by Nicola Marsh
‘Yeah, but somehow the “life’s short, play hard” motto didn’t work when I met you.’
‘Why?’
He frowned and she reached up to smooth it away. ‘Because I was terrified of how you made me feel. You’re the guy I’ve dreamed of meeting my entire life, the guy I want to stick around with for the long haul. The guy who makes me dream of that house with the attic and the oak tree and the old tyre hanging from it. The guy who loves adventure as much as I do but who I was scared of losing because of it.’
‘That’s not going to happen.’
He captured her hand as it left his brow and drew it towards his mouth where he placed a slow, lingering kiss on her palm.
‘You’re not going to lose me.’
‘I meant by you travelling around, putting your needs ahead of mine—’
‘That’s not going to happen. We’re a team, a partnership. The gallery is just the start.’
He nibbled his way up towards her wrist, his lips hot against her throbbing pulse as he nibbled the skin over it.
‘I better not lose you.’ She smiled as he nipped at her wrist. ‘You know, I hear archaeology is a dangerous profession. You could fall down one of those giant big holes you dig while searching for some relic. You could get crushed by an ancient ruin tumbling on your head. You could—’
‘Fall even harder than I already have,’ he murmured, silencing her with the type of kiss she could only dream about.
‘Fall?’
‘In love with you.’
Her breath caught as the warmth of his smile reflected in his eyes, bathing her in the reassurance she so badly needed.
‘I love you too.’
She cupped his face in her hands, holding him, beseeching him to understand what it meant for her to verbalise her feelings out loud. ‘And if you’re willing to take a risk on an extroverted, fun-loving metal sculptor with a shoe fetish, I’m all yours.’
‘No risk.’
He captured her hands and slowly slid them down his torso till they rested over his heart, the steady beat another reminder of how good this guy was for her.
He would show her the world and a million different ways to enjoy it; she would build a home for them when they tired of travelling.
He’d feed her thirst for adventure, she’d feed his soul with fabulous reasons to come home.
Yin and Yang.
Two perfect halves making a whole.
‘No risk at all. We’re a sure thing.’
‘Too right,’ she said, sliding her hands out from under his to delve into her bag. ‘By the way, I got you a little going-away present.’
Biting on the inside of her cheek to stop from laughing, she handed him the small black foil-wrapped parcel, which he turned over several times, prodded and shook before slowly pulling on the gold ribbon binding it.
‘Hurry it up. We’ll be in Rio by the time you open it.’
‘Haven’t you heard the old saying good things come to those who wait…?’
The rest of what he’d been about to say died on his lips as the wrapping fell open to reveal a matching pair of exquisite amethyst silk scarves, which he picked up and slid through his fingers, the slow, sensuous movement causing heat to flow through her body as he stared at her with desire.
‘Does this mean you want to tie me up?’
‘For ever,’ she murmured, tugging on the scarves, bringing him close enough to kiss.
‘Sounds like a plan.’
And as the plane taxied down the runway, they made a few more.
‘Six months on the road at digs, six months in Melbourne for you to sculpt?’
‘Deal.’
‘We keep the gallery and use it to showcase our talents?’
‘Deal.’
‘We give this relationship a trial before doing the “till death do us part” thing?’
‘No deal.’
Hating the momentary panic flaring on his face, she said, ‘Who needs a trial? Some smart guy once said we’re both adventurers. So how about it? You in this for the long haul?’
‘With you by my side I’m up for anything.’
‘Really?’
She sent a pointed glance at his groin, raising an eyebrow.
‘You’re killing me, Fancy Feet.’
‘Not yet, but it’s a long flight, Professor,’ she said, draping a blanket over his lap and sliding her hand up his thigh.
He clamped a hand over hers, laughing when she struggled and the blanket became a tug of war.
‘I can get used to this.’ He angled in for a swift kiss, which disarmed her completely. ‘Travelling together, having fun together…’
‘I’m all for fun.’ She tugged the blanket back over both of them and snuggled into him, more content than she’d ever been. ‘And I’m also all yours.’
‘Right back at you.’
And as Aidan hugged her close, the plane soared skywards and Beth hummed ‘Love is in the Air’ under her breath she knew without a shadow of a doubt that some risks were worth taking.
All the way.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2761-7
THE BOSS’S BEDROOM AGENDA
First North American Publication 2009.
Copyright © 2008 by Nicola Marsh.
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