Page 86 of Blood Money

When Gray eventually pulled out, Alex groaned at the loss. Eager to touch him again, she grabbed the bottle of body wash and began soaping up his chest and abs. A quick glance at his openly grinning face told her how good she was making him feel. Her hands lingered at his hips, then she moved around to soap up his broad back.

When he began to rinse off, Alex suddenly felt her exhaustion and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his back. She closed her eyes and in seconds was half asleep. The water shut off and a large, fluffy towel came around her as Gray began rubbing her down until she was dry.

“C’mon, sleeping beauty.” He helped her out of the shower and into bed.

He lowered her onto the cool sheets then warm bedcovers surrounded her. But it was the large, hard body snuggling against her back, enveloping her in a cocoon of warmth, that had her smiling.

That was the last thing Alex remembered.

…

Gray woke to sunlight pouring in through the bedroom window. Something soft and sweet smelling tickled his chin. Alex’s hair. She was draped across his chest.

He skimmed his hand down the back of her head, twirling some of the blond locks between his fingers. In response, she slid her hand down his abdomen until it rested on his painfully hard morning erection. Gritting his teeth, he repositioned her hand safely onto his chest.

Last night’s lovemaking in the shower was beyond incredible, it was… Hell, he couldn’t begin to describe it. And while he couldn’t wait to do it again, Alex needed rest. He shouldn’t have made love to her last night at all, but he was damn glad he did.

He couldn’t stop himself from smiling like a fool.

The clock on the bedside table said it was already eight o’clock. Luckily they had no place to be today, having been given another day’s reprieve to rest and regroup before the debriefing tomorrow. That would also give them plenty of time to drive up to Hopewell Springs and bring Nicky home this afternoon.

Gray thought of Nicky’s dark brown eyes staring up at him. The kid really did want a father. Someone to take him to baseball games and be there to help with homework and other kid stuff.

His mouth lifted at the prospect, but he was getting way ahead of himself. He and Alex still had a helluva lot of things to learn about each other and a whole lot of hurdles to overcome. One thing he was certain of, for the first time in his life, he was falling in love. Sappy, all-consuming, head-over-heels in love.

Sunlight glinted off Alex’s bare back, and he couldn’t resist stroking her smooth, soft skin. He slid the sheet lower, revealing the round curves of her ass. With it came the vivid image of him sliding in and out, exploding as he came.

She raised her head, her eyes still groggy with sleep. A sweet smile tilted her lips, and he couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her.

“Mmm.” Using his chest for balance, she sat up and straddled his thighs. His erection nestled hotly between her legs. “How do you feel about throaty women?” Her voice was better than last night but still scratchy.

Gray grinned. “On you, I love it.” As the realization of what he’d just said hit him, his smile faded. As did hers. While it hadn’t exactly been an outright admission of love, he hadn’t planned on saying anything yet.

Too soon.

But didn’t he know all the important things, all the things that really mattered? Like Alex Romano, aka Aileen Alexanderson, was not only beautiful on the outside but courageous and loving and a wonderful mother.

Maybe it’s time.

“Alex, I—”

His cell phone rang. He grabbed it from the bedside table and glanced at the screen. Mike. Taking the call, he muttered, “This better be good, Flannery.”

Mike chuckled. “Let me guess, coitus interruptus? Cassie said I shouldn’t call this early.”

“She was right,” he growled, his own voice still somewhat raspy from smoke inhalation, although not as bad as Alex’s.

“You were right, sweetie,” Gray heard Mike say in a muffled way that told him he had his hand over the phone. “Sorry, buddy. Seriously though. Dom called Cassie, who called your parents, who called your other brothers. They agreed to leave you alone for a while on the condition that Cassie and I called to check up on you and Alex.”

“We’re fine.” He reached up to fondle Alex’s breast with his free hand.

“I’ll bet.” Again, Mike laughed.

“Who is that?” Alex asked, then leaned down and stuck her tongue in his ear.

When his cock leaped, Gray clenched his jaw. “Is Nicky awake?”

At hearing her son’s name, Alex sat upright, her eyes wide with enthusiasm.