[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the fact that Lauren had demons that haunted her even in her sleep.
At least he d chased those demons away for a while yesterday, he thought as he
climbed back into bed beside her. Gently he rolled her into his arms, gratified when she
curled into him. She mumbled something and John put his ear closer to her mouth.
What?
I need to get these boys to safety.
A lump formed in his throat. I ll help you, he whispered and pulled her closer.
He whispered it again, meaning it in an entirely different way. I ll help you.
Lauren awoke to an empty bed and the smell of bacon. Taking a luxurious stretch,
she tested her muscles for any signs of residual soreness after yesterday s decidedly
exhausting activities.
Feeling no impediments, she rose, used the bathroom and used his brush to
untangle the mess her hair had gotten into. Done, she turned to the next item in her
morning ritual only to realize she had no toothbrush. She did what she could with her
finger and a small dab of toothpaste, her innate sense of hygiene not allowing her to use
his brush. There were limits to what could be shared.
Not even bothering to look for her clothes and feeling increasingly comfortable with
her nudity, she bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen.
John stood at the stove in a T-shirt and jeans this morning. Ah ha! Just in time.
Grab the eggs out of the fridge?
120
Services Rendered
She did, bringing over the carton and sliding one arm around his waist from behind
as she set the eggs on the counter. He lifted his arm and she bent under it to give him a
morning hug. John did her one better, leaning over to give her a quick kiss. Morning.
He smiled.
Morning. Was she really blushing? She d spent the night with a man before. Yes,
it had been in a dusty, sandy tent and they d breakfasted in the mess hall, but still. She
wasn t a child and this wasn t her first time.
John nodded toward the toaster. Go ahead and put in some bread.
Glad for something to keep her hands busy lest she let them roam all over his most
wonderful body again, she opened the loaf of wheat bread and plopped two slices into
the toaster. This is far more breakfast than I usually have, she told him.
Me too. Special occasion and all that. He grinned at her and waggled his
eyebrows and she laughed.
Okay, since it s a special occasion, how could I say no? She looked around.
Orange juice too, I suppose?
In the fridge.
Sure enough, right on the middle shelf. She pulled out the pitcher, found two
glasses and poured them each a healthy glassful. The table hadn t been set yet, so she
did her part as he plated the bacon and then poured off the grease into a container that
once held cocktail peanuts.
How do you like your eggs?
Over easy, she told him. That odd feeling of contentment stole over her again and
she paused, one hand on the back of a kitchen chair as she looked around the room.
Beth had this. A home, a husband, a kid. Sarah had the husband and the home. They
both lived lives they loved.
For the first time Lauren realized she could have it as well. She thought of her
apartment, sparsely furnished with barely any sign she lived there. Well, she hadn t
really, had she? She existed there. And if she was honest, she hid there.
She watched John expertly flip her eggs and her throat caught. Could she really do
this? Could such a dream really be possible for her?
Inside herself she rooted around for that feeling of listlessness that had settled over
her ever since leaving the service. That lassitude kept her chained to inactivity. Oh, she
filled her days with busywork, taking Ian out to places, wandering through the park,
visiting museums and the zoo. All the places she d always wanted to go to but never
had the time. She d told herself and her friends she was on an extended vacation but
everyone knew she was running away from life.
John, whether he knew it or not, offered her a way back. Did she want him because
of that? Or was this true love? As for the sex, yeah, she could live with him as a Dom in
the bedroom. Yesterday had been incredible.
But what was today?
121
Diana Hunter
Too filled with questions, she only nodded when he pointedly reminded her that
the toast had popped. She buttered it with automatic motions, coming to sit at the table [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
the fact that Lauren had demons that haunted her even in her sleep.
At least he d chased those demons away for a while yesterday, he thought as he
climbed back into bed beside her. Gently he rolled her into his arms, gratified when she
curled into him. She mumbled something and John put his ear closer to her mouth.
What?
I need to get these boys to safety.
A lump formed in his throat. I ll help you, he whispered and pulled her closer.
He whispered it again, meaning it in an entirely different way. I ll help you.
Lauren awoke to an empty bed and the smell of bacon. Taking a luxurious stretch,
she tested her muscles for any signs of residual soreness after yesterday s decidedly
exhausting activities.
Feeling no impediments, she rose, used the bathroom and used his brush to
untangle the mess her hair had gotten into. Done, she turned to the next item in her
morning ritual only to realize she had no toothbrush. She did what she could with her
finger and a small dab of toothpaste, her innate sense of hygiene not allowing her to use
his brush. There were limits to what could be shared.
Not even bothering to look for her clothes and feeling increasingly comfortable with
her nudity, she bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen.
John stood at the stove in a T-shirt and jeans this morning. Ah ha! Just in time.
Grab the eggs out of the fridge?
120
Services Rendered
She did, bringing over the carton and sliding one arm around his waist from behind
as she set the eggs on the counter. He lifted his arm and she bent under it to give him a
morning hug. John did her one better, leaning over to give her a quick kiss. Morning.
He smiled.
Morning. Was she really blushing? She d spent the night with a man before. Yes,
it had been in a dusty, sandy tent and they d breakfasted in the mess hall, but still. She
wasn t a child and this wasn t her first time.
John nodded toward the toaster. Go ahead and put in some bread.
Glad for something to keep her hands busy lest she let them roam all over his most
wonderful body again, she opened the loaf of wheat bread and plopped two slices into
the toaster. This is far more breakfast than I usually have, she told him.
Me too. Special occasion and all that. He grinned at her and waggled his
eyebrows and she laughed.
Okay, since it s a special occasion, how could I say no? She looked around.
Orange juice too, I suppose?
In the fridge.
Sure enough, right on the middle shelf. She pulled out the pitcher, found two
glasses and poured them each a healthy glassful. The table hadn t been set yet, so she
did her part as he plated the bacon and then poured off the grease into a container that
once held cocktail peanuts.
How do you like your eggs?
Over easy, she told him. That odd feeling of contentment stole over her again and
she paused, one hand on the back of a kitchen chair as she looked around the room.
Beth had this. A home, a husband, a kid. Sarah had the husband and the home. They
both lived lives they loved.
For the first time Lauren realized she could have it as well. She thought of her
apartment, sparsely furnished with barely any sign she lived there. Well, she hadn t
really, had she? She existed there. And if she was honest, she hid there.
She watched John expertly flip her eggs and her throat caught. Could she really do
this? Could such a dream really be possible for her?
Inside herself she rooted around for that feeling of listlessness that had settled over
her ever since leaving the service. That lassitude kept her chained to inactivity. Oh, she
filled her days with busywork, taking Ian out to places, wandering through the park,
visiting museums and the zoo. All the places she d always wanted to go to but never
had the time. She d told herself and her friends she was on an extended vacation but
everyone knew she was running away from life.
John, whether he knew it or not, offered her a way back. Did she want him because
of that? Or was this true love? As for the sex, yeah, she could live with him as a Dom in
the bedroom. Yesterday had been incredible.
But what was today?
121
Diana Hunter
Too filled with questions, she only nodded when he pointedly reminded her that
the toast had popped. She buttered it with automatic motions, coming to sit at the table [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]