Page 53 of The Specialist

Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled against my mouth. “Hi.”

“We need to get some groceries. I brought some things from home, but we need more.”

“Okay,” she agreed easily.

An hour later, I shut the trunk, trying not to laugh. We’d been to the grocery store, the bakery, liquor store, and the farmers market set up on the main street. We had enough food to feed a small army, never mind the two of us for a few days. But everything she picked up, exclaimed over, or sampled and hummed in delight, I bought. The boat was going to be full.

I parked at the marina, and we found the boat. It took several trips to load everything up, and I parked the car in the lot as I had arranged. Then we were off, plowing through the water, the wind in our hair, the lake stretched before us. Sofia stood in front of me as I guided the boat toward the small cove where the cottage was located. She was beautiful in the sun, the light playing on her hair, her smile wide. I was looking forward to the next few days of having her all to myself. From the excitement in her eyes, I sensed she felt the same way.

* * *

“Egan, this is beautiful!” she exclaimed.

I set down the last of the bags on the counter, looking around. I had purposely not shown her pictures of the cabin, wanting it to be a surprise, and I was pleased as I explored it with her. The A-frame log cabin was open concept, a large fireplace the focal point of the main floor. The kitchen was a gourmet cook’s dream with the high-end appliances and gas range with a built-in griddle and grill. The soaring ceilings and view were impressive, the walls of hand-hewn logs smooth and beautiful under my fingers. The staircase led to a loft that overlooked the main floor and was the only bedroom in the place. The space held a king-size bed, and its rich linens and warm-colored walls made the room romantic. Spectacular was the only word for the lofty view. Overhead, the skylights would be great for gazing at the stars. The bathroom had a huge walk-in shower with multiple heads I looked forward to using. Everything was luxurious and spacious, exactly as the owner had promised. And there was no one around for miles.

We unpacked everything and went outside to explore. There was a screened-in gazebo if the bugs were bad, plus a fire pit and the large dock and boathouse. The water was deep and clear, ideal for swimming. A hot tub was positioned at the side of the house, surrounded by a cedar deck. I planned on sitting in the swirling water tonight with Sofia beside me.

Naked.

Sofia slipped her arm around my waist as we stood on the dock. I squeezed her close, enjoying the moment. She gazed at the vista in front of us, then turned and looked at the cottage. “It’s perfect,” she murmured. “It takes my breath away.”

I looked down at her, not bothering with the view. She was far more beautiful.

“Yes, it does.”

* * *

SOFIA

I felt his arm tighten around me, and I knew he wasn’t gazing at the water.

He was staring. At me.

The way he looked at me—the intensity and focus—made me feel beautiful. Sexy. Wanted. I also knew if I met his gaze what would happen next. He would kiss me. Swoop me into his arms, and in five minutes, we’d be back in the cabin, on that huge bed, naked. Our skin would rub together, and we would be lost to each other.

It took two seconds for me to decide that was fine with me.

I looked up at him, our gazes clashing. The intensity I was expecting was there. So was the focus, but there was also so much love and passion, it made my breath catch in my throat.

“Egan,” I whispered.

He smiled, lowering his head and capturing my mouth. “Sofia,” he breathed against my lips. He cradled my head, kissing me. It was slow, gentle, and filled with emotion. He explored my mouth as if he had never kissed me before, learning me all over again. I clung to his arms, whimpering, kissing him back. His scent surrounded me, caught in the warm breeze that swirled around us. He lifted his head, and I frowned, going up on my toes to follow his mouth.

He ran his thumb over my lips. “I was never big on kissing until you,” he confessed.

“Why?”

“It never felt as if it was part of the moment. It was simply a means to an end,” he said honestly.

“And now?

“The instant I saw you, I wanted to kiss you. Every time I do, it’s not enough. I want more. You have the sexiest mouth. I love the way your lips form words. The way they shape around my name. How you taste.” He caressed my lips again with his thumb, the callused tip stroking just inside my lower lip. “It means so much. I can’t explain it.”

“I like kissing you too.” I looped my arms around his neck. “I like doing other things with you, too.”

He lifted one eyebrow slowly. “Such as?”

“Take me upstairs and I’ll show you.”