn.”
I sigh as I close my sandwich and cut it in half. “Did you give your editor this much shit? Or does he just tell you that it’s perfect the way it is?”
“She gave me plenty of feedback, thank you very much. But she didn’t try to change who the character is.”
“I’m not either, Lexi. I’m just trying to make it flow better for film.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t get it.”
“Then bloody explain it to me, damn it.”
“That character is everything I wish I was, Shawn. She’s brave and strong. Trustworthy. She’s so fucking badass.”
I can only stare at her, shocked by the words coming out of her gorgeous mouth.
“What are you talking about? You’re exactly those things, Lexi.”
She shakes her head again, more stubbornly than before. “No, I’m not. I’m some of those things here, which has been a surprise to me if I’m being honest. But when I’m home, just living my life, I’m not those things at all. I’m a coward. I’d rather sit in my condo and write stories about other badass women than go to the freaking grocery store. I hate leaving my house. I hate crowds. Strangers. People in general.”