Free Connections by Emilia Winters Page A

Just not the kind you’re thinking of,” he growled softly.
    Olivia bit her lip, flushing at his meaning, as she gazed up at him.   He stole another kiss before she could protest, but he pulled away quickly.
    “I have to put the steaks on,” he murmured, before turning away from her.   She made a little noise of what Alex thought was protest, but when he turned back around, she was looking down at Bubbles.   “And darling?”
    “Hmm?” she asked distractedly, looking up at him.
    “I’d love to try your cupcakes,” he said, smirking.

Chapter Twelve

    Throughout all of dinner, Olivia had to keep chanting I will not have sex with him over and over again in her head.   But dammit!   The man made it so damn hard not to jump his bones.
    And Alex sensed her crumbling resolve.   He was just too intuitive for his own good, because he was slowly and steadily seducing her all over again.
    Maybe it was the wine or how sexy he had looked grilling a steak, but Olivia felt a strong urge to fan herself once they finished eating.   They were quiet as they cleaned up and once they were done, Olivia carried their wine glasses over to the couch and set them on coasters.
    The gas fireplace let out waves of soothing heat and she settled down comfortably, slowing sipping her wine.   While she waited for Alex to join her, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to both Alice and Christie.
    Alex raised his brow when he rounded the corner.   “It’s amazing to see you text on that thing, darling.   I’m truly impressed.   Although I’m surprised the keys haven’t fallen off yet considering the amount of times you have to press them to get one single word out.”
    “Ha ha,” Olivia pronounced slowly, setting her phone on the coffee table in front of them.   Alex settled an arm around her and she breathed in his scent before explaining, “Alice closed up for me tonight to make up hours she missed earlier this week.   And I’ve been trying to reach Christie all day, but I think her phone died.   She had this huge gallery opening apparently and I wanted to know how it went.”
    “She’ll probably call later,” Alex reassured her.
    “You still have to meet her you know,” Olivia reminded him.
    “I know,” he responded, turning his head so he could bury his nose in her hair.   Olivia shivered when Alex’s lips trailed down, softly kissing the side of her face until he stopped to nuzzle and nip at the tip of her ear.
    She let out an unintentional moan and leaned back, surprised and aroused.   “You’re really laying on the moves, aren’t you, Mr. Matlock?” she teased, hoping to cover up how heavily she was breathing.
    “I’m not sure what you mean,” he replied innocently, his eyes dropping down to her lips hungrily.
    “Dinner, wine, the fire…the cute cat,” she whispered, smiling.   “It’s practically the formula for sex.”
    “Mmm, who said anything about sex?”   He made the word sound every bit as deliciously dirty as it was.   “I was trying to seduce you into giving me a massage,” he countered, sounding faintly amused.   Yet, the bulge in his slacks said otherwise.   “I had a very trying day at work, darling, and I’m rather tense.”
    “Oh, is that it?” she asked, unconvinced.   “I think we both know that a massage inevitably leads to sex.”
    He grinned, unashamed, and her heart beat faster in her chest at the sight.   Damn, when would she ever get over how handsome he was?
    “What if I promise not to touch you?” he asked.
    Because I can’t promise I won’t touch you in places I shouldn’t, she thought silently.   But she wanted to give him a massage, if she was being honest with herself.   She wanted to feel his hot skin under her fingertips.   She wanted to make him groan.   But did she trust herself?
    “Alright then,” she replied, watching in amusement when he tensed.
    “What?” he asked, sitting up straighter.
    “Since you had such a hard day at