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1 " Are you up for dating a relationship-phobe and indoctrinating me into the ways of being part of a couple?"This time, she didn't hesitate, her nod emphatic. "Let's do it."He let out a whoop, wrapped his arms around her, and rolled her on top of him. "I need to leave soon, but how about we have a rousing celebration first?"Desire sparked in her eyes as she slowly, deliberately, writhed against him. "You know how much I love a good celebration with you. "
― Nicola Marsh , The Man Ban
2 " Fuck, I can't get enough of you," he muttered, giving a shake of his head. Yeah, like that would clear it."We should go upstairs---""No. Picnic first," he muttered, knowing he'd regret this for the next few hours when he sat through the torturous process of putting food into her mouth while battling a distinct case of blue balls. "You deserve to be treated right."Confusion clouded her eyes. "I want you, Manny. I don't need all the fancy trappings.""This isn't a fancy date, it's low-key, and I want to spend some quality time with you."The confusion cleared, replaced by amusement. "You sure you're not a woman trapped in a man's body?""Come on," he said, grabbing her hand. "Besides, the faster we eat, the faster you get to discover that my body is definitely all man."She fell into step without having to be asked again. "
3 " Now drink up. Fatigue makes you grouchy.""Not grouchy. Thirsty," she said, uncapping the bottle and drinking deeply, drawing his attention to the elegant length of her neck and the pounding of her carotid pulse.Before he could second-guess the urge, he leaned across and placed his lips over the pulse, giving a little nip that had her half gasping, half choking as she doused him with water."Are you trying to kill me? I almost choked," she said, elbowing him away, but there was no malice in her tone, and she pressed her fingertip to the pulse, a coy smile playing about her mouth."It's okay, I'd revive you with CPR." He puckered up and made smooching sounds. "A little mouth-to-mouth, combined with my hands all over your chest, you'd be just fine. "
4 " He flicked back the bedcovers and patted the spot beside him. "Come here so I can impress you with how metrosexual I am and spoon you.""You've impressed me enough," she said, with a coquettish smile, before slipping into bed and pulling up the covers."Come here." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled in, terrified by how good this felt but loving it regardless."This is nice," he murmured, dropping a kiss on top of her head that made her eyes prickle with tears. "
5 " How's your room?""You could see for yourself if you popped in.""Is that a line?""I don't know. Is it? Do you feel the compulsion to rush over to room 306 and see me right now? I promise I'll make it worth your while.""Sorry, no compulsion.""Too bad." He lowered his voice. "I'm still sore from hefting all those heavy platters in Auckland, and if you want me at the top of my beefcake game for your shoot tomorrow, you could give me that massage."She laughed, a joyous sound that shot straight to his heart. Head. Gut. Wherever. "Nice try, but I'll pass.""Your loss, sweetheart. Just think, you could be here right now, having me splayed on the bed at your mercy, all that bare skin to explore, running your hands over my pectorals, my biceps, my latissimus dorsi---""I hope that's not a fancy anatomical term for anything below the waist."He guffawed, enjoying their sparring way too much. "You sure I haven't tempted you?"She hesitated for a moment, before replying. "Maybe a little, but I really have to prep for tomorrow. I'm meeting with the head chef in thirty minutes to run through the dishes, then I'll need a few hours to go through my planning.""Anything I can do to help?""Just bring the beefcake at eight sharp in the morning.""Yes, ma'am.""And Manny?""Yeah?""If I ever lose my mind and decide to give you a massage, I'll be starting at your very impressive gluteus maximus. "
6 " I felt like a nightcap, thought you might like one too.""Nightcap...right..." she drawled, making a mockery of his excuse, her smirk alerting him to the fact she knew exactly what he was thinking."I've got a whole range of those little booze bottles ready and waiting in my room."She widened her eyes in faux innocence and pointed at the bar over his shoulder. "But we've got a smorgasbord of big booze bottles waiting for us. Why would we need to drink in your room?"Damn, he loved her sparring."You want me to spell it out?"Defiant, she eyeballed him. "Yeah."They'd flirted long enough. Time to up the ante.Manny stood, moved next to her chair, and crouched down so he could murmur in her ear."I want you. Naked. Panting. Hot. Writhing for wanting me as bad as I want you. Splayed on my bed so I can go down on you. Before we fuck all night. "
7 " Eager. I like that, Manny.""Good morning to you too, Sleeping Beauty. Or should that be good afternoon?""It's still morning, though I feel like I've slept away the day.""You must've needed it.""Is that your medical opinion?""No. I'm off duty."Just hearing his deep voice had Harper snuggling back under the covers, wishing he was next to her."Pity. Because I'm not feeling so good, and I was hoping you made house calls.""What's wrong?""A distinct case of I-miss-you-itis.""Damn it, if I wasn't halfway along this Craters of the Moon geothermal hike, I'd be there in a flash." He muttered a curse. "I know. I can give you a more accurate diagnosis over the phone if you do one thing."Smiling, she said, "What?""Tell me what you're wearing."Her thighs clenched as her smile extended into a grin. "My, my, Doctor, I didn't think this was one of those calls.""You're in bed. You're missing me. What did you expect?""A little decorum.""Yeah, sure.""You're right. I want to torture you a little.""A lot, considering I'm now envisaging you cute and sleep rumpled.""What are you wearing?""Why?" he asked."Because I'm assuming there are families on that hike, and too much envisaging may lead to more than one tent pole in that national park."He laughed so loudly she had to hold the cell away from her ear."You really are something else," he said. "And for the record? I miss you too.""So I'll meet you in the foyer at four for our picnic?""Yeah. I found the perfect spot.""Secluded?""Babe, you're killing me.""Not yet, but maybe this will help." She lowered her voice. "I'm wearing nothing and I'm thinking of you."She hung up on his garbled cry, grinning madly. "
8 " Besides, there's plenty of time to get a ring. I'd rather spend time with you than flash around a five-carat rock on my finger.""Five carats?" He clutched at his chest. "I work in the ER; I'm not a brain surgeon.""Well then, maybe you should introduce me to some of your colleagues---"She squealed as he made a lunge for her, allowing him to catch her far too easily."You have a smart mouth, Ms. Ryland.""Haven't you heard? Smart mouths make for the best kisses," she said, a moment before proving exactly that. "
9 " Now, are you ready to satisfy my hunger?""I could ask you the same thing."She turned in the circle of his arms, and this time, she grabbed his ass and writhed her pelvis against him. "Just for the record? I want everything you dish up and more. I'm greedy that way."He growled and hoisted her over his shoulder, leaving her upside down and pummeling at his impressive ass with her fists. "Put me down, you crazy man.""Crazy for you," he said, lowering her gently when they reached the bed. "And I'm about to show you exactly how much. "
10 " Harper knew Wayne Storr must've told the kitchen staff to go all out with this dinner, because she couldn't believe the quality of every course. Seared scallops with charred scallions, slow-cooked lamb shoulder with fennel ricotta, grass-fed rib eye with polenta and salsa verde, finished with a tiramisu that made her eyes roll back in her head. At least, that's what it felt like, and if Manny's rapturous expression was any indication, he liked it too."That is categorically the best meal I've ever had." He patted his stomach and groaned. "And I'm not going to eat for the next week, so I'm stuffed.""Me too."But she knew a good way to burn off the calories, and she couldn't wait any longer. While the food may have been delicious, watching Manny eat had been torture. His lips wrapping around a scallop, his tongue flicking out to capture a dab of salsa verde on his lip, the small, satisfied groan as he spooned the final scoop of tiramisu into his mouth.He'd driven her slowly but surely crazy.It seemed like the entire meal had been one giant exercise in foreplay, and she'd been patient long enough.Time for dessert.In her case, greed was good. "
11 " We're playing night golf?"He shook his head and killed the engine. "No. But one of my old patients owns this course, and there's something I want to show you down by the lake.""Let me guess. It's balls."He laughed again, reinforcing he was doing the right thing. If she could make him feel like this when sadness clouded him, she was definitely a keeper."You'll get to see mine, along with my number one driver, later if you're lucky. "
12 " It's our first outing as a couple," she said, her smile surprisingly shy."You know what would be nicer?"He lowered his head to whisper in her ear every filthy thing he'd do to her later, and by the end of it she was leaning into him, her breathing accelerated."You don't play fair," she muttered, tilting her face up to his. "The least you can do is kiss me.""I'm not into PDAs in the middle of Melbourne," he said, struggling to not laugh in the face of her outrage."You better give me some kind of public display of affection right here, right now, mister, or I'm going to torture you.""How?""By telling you I'm going commando under this dress and your naughty wordplay means I won't be sitting down the entire time we're in the bar."With that, she strutted up the steps in front of him, leaving him with a raging hard-on and lamenting his urge to tease, because Harper had matched him quip for quip while upping the ante.She was magnificent. "
