Christy looks down at the caller id. “I have to take this.” She smiles a smile full of mischief. “You two go ahead. It’s not like I won’t get to see it when it’s done.”
“Christy?” I squeak out.
She waves me on with a distracted flick of her hand.
“You’re sure?”
“Of course.” She waves us on. “Go ahead. I have a feeling this is going to be a long call.” She turns and walks toward my car, then expertly pivots on her heels with her hand outstretched. “Keys?”
I thrust my hand into my purse and snag my large key ring tossing it to her which of course she catches. She does everything right all the time. It’s really quite annoying.
“So I guess we’re on our own?” Somehow he makes the question sound seductive.
“It sure looks that way,” I mutter in disbelief, all the while smiling and trying not to sound too eager.
He puts the big yellow hat over my auburn curls and steps back admiringly. “You look pretty good in a hard hat, Stephanie” he says gruffly, reaching up to rub a curl between his fingers.
I blush. “I probably look like a clown with my red cork-screw curls and a bright yellow hard hat.” I rub the tip of my nose. “Now all I need is a big red nose.” I watch as he digs around in his pockets for a few seconds. “What are you doing?” I press my lips together.
He looks up with a crooked grin. “I must have left my extra nose at home.” He leans subtly closer tucking the loose lock of hair that had fallen forward behind my ear and smiles. “You actually look kinda cute with this hard hat on.” He taps the top with his forefinger.
I swallow thickly. I look up at him. He’s so tall in comparison with me, and large. He looks as if he could pick me up with one hand and not think a thing about it which really turns me on.
“Follow me.”
I just wanted to say Yes, Master, and be done with it. I wasn’t even trying to push aside my arousal. As he turns around to head for the front door, I get a better look at the back of his head and neck. I raise up on my tip-toes, trying to read what the sexy tattoo on the back of his neck reads. “De r e ir a ch e ile a th o gtar na caisle a in?”
“Not bad,” he says. “Most people slaughter it.”
“What does it mean?” I look up and nearly get lost in his green eyes. He grins and twin dimples crease his cheeks. Wow, I hadn’t expected that. Dimples go against every bad-boy image I can think of.
“It takes time to build castles.”
He clears his throat.
“Stephanie?”
I take a deep breath to gather my scattered thoughts and force my attention back to Liev. “Huh?” Great, now I sound like an idiot.
“Did you hear what I said?” His voice deep, rich.
“I was too busy staring at your dimples.” My hand flies to my mouth, my heart thuds strongly beneath my breastbone.
He smiles again, his bright green eyes never leaving my face.
My brow furrows. “Don’t do that anymore. I can’t concentrate.”
“Do what?”
I grimace. “Smile.” I try to look at him without getting all giddy inside, but I can’t. My pulse is racing and I want to put my finger in his dimple. It’s just too darn cute.
He flattens his mouth in a straight line. His brow furrows in concentration and it only enhances his dimples as he tries hard not to smile. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it.” A bright smile breaks out across his face and I can’t even pretend to stifle my groan. I’m definitely a goner.
I shake my head in resignation. “Okay.” I hold up my hands. “What does the tattoo mean again?”
He raises his brow, his sultry bedroom eyes meeting mine.
A promising tingle settles at the base of my spine at his look. “I promise I’ll listen this time.” I bite my bottom lip, my eyes wide.
He runs his hand over his short black hair. He leans down close to my ear. “It takes time to build castles.”
I shiver. “Oh.” I turn my head and Liev’s mouth is a mere two inches from mine. “That’s perfect.”
His probing green eyes make my heart rate spike. “You ready?
“I’ve been ready,” I say as if in a trance.
Liev chuckles. “Me too.”
I can’t stop my eyes from lowering to his crotch and notice the tell-tale bulge in his jeans. Oh, damn. He wasn’t kidding.
“Lead the way.” I stand and watch him go, my appreciative eyes following his perfect denim-encased ass for a second.
He looks over his shoulder.
“Coming,” I mutter as I trot after him. God, how I wished.
“That’s all of the downstairs,” he says. “Want to take a look at the upstairs?”
“Is it done?”
“Just finished the master bath yesterday.”
I clap my hands excitedly. “I can’t wait.” I smile up at him. “I picked everything out myself.”
He grabs my hand and tugs me up the unfinished stairs. “I think you’ll be pleased with the finished product.”
I giggle. “You sound so professional.”
“I am a professional.” The corner of his rugged mouth curves up in a smile.
“You have a great smile.”
“Thanks.” His smile widens, flashing perfect, white teeth. Not to mention emphasizing his perfectly kissable lips. “So do you.”
Stop. Stop. Stop. “Please stop.”
Liev pauses one step from the top. “Is something the matter?” He turns to face me, dropping my hand.
“I can’t take it anymore.” I launch myself at him grabbing a handful of his T-shirt in my fists, almost knocking us both down in the process. “You’re making me so hot.” I practically crawl up his body, my mouth clambering for his.
He smashes his mouth to mine grabbing me by the waist and lifting me to the top step and I wrap my arms around his neck jamming my tongue down his throat. He consumes me and my wildness accentuates his ardor. His hands lower finding the bottom of my dress. He runs his calloused hands up the backs of my thighs pushing the skirt higher until he cups my cheeks in his large palms.
“Oh, God,” I breathe against his mouth, I can’t resist his bad-boy, hard-working man roughness a second longer.
Without warning he wraps his large, strong hands around my waist and lifts me in his arms. “Wrap your legs around my waist,” he growls out the command. His fingers grip my waist tightly.
I lift my legs and wrap them around him squeezing him tight with my thighs. My hands grip his nape before running up the back of his neck, knocking his hardhat off his head. It makes a resounding thud as it lands on the steps followed by several loud thumps as it bounces the rest of the way down and lands at the bottom with an ominous crash.
He stands frozen in place for a moment before he takes a quick glance over his shoulder and down the steps. “Fuck,” he says on a groan.
His erection surges hard against the juncture between my thighs and I grind my dripping pussy into his hard length. “Forget it,” I whisper against his lips, grasping his shoulders to pull his mouth back to mine.
“Someone could have heard it fall and come looking for us.”
“I don’t care.”
“I like hearing that.” He walks forward, stepping into a room and kicking the door shut. “Master bedroom,” he rumbles. He keeps walking as if I weigh less than a feather and sits me down on the cold counter of the master bath.
I glance around. “It turned out exactly as I wanted.” I tighten my thighs around his waist and press myself into the rough front of his jeans. I’m so far gone I could come with a few more rubs of my clit against his covered hardness.
“The tile’s perfect.” My heart pounds in my chest erratically as I reach for the hem of his T-shirt and pull it quickly up his body. “Arms.”
He lifts his arms without question and I toss the sweaty shirt into the bathtub. “You’re gorgeous,” I whisper. My breath hitches and saliva pools in my mouth at the sight of his beautiful, tanned torso. “You smell delicious.”
“I smell like sweat.” I slide my fingers over the fine sheen of sweat that still glistens on his muscles. I lean closer and press a kiss into his chest, feeling his muscles jump beneath my lips. I sweep my tongue out along his pecs until I circle his flat nipple surrounded by dark hair and gently suck until it hardens against my tongue.