“You know”—he fingered a wayward strand of hair near her face—“we haven’t been alone together since…that night. Funny the way it comes back around, hmm? So, what were you and Grouchy McGee talking about a minute ago? What are you going through with?”

“Nothing. Just this new thing I may or may not try. It’s a sort of…makeover.”

He tilted his head and scanned her face. “Why do you need a makeover? You’re perfect as you are.”

She blushed and got busy with the batter. He’d continually shown an interest, no matter how study-obsessed or sleep-ridden she looked. She pretended it didn’t make a difference, but it more than flattered her; it made her feel special, desired. Once she’d stirred the batter enough, she put it in the pan to cook and found her gaze locked on his chest. Did he put on more muscle since they’d had sex? Or had it been too long since she’d seen him without his shirt? If she reached out, without too much effort, she’d touch him. She fought the urge, and he cracked a smile at her obvious dilemma.

She turned back to stir the eggs and kept her eyes averted and hands busy. “I-I don’t know. I’m going to try a new look. You know, to get ready to go to Paris.”

“So you’re still going to go, huh?”

“Mmm-hmm.” He moved into her peripheral vision. His lips came right behind her ear, and his nose nudged her hair. She tensed.

“I’ve got to tell you, Molly, what happened between us…”

His warm hand slid around front, below her tank top. His fingers grazed her bare stomach, skin to skin. He waited, gauging her reaction.

“Is this okay?”

She almost shook her head, but she wanted his touch! She hadn’t gone without sex since being with him, but her body sang at the heat of his palm, and she realized she was starved for him, for what he and he alone could give her. She gave a barely there nod, and he continued to caress her stomach.

“What happened was… I don’t know what to call it. Amazing, sacred. We’ve kept it between you and me, but if you need someone—”

She gasped as his hand dived into her shorts and he slid his fingers over her clit, between her pussy lips. His fingers slowly made their way back up. He thumbed her sensitive nub, and she closed her eyes and tried to breathe.

“I’m here if you, you know, feel the need. No strings attached. I’ve had my eye on you for a long time now. But I have a feeling you already knew that.”

His voice dropped to a low and sexy growl. He moved his hand farther down, and she leaned her head back onto his shoulder as he thrust two fingers inside. He continued to stimulate her engorged clit while he steadily pumped in and out of her. She let out a small whimper, and his lips moved against her ear.

“Shh. Our little secret, right? I have a secret of my own. I can’t stop thinking about you. What you gave me, what we did together—do you think of me too? Hmm?”