The next day, I seriously had to fight the urge to pinch myself. I’d thought last night was fantastic, but today was even more so. It was by no means beautiful outside—the fog was thick on the lake—but Dom had started the electric fireplace.
‘This is so cozy,’ I said, making myself comfortable on the love seat. At least that was what I called it, as it was the shorter arm of the L-shaped couch. It could comfortably fit two people lying next to each other.
Dom sat right behind me, placing his legs on the outer sides of mine. I pushed my hair to one side as he kissed the back of my neck.
I could feel my entire body relaxing even though I had so much going on. I hadn’t heard from Declan in regard to Malcolm, but I was trying not to think about it.
‘What happened?’ he asked against my skin.
‘What?’ I asked.
‘You tensed up all of a sudden.’
‘I just have a lot of tension gathered right here.’ I pointed to a spot just below where he’d kissed me before.
I didn’t want to tell him what was going on with Malcolm. This weekend was too beautiful to ruin it with any talk of him. Besides, Dom couldn’t do anything about it.
‘Is that just a trick to make me touch you here?’
I giggled. ‘I didn’t know I needed any tricks.’
‘You don’t.’ He tugged my pajama top down until it reached the middle of my back, then kissed a straight line from the base of my neck down to where the fabric covered skin. My center pulsed on each kiss.
‘I love this. I can practically feel every muscle relaxing. Why am I wasting my time with professional massages when I can just get you to kiss me?’
‘That’s right. Every time you need it, just let me know.’
I grinned. ‘Really? What will you do? Pop up at the office?’
‘Don’t put it past me. I’m at your beck and call.’
He doesn’t mind possibly running into my family?
‘You’re doing that thing again,’ he said, putting a hand on my belly and kissing back up my neck. ‘You’re thinking about something that makes you tense.’
I turned around, narrowing my eyes. ‘Can you read minds or something?’
‘No, but I can read your body.’
‘And what is it telling you?’
He lowered his gaze. ‘Right now? That you already want me.’
I looked down, curious as to what he was seeing. My top had shifted a bit, and my nipples were visible and peeking out.
‘You’re touching me and kissing me. Nothing I can do about that.’
He put two fingers under my chin, pressing his lips to mine. ‘No, but I can.’
‘I bet,’ I replied. ‘And it is the perfect day for this, isn’t it? What terrible weather. Thank goodness we went exploring last night.’
‘I could still show you the house.’
I frowned. ‘I already saw it.’
‘You didn’t see the basement. I think you’re going to enjoy it.”
I scrunched my nose. ‘Basements aren’t my favorite places. They’re dark and creepy.’
He kissed my temple. ‘Not this one. Tell me when you want to explore.’
‘You’ve made me curious, so I want to see it now.’
He took my hand and led me to the door that led to the basement. I couldn’t imagine I’d like it more than the living room.
But I was wrong. It wasn’t really a basement because it had a window overlooking the garden. It was much smaller than the one in the living room, of course, but it wasn’t at all cave-like. It had a spa and sauna, a whirlpool, and even a gym.
I sighed as I took it all in. ‘I don’t think I’ll go back. You can just leave me here to be the house sitter or something.’
He grinned, taking me in his arms from behind. I loved when he randomly hugged me—it made me feel safe, and that wasn’t a sensation I was familiar with.
‘We can come back here next weekend if you want to, Reese.’
Not only did he make me feel safe but also happy.
I turned around, moving my hands up his arms to his shoulders. ‘I want to test out everything: the gym, the sauna, and the whirlpool. Although, I didn’t bring a bathing suit.’
‘That’s not a problem.’
I raised a brow. ‘Are you trying to talk me into skinny-dipping?’
‘You’re the one who brought it up.’
‘True. Hmm. What to start with first? Maybe the gym.’
‘You have workout clothes with you?’ he asked.
I rolled my eyes. ‘Duh. Have you seen my luggage? I packed everything I thought could come in handy—except a bathing suit, since I figured it would be too cold to swim. How about you?’
‘I run in the morning, so I brought my sneakers.’
‘I like working out, but watching you while I do it would be extra motivation,’ I said.
The gym was small—a few weight stations, a cross-trainer, a treadmill, and a rowing machine—but it was more than enough.
‘Come on, let’s go upstairs and grab our things.’
Half an hour later, he was running on the treadmill, and I went on the cross-trainer. It was perfectly positioned so I had a good view of him and the outdoors.
This was the happiest day I’d had in a long time. I loved watching Dom sweat on the treadmill, and it was motivating me to do the same.
After finishing my cardio, I went to the mat and did my Pilates sequence while he moved to the ab bench and then to the weights. The latter was definitely my favorite—those delicious muscles practically pumped up from the effort. After finishing my routine, I lay down and propped up on my elbows, watching him.
‘Enjoying the show?’ he asked with a grin as he sat up straight on the weight bench.
‘Yep, and I’m not even sorry.’
‘Are you done?’ he asked.
‘Yes, but I don’t even have the energy to get up.’
He walked toward me at a lazy pace. Yum. I never found sweaty men appealing, but Dom definitely was. He extended both hands to me. I first gave him the left one and then the right, and he pulled me to my feet.
We showered in the bathroom he had downstairs. It was small, so we had to take turns, and there was no room for any sexy activity.
While Dom washed up, I stood in the shower door. Every time he turned around, I squeezed his ass. I heard him laugh in between the sound of water spilling all over the place.
After he turned off the faucet and faced me, he made to move forward, but I stepped back quickly.
‘So this isn’t a two-way street, huh?’ he asked.
‘No, not at all. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet for me, but not for you.’
‘And why is that?’
‘Because if you fondle me, we might end up back in bed.”
‘I’m good with that.’
I looked around. “I want to test the rest of the stuff first.”
‘Then let’s get in the sauna,’ he said.
He’d turned it on before we’d started working out, so it was smoking hot when we stepped inside. I wrapped my towel around myself so my skin wasn’t in contact with the wood.
‘Can I put some of this water on the coals?’ I asked. There was a bucket of water next to the fake coals. Spraying them would get some humidity in the air.
‘Sure. You can even put some essential oils in the water, too, if you want to. They’re on the shelf right outside.’
‘Do you have any preference?’ I asked him.
‘No. Choose whatever you want, Reese.’
I picked the one labeled Pine and put a few drops in the basket before setting the little bottle back outside.
‘I’ll pour the water,’ he insisted. ‘It’s hot, and I don’t want you to burn yourself.’
‘Okay.’ Honestly, I didn’t think I would burn myself, but I liked that he was so protective of me.
The second the water fell on the coals, heat filled the room, and the smell was absolutely amazing.
I inhaled deeply, then sighed. ‘I love this. The scent of pine is relaxing.’
He sat down next to me, smiling brilliantly. ‘I’m glad you’re having a good time.’
‘I am. How long do you think we’ll be able to take the heat?’ I asked.
‘Probably five minutes.’
‘Okay.’
Three minutes later, I practically burst out the door, as did Dom.
‘That was intense,’ I exclaimed.
We were both red and sweating.
‘You know, in Northern Europe, they go outside and take a swim in cold water after going in the sauna,’ he said.
‘Um, no thanks. I hate the cold.”
‘I thought you might say that.’
‘Let’s take another shower, shall we? Just to wash off the sweat. I promise I’ll keep my hands off you.’ I winked at him.
‘Mm, we’ll see.’
I moved my hips in an exaggerated manner right before a ripping sound filled the air. A second later, I realized he’d yanked off my towel.
I gasped, looking at him over my shoulder. ‘Give a girl some warning.”
I hurried to the shower, turning it on. Even though the stall was tiny, he stepped inside with me and kissed me deeply. He immediately moved his hands toward my ass, fondling it, and this time I didn’t stop him. This weekend was amazing, and I didn’t want it to end.
