I glance over to Luke, a huge smile on my face. He’s standing near me, the cooler and blanket at his feet, his hands in his pockets.
“I’m glad you like it.”
I look up again. “Luke, I love it.”
I help him spread the big, green blanket we snuggled up in last night in the shade of the tree.
“Get comfy.”
I kick my sandals off and sit on the soft blanket, my legs stretched out in front of me and lean back on my hands.
Luke also kicks his shoes off – mmm, naked feet – and kneels on the blanket, opening the cooler.
He pulls out a fruit salad, sub sandwiches, and hummus and crackers.
My stomach growls and we both laugh.
“Did you make all this?” He passes me a sandwich and I dig in. Mmmmm…
“Yeah, I threw it together this morning.” He passes me the fruit and pops a cracker full of hummus in his mouth. “I love a woman who likes to eat.”
I stop chewing and look up at him, frowning, remembering my thighs and round butt. “What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. I like a woman who enjoys food.” He shrugs and frowns at my expression. “What did you think I meant?”
Shit. “I don’t know.” I eat a strawberry.
His eyes narrow. “Don’t tell me you have body issues.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” What the fuck!
“Natalie, you’re beautiful, you have no reason to be self-conscious.”
“Did you not just see how I devoured that sandwich? I’m not self-conscious.”
Stop talking about this.
He shakes his head.
“This is delicious.” I smile sweetly.
He doesn’t look like he’s buying my change of subject, but he lets it go and starts packing the left-overs back into the cooler.
I lie on my back and take a deep, satisfied breath. Oh, this is nice. Warm late-summer day, good food, sexy man…
Yes, it’s a really good day. Suddenly, Luke is pulling my feet into his lap and he starts to rub.
Make that a glorious day.
“Oh, my. You cook and give foot rubs. I must be hallucinating.” I hear him chuckle.
“Hey, what’s this?” He runs his thumb just above the arch on the inside of my right foot.
Oh, that.
“A tattoo.”
He tickles my foot and I squirm and giggle.
“Obviously, smart ass. What does it say?”
“It says ‘One Step at a Time’.” I reply and sigh as he continues to work magic on the sole of my foot.
“In what language?”
“Italian.” I reply.
His finger traces the letters and I push up on my elbows and watch him. When his eyes meet mine they’re on fire, and the muscles low, low in my stomach clench.
“It’s sexy.” He grins.
“Thanks.” I grin back.
“Do you have any more?” He cocks his head to the side and reaches for my other foot.
“Yes.”
His eyes shoot to mine again and they narrow.
“Where?”
“Various places.”
“I don’t see any others.” His eyes skim up my bare legs, my arms, my chest.
“The one on my foot is the only one visible with my clothes on, and that’s only when I’m barefoot,” I whisper. Oh, this is fun!
He releases my foot.
“Hey! I was enjoying that foot rub.”
He grabs my ankles and parts my legs, then crawls up my body on his hands and knees until his nose is almost touching mine.
“I want to know where your other tattoos are, Natalie.”
I bite my lip and shake my head. Who can form words with his body so close?
“You’re not going to tell me?” He leans in and lightly kisses the corner of my mouth.
Again I shake my head no.
“Maybe I’ll just have to find them.”
Chapter Six
He kisses the other side of my mouth, his eyes not leaving mine.
I nod, slowly.
Luke grins as he pushes me back down against the blanket and covers my body with his. Holy Moses, he feels so good!
His long, muscular body seems to fit perfectly against my soft curves. He presses one leg between mine and I can feel his impressive erection against my hip.
I push my hand under his shirt to caress his bare skin, up and down his ribs. His skin is so smooth and tight over sculpted muscles.
While he continues to make me crazy with that talented mouth of his, he runs his hand from my hip up over my shirt to my breast and I can’t help but bow up off the ground, pressing my breast into his hand. My nipple is hard, straining against my bra and shirt, and he runs his thumb over it.
“Open your eyes.” I gaze up into his perfect blue eyes, gazing at me with passion and hunger. My breath catches, and I run my fingertips down his cheek.
“You are so sexy, Natalie. I just can’t seem to stop touching you.”
“I love you touching me.”
“You do?” He caresses my face, pushing errant strands of hair off my cheek.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Your skin is so soft,” he murmurs, his fingers still on my cheek. “I love your curvy body.”
My eyes widen.
“Don’t frown.” He kisses me between my eyebrows as if he’s smoothing the frown from my face.
“I’m not so sure about my curvy body.” It’s a whispered admission that I’ve never made before, and frankly, I’ve never felt this vulnerable.
His blue gaze meets mine again, and each word is a staccato: “You. Are.
Beautiful.”
I close my eyes, but he tips my chin, forcing me to look at him again.
“Thank you.”
His lips find mine, gently now, lingering and caressing my mouth as if we have all the time in the world. I shift my hips and grind myself against his thigh, and he groans low in his throat.
My blood is on fire. I’ve never wanted a man like I want Luke. I want to consume him. I want him fast and hard, and I want him to take all day. I love how tender he is with me.
He sits up, pulling me with him and grabs the hem of my shirt. “I want to see you.” He’s breathless and needy and in this moment I’d do anything he asked.
I lift my hands above my head, but before he can pull my shirt off, I feel drops of water on my face. I glance up and realize the sky has clouded over and it’s starting to rain, the water seeping through the branches of our oak tree.
“I’m getting wet,” I whisper against his mouth.
He grins, his eyes laughing at me. “I hope so.”