The next morning Drew woke up to the sound of Beth’s alarm. She groaned, rolled over, and hit the snooze button. When she plopped back down on the mattress, he slid up behind her and gathered her into his arms.
“Mmm. Good morning.”
Drew kissed her shoulder and nuzzled his nose against her neck. “Definitely a good morning.”
“Not too sore?” she asked, turning to face him.
It was true that his backside was still somewhat tender, but overall he felt great. “No worse than I would be after a good workout at the gym.”
Beth grinned. “I wish I didn’t have to go to work. It would be nice to stay in bed with you like this.”
He couldn’t agree with her more. Spending the day in bed with her sounded pretty close to perfect to him. “Too bad Tommy can’t cover for you today.”
“Oh, I meant to tell you. I decided to hire someone else. It’s just becoming too much for me and Tommy by ourselves.”
“I think that’s a good idea. You both need to take some time off once in a while. Plus, I’d like to take you camping with me one of these days and we’d definitely need more than two days.” He pressed his lips against hers in a teasing kiss before moving his attention down to her neck.
She hummed. “Camping, huh?”
“Yes,” he said between kisses. “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to keep you nice and warm at night.”
“Is that so?” Beth tangled her fingers in his hair as he worked his way lower.
“Promise,” he murmured before tracing around her nipple with his tongue.
Unfortunately, their fun was interrupted by her alarm going off again.
Beth took a deep breath and stared down at him. “I have to start getting ready or I’ll be late.”
Drew knew he should let her go. He knew how much the café meant to her. Instead, he pushed himself up until he was at eye level with her.
“Be late.” The words were whispered, but that didn’t decrease the emotion behind them.
Everything around them seemed to stop as he waited to see how she’d react.
She placed her palm flat on his chest. Drew was sure she was going to push him off her, but then she hit the off button on her alarm with her free hand and reached for his cock. “Make it fast. And you don’t come until after I do.”
His morning wood grew with her words. “Yes, Mistress.”
The tip of his erection pressed against her pussy as she guided him right where she wanted him. Beth raised her hips and he took it as an invitation to thrust forward.
She was tighter than she had been the night before. Considering how little experience he had with morning sex, Drew didn’t know if that was normal or if it meant that he needed to do more to get her aroused—maybe both. To be sure, he molded his hand to one of her breasts and sucked her nipple into his mouth. Little by little, he kept going until the base of his cock was pressed against her.
“More,” she urged as she bent her knees to give him better access.
He gave her more. Releasing her breast, he propped himself up on his knees and grabbed hold of her hips for leverage. The new position drove him deeper, and the look on her face every time he plunged forward had him determined to please her no matter what.
When he noticed her breathing begin to change, he debated whether or not he should provide additional stimulation to her clit. Beth took the decision away from him when she grabbed hold of his hand and positioned his thumb where she wanted it. “Touch me.”
Drew had learned a few things in his wilder days. He had no issue putting that to use in making sure Beth felt good. Widening his legs a bit, he timed his thrusts with a firm pressure to her clit. It only took three times before Beth arched her back and came undone before his eyes.
He picked up his pace as she rode out her orgasm. Knowing he didn’t have to hold back, Drew concentrated on the feeling of her, hot and wet around his cock. Beth was an amazing woman and she was all his.
A handful of thrusts later, Drew felt his climax within reach. He was right there.
Beth took both of his nipples between her fingers and twisted hard. That was all it took. Drew felt his orgasm all the way down to his toes.
Blood pounded in his ears as he fell forward, bracing himself on his forearms. “Now, that’s a great way to wake up.”
Lacing her fingers behind his neck, Beth grinned up at him. “Enjoy yourself, did you?”
“With you, always.”
“You’re good for my ego.” Beth shifted beneath him. “But I really do have to get ready.”
Reluctantly, Drew flopped over onto the mattress beside her.
He thought she’d scramble out of the bed as soon as he’d removed his weight from her. That’s why he was surprised when she turned toward him and ran her index finger from his collarbone to his navel. “Want to join me in the shower?”
“I thought you didn’t want to be late.”
She shrugged.
It looked as if the morning fun wasn’t entirely over.
***
Beth was almost an hour late, but for the first time, she didn’t care. When she walked through the door, Tommy nearly attacked her. He’d been worried she might have gotten into an accident or something. After she explained that she’d just overslept, he calmed down and they got to work.
The day turned out to be one of the busiest they’d ever had. Beth had no idea how she and Tommy managed, but they did. Somehow. By the end of the day, though, she was dead on her feet. It only reinforced the need to hire some help. If days like this became the norm, she and Tommy would burn out quickly.
As it was, Beth didn’t make it back home until after five.
“I was starting to worry.”
She snapped her head up to find Drew sitting on her front porch. “Sorry. I probably should have called. Things were just crazy today.”
They’d made plans for him to come over again for dinner and maybe even another play session. Beth knew with the way she was feeling there was no way she would be up for playing.
“I can go if you’d rather be alone,” he said.
Although Beth was tired, she couldn’t bring herself to send him away. “Stay.”
He nodded and followed her inside.
Beth kicked off her shoes and started toward the kitchen.
Drew reached for her arm to stop her. “Let me cook for you. You can sit down on the couch, have a glass of wine . . .” He stepped closer and pressed his forehead against hers. “Let me take care of you.”
“You don’t have to do—”
“I want to.” He cupped the side of her face and gave her a soft kiss.
“Okay.”
He smiled. “What kind of wine would you like—red or white?”
“White, please.”
“Coming right up.” Before disappearing into the kitchen, he gave her another kiss.
It had been a long time since someone had offered to pamper her. Sure, there were times when she’d ordered Ben to do something for her, but it wasn’t the same.
Thinking of Ben reminded her that she hadn’t seen him since the day he’d shown up at her café. While she’d like to think that he got the message and would leave her alone, she highly doubted it. Ben could be very persistent when he wanted something. If he truly wanted to talk to her, he’d keep trying. Next time she would be more prepared. At least, she hoped she would be.
“Here you go.” Drew handed her a wineglass that was filled almost to the brim.
She raised one eyebrow at him.
He kissed her nose and chuckled before walking off. “Dinner will be ready in about half an hour.”
Taking a sip of her wine, Beth sat down, and stretched her legs out onto the couch. She tilted her head back and tried to relax.
Before she knew it, he was back. Drew placed two plates on the coffee table and then gently picked up her legs so that he could sit down. The care that he took to arrange her legs so that they were draped across his lap warmed her heart. How was she not supposed to fall for him when he did stuff like this?
She accepted the plate that he offered and took a bite. It was baked ziti and it was delicious. “Is there anything you can’t cook?”
“I’m glad you like it.” His smile melted her as it always did.
They ate in silence for several minutes before she decided that she needed to let him know that their plans for the night would have to change. “I know you were hoping we could play tonight, but I don’t think I have the energy.”
“I figured as much. You looked as if you were about to collapse earlier.” He took a drink of the wine he’d poured for himself—a glass that wasn’t even half as full as the one he’d poured her.
“Does that bother you?” She knew it would have bothered Ben. If they’d made plans for a session, then he expected them to play.
“Not really. There will be plenty of other opportunities. I am kind of hoping you’ll still let me stay the night, though.” That cocky grin was back.
“I don’t know. I might have to think about that one,” she said as she peered at him over her wineglass. “It’s been a long day. I need my rest.”
Drew leaned forward and placed his empty plate onto the coffee table along with his drink. Then he turned his attention to her feet. “Guess I’ll have to convince you.”
Beth moaned when his fingers pressed along the arch of her right foot. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a foot massage.”
He kept rubbing, and it felt heavenly. She soon forgot her food.
“Are you done?” he asked when he realized she’d stopped eating.
“I don’t think I can eat while you’re doing that to me.”
Drew halted. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No. It feels too good.”
He laughed and went back to what he was doing.
Beth set her plate and wine on the floor next to the couch, then leaned back to enjoy her massage. He worked every muscle in her feet and ankles with a circular motion that seemed to draw out every bit of stress. When he’d begun, her feet had been throbbing and tight. After his attentions, she was starting to feel normal again. “You’re good at this.”
“Thank you.” He continued by dragging his hands along her calves and then down again.
It had been a long day and with the coaxing of his hands, she was becoming drowsy—so drowsy, she’d missed what he’d said entirely. “What was that?”
Drew dug his fingers into her skin as he traced a path from the back of her knee down to her heel. “I asked if you’d like for me to draw you a bath.”
“You’re spoiling me. Keep this up and I’m never going to let you leave.”
She said the words in a teasing way, but his response and the look on his face were utterly serious. “That’s the plan.”
Beth swallowed. Was she misreading him? They’d only recently begun dating.
While she was still mulling over his words, Drew lifted her legs and stood. “Let me warm up the rest of your food so you can finish eating, and then I’ll go start that bath for you.”
He kissed the top of her head before bending down to retrieve her plate. As she watched him stroll out of the room, she tried not to read too much into what he’d said. Beth knew he was looking for something more than just someone to play with. He’d wanted a relationship. Considering she’d only ever played with one other person besides her ex, she was on board with that. While Beth understood that there were a lot of people out there who didn’t mind playing casually with other members of the club, it wasn’t something that had appealed to her. Then again, neither did casual sex.
She lifted her wineglass to her lips as Drew returned with her warmed dinner. “I’ll come get you when your bath’s ready.”
Beth grinned up at him. “Thanks.”
There was a slight hesitation before he jogged up the stairs to see to her bath. She really didn’t know what she was going to do. The man had not only wormed his way past her defenses and into her heart, he was taking up residence there. Even though she’d meant it as a joke, she was wondering if it were more prophetic. When she’d found out about Ben’s other life, she’d been crushed, but more than anything Beth had been embarrassed—betrayed. How could she not have known?
What she hadn’t felt was all that heartbroken over the actual loss. Ben could be attentive, but looking back at the relationship she realized more often than not it was always a means to an end with him. It was a way to manipulate her.
If Ben had been the one waiting for her tonight, she doubted it would have crossed his mind to give her a foot massage. On the off chance that it would have, there would have been strings attached. Since they’d made arrangements to play, he would have most likely ended the massage by asking if she felt up to having some fun then.
Glancing toward the stairs, Beth had to admit that Drew and Ben were very different men. She knew now that Ben had been selfish. He was selfish in everything he did, including how he’d treated both her and his wife. Drew was the complete opposite of selfish. Whenever they were together, he made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world. Even his job reflected his unselfishness—he ran into burning buildings trying to save lives and people’s homes.
Whether she liked it or not—and even though it scared the crap out of her—she didn’t know what she’d do if Drew left her life. If he ever betrayed her like Ben had, Beth didn’t know if she’d be able to recover.
“Hey. Is everything okay?” Beth looked to find Drew kneeling beside her.
She grinned. “Yeah. I’m good.”
He still looked somewhat concerned, but he didn’t press her. “Your bath’s ready.”
Beth nodded.
Drew helped her up and took her mostly empty plate from her. “Did you want to finish eating first?”
“No. I’m good. We were so busy, I didn’t get to eat lunch until almost two.” While that was true, her lunch had consisted of half a croissant and some roast beef eaten in between orders.
They made their way upstairs to her bedroom. Drew went to check the temperature of the water again while she got undressed. Beth was tempted to forego the bath and crawl into bed, but she didn’t want to seem ungrateful. She plucked her robe from the closet so she’d have it for later, and trudged into the bathroom.
When she walked in, she could hardly believe her eyes. Drew was on his knees next to the large tub. He had lowered the lights and had several candles lit. It was very romantic and peaceful.
He got to his feet and crossed the short distance to where she stood in the doorway. Without a word, he took her robe from her and hung it up on the door. Then he reached for her hand.
She placed her palm in his and let him lead her over to the bubble-filled water. Drew helped her as she got in and lowered herself down into the tub. It felt wonderful. The scent of lavender surrounded her and she wondered if it was from the bubble bath, the candles, or both.
“Would you like another glass of wine?” he asked.
Beth shook her head. “If I drink much more, I’ll fall asleep. I’m not far from it now.”
Drew smiled.
“You didn’t have to do this, you know.” She felt as if she needed to put it out there.
“I wanted to. Besides, you can pay me back one of these days.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face and winked at her.
She chuckled.
“Relax and enjoy your bath. I’m going to run downstairs and clean up, then I’ll be back to check on you.”
Beth sighed and slid further down into the water as she let the warmth pull the tired ache from her body. She loved baths and she wondered how Drew had known, or if it had been a guess.
The sound of something moving off to her right made her open her eyes. It was Drew. He was blowing out the candles. When had he returned?
“You’re back.”
She stretched. That’s when it dawned on her that she must have dozed off. “Guess I was more tired than I thought.”
He reached for a towel and then for her. She took the offering, and stepped out of the bathtub. Beth had to admit that she could get used to this type of attention.
After unfolding the towel, he slowly dried her off. It wasn’t meant to be erotic, but it was. Although her mind wasn’t remotely in the mood for sex, Drew was able to get her body to respond. Like it or not, her body wanted him.
She closed the distance between them and pressed her naked body against his fully clothed one. Drew stared down at her, unmoving, but he was unable to hide his body’s reaction. She could feel his erection straining against his jeans. Beth wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips down to hers.
“Beth . . .”
His whispered plea only made her body yearn for him more. “Shh. Take me to bed, Drew. Make love to me.”
There was a moment’s pause, and then he scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom.