Jaxson.

He makes me smile, makes my heart skip one-thousand beats. And for anyone keeping score, note the bonus points: the man cooks.

After we ate our bacon and vegetable omelets, we cleared the table, then the counters, and now we’re just about done washing the dishes. What he washes, I rinse, then place in the dish rack.

Chills run through me each time my hand grazes his, and it seems like we keep inching closer and closer than how we were when we started. Ten minutes ago, we stood about one-foot apart. Now nothing but sexual tension separates us as we stand side to side, hips locked.

I place the last dish onto the rack, and he takes his hands out of the bubbles, flicking suds onto my face.

Eyes widened, I stick my hand in the suds and flick some on him.

“Oh really? It’s like that, huh?” He chuckles and with his index finger, swipes the suds off of my face, then his.

Pivoting to rest my back against the countertop, I fold my arms. “You started it.”

He moves in close, licks his lips, his dark eyes heady, zooming in on mine.

Those eyes. Those lips. They are like passion bullies. Teasing me. Dousing a hot shower of desire all over me.

Through quickened breaths, he cups my face and whispers, “Well Lauren, now I’m about to finish it.”

With one swift move, his mouth and mine continue what was started that night on the deck, our lips now taking their time getting acquainted. Slowly. Softly.

Ever so sensually.

He moves his hands from my face, grazing my breasts, and then brackets my waist, pulling me even closer to him as my fingers run like crazy through his thick hair.

I shudder. He moans. I groan.

Our lips part, allowing our tongues to join in on the lengthy meet and greet. And by now, my whole entire body practically melts into him.

I can feel his erection. Oh my god. Am I dreaming or is this really happening?

Our mouths break free and the look in his eyes mimics the way I feel.

Hot. Aroused. Erotic.

He lifts me up onto the counter and moves in between my thighs, slowly running his hand up and under my shirt, landing on my breasts.

Shivers. Chills.

Oh, God it’s been years since I’ve felt a man’s touch.

My head drops back, my back arches, and my center pools with warm desire as he plants wet kisses from my neck to the shell of my ear and whispers, “Lauren. Beautiful Lauren, would you like me to make love to you?”

Unable to speak complete sentences, I mumble in a breathy tone, “Yes. Please. Now.”

He removes my shirt, exposing my breasts, awakening my nipples as he traces them with his thumb. Then he smiles and licks my bottom lip, kissing me again before he hums, “Not here, baby, I want our first time to be on my bed.”

He lifts me off the counter and carries me, my legs still straddling his waist, to his room, the two of us kissing all the way. And when he lays me on his bed, we both hurry to free each other from the confines of our clothes.

The moonlight creeps through the sheer window curtains, showcasing his fine-ass body, the muscular planes of his chest swooping over my breasts as he eases on top of me. He is so sensual as he kisses me, stroking my breasts, and then my thighs, taking time to get to know each and every curve.

He’s harder than ever now, and all I want is to feel him inside me, filling me with his need.

And when he slides in, I swear it’s just like heaven on earth.

We made love two times before I laid my head on his chest, the sound of his heartbeat lulling me to sleep. Then an hour later, we both opened our eyes, and went at it again. He’s a magnificent lover. Caring. Patient. I don’t remember the last time I had multiple orgasms.

Oh wait, that’s right. Never.

It’s 4 a.m. now; he’s resting beautifully. I want to wake him up for more.

Yeah, he’s that good.

He turns over to face me and I gleam.

Yay, more sex!

He looks at me and says, “Hey, beautiful, what are you doing awake?”

“I can’t go back to sleep for some reason.”

“Come here, let me hold you.”

I slide next to him, turning my back toward him, and he spoons me, his strong arms enveloping my upper body like a security blanket.

He makes me feel safe, secure, wanted.

I wish this moment with me in his arms could be frozen.

“I’m crazy about you Lauren Blake, even more now that I’ve had the pleasure of making love to you.” He nibbles on my ear, then in a hushed tone adds, “You’re amazing.”

Allowing the chills to run through my body, I lay here, eyes shut, as I take in what he just said. I kiss his forearms and pull them closer into me, as if to say don’t let me go.

Because the honest to God truth is, I never, ever, want this man to let me go.

The next morning, I wake to the sound of Jaxson talking to Truffles in a high-pitched singsong tone.

“There you go, little guy, are you hungry now? You want some food?”

Truffles replies with his signature arf, which means whatever anyone wants it to mean.

I open my eyes, and look around, the bed sheets tussled from another lovemaking session shortly after 5 a.m. The digital clock display on his nightstand says 7:15 a.m. Since it’s Saturday, I don’t really want to get up, but I have to go into the office for a few hours to make sure everyone is still on track with timelines for the launch.

Grabbing his shirt, I slip it over my head and follow the sound of his voice until I turn the corner out of the hallway and into the living room. The sight of him playing with Truffles makes my heart smile.

“Hi,” I say.

He whirls around, now facing me, his naked chest a lovely sight to see. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.” He walks up to me, hooks his arm around my waist, and kisses me.

“You’re gonna make me want you all over again,” I say, biting his lower lip.

“Mmmhmm,” he hums, through our kisses, “tell me about it. How long do we have before you have to get ready for work?”

“An hour.”

“We can do a lot in an hour.”