Page 67 of Twice as Tempting

“So, the lightning bolt,” she prompted.

“According to legend, Zeus was responsible for throwing lightning bolts. Since he was the most powerful of all the Greek gods, the lightning bolt became a symbol of that power, although there are other meanings for it as well.”

“Such as?”

“Some saw it as a symbol of fertility and masculinity.”

Kelly giggled. “Seems fitting, although there’s no proof of your fertility running around somewhere, is there?”

Damian laughed. “Not that I’m aware of.”

“So, you got the tattoo done on a dare, right?”

“Yep. Dumb reason, I know. I was on spring break in Mexico, during my senior year of high school. Me and my buddies were goofing around one night, and there may have been some drinking involved, and the next thing you know, we were at a tattoo parlor.”

“But you were the only one who went through with it,” she finished. “Any regrets?”

“No. Not about that. Getting a tattoo is not a big deal in the scheme of life, Kell.”

She glanced up to see that his expression had turned serious. “It sounds like you might have other regrets.”

He ran his hand down the back of her long hair and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. “I think that most people have some, but I try not to dwell on past mistakes. What about you? Any regrets?”

“Just one.” She crawled over on top of him and buried her hands in his hair. “I regret making us wait so long to do this…” She bent her head down and nibbled on his bottom lip. They were still naked, and she felt his erection press into her belly.

Damian cupped her bottom as she peppered him with kisses along his stubbled jaw, on the tip of his nose, and on the slight indention in his chin. When she blew into his ear, he groaned, and when she reached between them to grab his manhood, the groan turned into a growl.

“Then let’s make up for lost time,” he said and flipped her onto her back. As Damian kissed his way down her body, Kelly marveled at how wonderful it felt to make love with him again. There was comfort in knowing each other’s bodies, but there was a newness to it as well. Their sex had been explosive before, lust-fueled and driven, and even though she still felt those things, there was something else now. This time, she wasn’t just giving him her body. She was giving him her heart, which was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. She wondered for a moment if Damian felt it too, but then he was stroking her center and licking her neck simultaneously in the perfect spots. The orgasm ripped through her before she knew it, and she clung to him, pulsating and rocking, until she slowly drifted back down, safe in the comfort of his arms.

Afterwards, she loved on Damian with her hands and her mouth, and then they lay together in the dark, him spooning her from behind.

“Stay with me tonight,” he whispered.

Kelly glanced at his bedside clock, and she was shocked to see that it was after midnight. She had to work the next day, but right then, it didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered but being with Damian. “Ok,” she agreed, “but I have to set an alarm for work tomorrow.”

“It’s already set for six o’clock.”

She flipped around to face him. “Are you crazy? Why do you need to get up that early?”

“Because I want to go into the shop for a while before our date tomorrow night.”

What with all the sex, Kelly had almost forgotten that they were double dating with Emma and Zack. “I don’t think I like this early rising habit of yours.”

“Well, we can’t just stay in bed all day. We wouldn’t get anything done.”

Kelly wiggled closer to him. “I’d say there’s plenty we could get done.”

And they went at it again until they were so exhausted that they finally agreed to sleep. Neither one bothered with clothes. They simply cocooned themselves under the covers and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Kelly barely registered the alarm ringing at six o’clock, nor the kiss that Damian placed on her forehead before he left for work. When the alarm woke her at eight, she realized that Damian must have reset it for her, and she smiled. She stretched her arms above her head and luxuriated in the cloud-like mattress for a little while longer, delaying the inevitable. When she finally made her way into the bathroom, she smiled again at the note that he had left her.

Breakfast on the table. Walk, don’t run.

Kelly practically skipped into the kitchen, crossing her fingers in hopes of what might be there. “YES!” she yelled when she saw the bag from the Clarkston bakery and another note.

Coffee in the microwave. You’re welcome!

After Kelly had warmed up the coffee and bit into the Bavarian custard donut, she sighed with contentment. She thought back to their conversation just yesterday and recalled Damian accusing her of wanting grand gestures. She would have to reassure him later that the simple things were what mattered to her. The night they had just spent together, the way that he had opened up to her—that was what was important. The sharing, the listening, the laughter, the need to satisfy each other, and his promise to “do whatever it takes” to make their relationship work. The donuts and coffee didn’t hurt either! Those were the romantic gestures that she needed, and if she wasn’t in love with him before, well, then she certainly was now.