Page 73 of A Matter of Time

“Okay.” I was thinking. “So as soon as the case is over, I’ll pack my stuff and…”

“Listen to me,” he said slowly, kissing the back of my neck. “Let’s just worry about things as they come.”

“Easy for you to say. I’ve got rent to pay and⁠—”

“No. I talked to your landlord, and until he replaces the door and puts decent dead bolts in that place, he gets nothing. I told him he was lucky that you never asked him to do shit around that place.”

“Great,” I muttered. “Now he’s gonna hate me.”

“I’m surprised no one else ever said anything about your locks.”

“Well, Nick did say that⁠—”

He bit my shoulder before he sucked it hard. “I don’t wanna hear about the doctor.”

I chuckled. “Okay.”

“And your dancing days are over.”

I smiled wide, but he couldn’t see it.

“Do I hafta mention the doctor again?”

I cleared my throat. “It’s not fair if you date and I⁠—”

“I won’t.”

“Uh-huh.” I nodded. “So where were you last night, Detective, when you were supposed to be picking me up for dinner?”

Deep sigh as he clutched me tight, stroking my hip, nuzzling his face into my hair.

“On a double date.”

“I knew it.”

“It was planned weeks ago; no way to get out of it. But when I’m with you, my brain short-circuits, so I completely forgot until my buddy reminded me.”

“Okay, so that’s what I’m saying. You’re single and straight, so all your friends are gonna⁠—”

“I’ll take care of it.” He rubbed a stubbled cheek against the bare skin of my shoulder. It sent a shiver right through me.

“If you screw some girl while I’m⁠—”

“Then fair’s fair,” he said, his voice husky and so, so sexy. “You can sleep with a girl too, baby.”

“I love women,” I assured him. “I just don’t love women, ya know?”

He chuckled before rising over me, propping himself up on his elbow to look down into my face. “Do people tell you all the time how beautiful you are?”

“No.”

“You’re lying.” He smiled evilly, his eyes sparkling. “Look at you—you’re gorgeous.”

He thought I was beautiful, it was all I heard. I felt the heat race across my skin as he ran his thumb over my bottom lip, leaning into me.

I moaned, almost whimpering, and his mouth touched mine. I felt his hand slide down over my hip as his tongue slipped between my barely parted lips. It was too much for me. I closed my eyes for just a minute.

“Jory Keyes,” he said softly, his fingertips smoothing over my eyebrows. “What if I missed you?”