One Bad Day (One Day) (4 page)

Gray leaned against the counter and waggled his eyebrows at her. “No, but it was what I liked the best.”

She made a funny noise, like she was choking on a gasp. Her face turned red and her mouth formed an “O”.

Gray put down the whisk and, unable to help himself, strode toward her. He was drawn to her. And, he wanted to see if her freckles were visible when she blushed. As he moved closer, he completely forgot about her freckles when he noticed the outline of her bra through the shirt. It was pink and lacy. Man, he loved lace. It was one of those push-’em-up bras that made women’s breasts look like they would spill out at any moment. Man, he loved push-’em-up bras. She was so damn sexy, with her hair tumbled in wild curls around her shoulders and her big blue eyes looking up at him. He felt something shift in his chest.

He reached over to tuck a stray curl behind her ear then bent down so that they were eye-to-eye. He could smell her light floral perfume. She nibbled on her lower lip and he wondered if her lips were as soft as they looked. Then he thought about the day she’d had.

Aw, hell.

“Go on and take a shower,” he said, breaking the spell. He turned her toward the bedroom and gave her a gentle push. “The omelets should be done by the time you get out.”

Knowing she was sleeping in the next room, Gray doubted he would get much sleep. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Ten

Wrapped in one of Gray’s fluffy guest towels, Tessa rummaged through the remaining items Gray had packed for her. She pulled out a comfortable T-shirt, socks, what happened to be her favorite sweat pants, and what looked like every sleazy pair of underwear she owned. She smiled and shook her head.

She dressed quickly and ran a brush through her damp hair before heading back to the kitchen.

She walked in to see Gray setting the table. He looked over at her, smiled, and pulled out a chair for her. She sat while he placed a steaming omelet in front of her.

Tessa couldn’t remember the last time anyone had taken care of her the way Gray was taking care of her. She had to admit, it was nice to not worry about anything for a change. She could get used to it.

She looked across the table at him. He had to be one of the best looking men she’d ever seen. Normally because of her size, she went for shorter men, but when she thought about how gently he’d held her while she cried, her insides turned to goo. He was still in his dress shirt, having removed his coat and gun. Several chest hairs peeked out from his shirt, which was unbuttoned halfway down his chest. Rolled up sleeves revealed his tan muscular arms. When he moved, his shirt shifted over his broad chest, hinting at the powerfully built physique underneath. Remembering the smell of him, the warmth emanating from him, and the feel of him beneath her hands, she wanted to climb over the table and plaster herself to him, begging him to hold her, touch her, kiss her.

Gray looked up from his omelet and paused. “You okay, honey? You’ve got a funny look on your face.”

She felt her cheeks heat. Normally she wouldn’t like being called honey—or any kind of silly pet name—but when he said it in his growly voice, her insides turned to goo. She really had to stop thinking about throwing herself at him.

She looked down at her food and began stuffing it in her mouth. Heaven. She stopped shoveling and closed her eyes to enjoy the taste. “Mmmm, Gray. This is so good.”

She opened her eyes and saw him staring at her. She licked her lips and his gaze traveled to her mouth.

He swallowed hard and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Do you like cooking?”

He blinked.

“Gray?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you enjoy cooking?”

He blinked again and raised his eyes to hers. “Uh, sure, when I can.” He stood, picked up his plate, rinsed it, and set it in the sink.

He leaned back against the counter with his arms crossed over his broad chest as she finished off the rest of her omelet. “Did you get enough?”

Tessa thought of a million ways to “get enough,” most of them involving him being naked and on top of her. “Um. Yes.” She licked her lips, no longer hungry for food, but still starving.

Chapter Eleven

Gray tried to keep his gaze on her face but damn if it wasn’t hard. She was wearing a T-shirt and she didn’t have a bra on. Man, that was even better than lace.

She yawned and stretched, causing her breasts to push against the flimsy T-shirt material. Her erect nipples were clearly outlined beneath the shirt.

Gray swallowed.

All he could think about was throwing her on the table and putting his hands all over her. His hands, his mouth... He was such an ass.

It was late. She’d had a traumatic day. Plus, she would have a lot of work ahead of her the next day getting her apartment straightened out.

He sighed.

“Well, goodnight.” She ran her fingers through her damp, unruly curls. “Um... thanks for the food. And for letting me stay.”

“’Night,” he said.

She started to walk to the spare bedroom when he noticed a bright red spot on her sock.

“Tessa, what did you do to your foot?”

“Huh?” She stopped and turned around.

“Your sock is full of blood.” He pointed at her foot.

“Oh.” She shrugged. “It’s a blister from the heels. They’re not really meant for running in. It’s not a big deal.”

“Come over and sit down.” Gray pointed at his sofa. “Let me get some Band-Aids.” He went into the bathroom and grabbed some, plus a wet washcloth and antiseptic. When he returned, she was perched on the couch, looking a little flustered.

“It’s really nothing.” She made a move to stand up.

Gray lightly pushed her back down. “Humor me, okay?” He squatted down in front of her, pulled her foot in his lap, and began to peel back her sock. She hissed in a breath when the sock came away from the blister.

He looked at her and she gave him a tight smile.

“After I clean it up, I’ll put some of this on it.” He held up the bottle of antiseptic. “And it won’t hurt so much.”

“Okay.”

He dabbed the blood away with the washcloth and she gasped. With a tender touch, he put antiseptic on her wound and then efficiently covered it with a Band-Aid.

He looked up at her. Her lids drooped and she had dark circles under her eyes.

“Is the other one okay?” Before she could answer, he pulled her other foot in his lap and removed her sock. He began examining her foot with light pressure. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

“Gray, it’s fine—oh God, that feels good.” She relaxed into the couch and leaned her head back.

He watched pleasure wash across her face as he began to lightly massage her foot.

“Were you wearing those shoes all day?” he asked, moving on to the other foot.

“Yes, and I was on my feet most of the day.” She gasped. “Oh, yeah. Right there.”

Gray’s sight was in line with her chest and he could see the outline of her nipples through her shirt. Aw, hell.

***

“Oooh.” Tessa’s skin blazed everywhere his magic fingers kneaded. His touch was firm and gentle on her aching feet and calves. Pleasure rippled through her. It was the most thorough massage she’d ever had and she loved it. She thought about his firm hands on other areas of her body and her nipples pebbled.

Gray’s hands stilled and she opened her eyes to look at him. He was staring at her chest. She watched his gaze move up to her mouth and hot desire pooled low in her belly. She licked her lips and Gray’s grip on her foot tightened. Oh Lordy, she was going to spontaneously combust. Just one kiss. She had to know if he tasted as good as he looked. Damn the consequences.

She reached down, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled until their mouths fused in a hot kiss.

She moaned at the contact and wrapped her hand around his head to pull him closer. He leaned into her until she lay flat on the sofa, then buried one hand in her hair and tilted her head, slanting his mouth over hers, while his other hand trailed over her hip and under her shirt until it rested on her bare stomach. Her skin burned with the contact.

She let her hands roam the hard contours of his back. He lay nestled between her legs, his hardness pressed against her core. She arched into him and he groaned.

Breathing hard, he lifted his head and looked down at her, his gaze roaming over her face.

“Fuck!” He pulled away and ran a hand through his hair. “Tessa, we can’t do this.” He straightened her clothes and pulled her up.

“But—”

“You need to get some rest.” He pulled her up off the sofa and walked her to the guest room.

“Gray, I—”

He brushed a kiss across her forehead, gave her a gentle shove into the room, and with a “Night, sweetheart,” he closed the door.

Chapter Twelve

Tessa lay in bed in Gray’s guest bedroom, exhausted, but unable to sleep. She’d acted like a sex-starved maniac when he was rubbing her feet.
What the hell was that about? What’s wrong with me?
She really needed to control herself. She couldn’t help it; he made her nipples do a happy dance when he was around and his kisses were scorching. She yawned, rolled over, and thought about how good it felt to be in his arms.

She was in the dark parking lot again. She was running for the stairwell, gasping for breath. There was nowhere to hide. She knew she wouldn’t be able to outrun him in her heels. She pushed the door open and stumbled into the stairwell. She could hear his footfalls echoing in the parking lot. There wasn’t enough time.

She positioned herself on the side of the door and yanked off her shoes. She stood poised with one shoe in each hand and waited.

The door opened and the beefy man in the suit stepped through. He looked around, easily spotting her behind the door. He advanced on her and seized her arm in a bruising grip. She raised her other arm, closed her eyes, and hit him as hard as she could. Her heel hit his skull with a jarring thump.

“Motherfucker! You bitch!” he yelled. He released her arm to grab for his head.

She hit him again for good measure and squeezed past him before darting out into the dark parking lot.

She woke in the middle of a scream.

“Shhh.” Gentle hands rubbed her back, and Gray’s strong arms surrounded her. “You’re safe now, honey,” he murmured in her hair.

She clutched at him, shivering. The memory of the nightmare began to recede as his heat seeped into her skin. Her fear ebbed and she wiggled, nestling herself more comfortably against him. He was hard and warm and... bare. Lord, help her, he was naked from the waist up. And slightly damp. He tightened his hold on her and she flattened herself against him, pressing her nose in his neck. She inhaled deeply, smelling his yummy Gray scent—and she felt safe. Her shivers faded and were replaced by waves of heat. She nuzzled against him. She wanted to be close. To forget for a moment everything that had happened. She wanted to be held and touched.

His chest was sprinkled with hair and she rubbed her cheek against it, reveling in the soft brush of it against her face. Heat engulfed her and pooled low in her belly. She wondered if he tasted as good as he smelled.

She opened her mouth and lightly nibbled his neck.

He drew in a quick breath and she smiled. She let her hands roam the hard planes of his chest and slid her fingers over the span of his broad shoulders. Tessa heard him make a low, deep groaning noise that reverberated through his chest as she followed the nibbles along his neck with light kisses.

Gray glided his hands across her back, down to her ass, and then he squeezed.

She was burning up. Tessa moaned and pressed her breasts against his chest, her nipples tightening into hard buds.

Gray stiffened. “Tessa—”

“Please, Gray.” She looked into his eyes.

He twined one hand in her hair and pulled her in for a kiss, which started gentle before becoming more intense. She opened her mouth on a moan and his opened over hers, absorbing the sound.

She moved her hands over his body, desperate to touch everywhere she could reach, while his fingers danced across her hip, gently skimming up to rest just below her breast. The top of his hand brushed across her nipple and she arched into him for more contact.

He broke the kiss to nibble her ear. His hot breath tickled her skin and she gasped for air.

He stopped and pulled back before asking, “Are you sure about this?”

“Please don’t stop. I couldn’t stand it if you stopped.” She grabbed a fistful of his damp hair and yanked his head down for another kiss.

Chapter Thirteen

Gray felt her small hands all over him, sliding over his chest and down his bare back. Everywhere she touched left him burning. She was so hot and responsive, he didn’t think he could stop now even if he wanted to.

He leaned over her until she lay flat on her back, with those gorgeous legs spread and her T-shirt hiked up to her waist. Moonbeams filtered into the room and bathed her body, giving her a luminous, ethereal appearance. Gray paused a moment to look into her eyes. He had never seen a woman more beautiful.

“I swear to God, if you stop now I’m going to kill you,” she said, wrapping a leg around his waist.

Gray chuckled and then groaned when she thrust her hips against him. With a feathery caress, he glided one hand under her T-shirt and molded her breast. Raining kisses across her torso until he found her other nipple through the T-shirt with his mouth, he sucked at it, causing her to moan and thrust again. He dragged her shirt over her head, then tossed it on the floor.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” he said, gazing down at her. Her breasts were full and her nipples were beaded into hard buds.

He rocked into her and nibbled on her breasts, paying homage to one nipple with lips, teeth, and tongue before kissing his way to the other.

She whimpered, grasping his hair with both hands.

He brushed his palm over her mound, finding her g-string damp. She surged against his hand and he groaned.

Licking and sucking, Gray made his way down to her center. He tasted her through the tiny patch of silk covering her heated flesh.