Page 85 of A Matter of Time

He smiled at me wickedly. “You’re jealous, and I’m diggin’ it.”

“I am not jealous.”

“Oh no?”

“No.”

“I see.” He continued to smile as he took the bottle from me and easily pulled out the cork. He stepped between my legs. “So you weren’t completely bent out of shape that she was here?”

“I thought you didn’t realize she liked you.”

“I didn’t, but you did, so I’m thinking you were rattled.”

“As if.”

He put his hands down on either side of me and looked at me hard. “Really?”

I was lost in his smoky-blue eyes, so I sighed deeply and came clean. “Of course I was jealous, you moron. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No need,” he assured me, leaning in.

Food forgotten, wine forgotten, I was too busy kissing him, his hands on my thighs as he yanked me forward off the counter and into his arms.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he ordered, his voice full of gravel, deep and low.

I did as I was told, and he carried me to the bedroom, an arm around my waist, his hand caressing my ass. He nuzzled my throat as I stretched it out for him.

“I love your ass,” he whispered against my ear.

“It’s all yours,” I promised him.

And when I heard his breath catch, I had to smile. It seemed that maybe Detective Kage liked having me around as much as I liked being around. It was a small miracle.

It was late when I woke up in his bed. I had both my arms wrapped around him and a leg over his hip. I was pressed tight against his chest.

“Sorry,” I said softly, shifting away from him. I knew it had to be hard for him to sleep with me like that. “I didn’t mean to⁠—”

“Stop.” He put an arm around my back, anchoring me against him.

“What were you doing?” I asked drowsily, realizing he hadn’t been asleep.

“Watching you sleep.”

“That’s weird. Close your eyes.”

“I’m just having trouble wrapping my mind around this.”

“What?” I was groggy, not totally awake yet.

“You being here in my bed.”

“Do you want me out of it? Should I go sleep in the guest room?”

“No. That’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean, then?”

“Even if I explain it, you won’t understand.”