Free Just One Spark by Jenna Bayley-Burke Page B

kitchen. How could Hannah function when every muscle in his body ached? He rolled, opening one eye to read the display. Nine fifteen. Late, but not too late considering he woke her up at least once last night for another round. Maybe twice. With Hannah it was hard to tell dreams from reality.
    Throwing off the blankets, he sat and slowly stretched, allowing his body to adjust to the new day and work out the kinks from the most amazing night of his life. He hadn’t just dreamed her up. She was real, and if he heard right, cussing in the kitchen.
    He thought about going out there naked like he would at home, but he stepped into his boxer briefs instead. He couldn’t tell just what she had going on out there.
    He found her digging through the refrigerator in search of something. From the looks of the carnage in the paper bag beside her, she wasn’t having much luck.
    “Need some help?” he asked, leaning over the door. She wore a different robe, a steely blue flannel one. Not a good sign.
    She looked up at him with a forced grin. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
    He retreated to the counter, not sure what to expect from the cool demeanor. She closed the refrigerator, walked the bag to the door and then circled back into the kitchen. She stood in front of the sink, crossed her arms across her chest and blew out a long breath.
    He stared hard at her, willing her to meet his gaze. When she did he saw it—morning-after remorse. It kicked him in the gut. He stepped to her and wrapped his arms around her stiff body.
    “I know what you must think of me after that little stunt I pulled last night,” she whispered. “I wish you knew me better, because I’m not really like that.”
    “Like what?” He pulled back to look at her and lifted her chin from where she’d buried her face in his chest. “Sexy, confident and daring?”
    “You are really being nice about this.” She wriggled free, turned and grabbed a mug from the cupboard.
    “I’ll warn you,” he said and cleared his throat. “If you tell me you regret it, it just might kill me.”
    Her timid gaze met his again. “I’ve never been with somebody so soon. I’m a little turned around this morning.”
    He nodded, hoping to assuage her embarrassment. “Maybe if you eat something you’ll feel better. I know I’m starving.”
    She smiled back. “Me too, that’s what prompted my little cleaning episode. I was looking for something to eat, but there’s nothing but ancient take-out containers in my fridge.”
    He grinned, finally finding the edge he needed. “Lucky for you, I can cook, and I only live upstairs.” He took her hand and headed her to the door.
    “You want me to walk upstairs dressed, or undressed, like this?”
    His gaze traveled up and down the robe. It covered her more completely than anything he’d seen her in yesterday. But her nipples tented the soft fabric, reminding him she wore nothing beneath it. “I do, I really do.”
    No one caught them climbing the stairs in their underwear. Thank goodness for small favors. If there was a kinky neighbor, cruising around in her bathrobe was asking for trouble. But she couldn’t resist as Mason dropped her keys in her bathrobe pocket and pulled her out the door.
    She didn’t seem to be able to resist Mason at all, come to think of it. The man came over to try and accommodate her frenzied work schedule and she’d jumped him as soon as she’d had the chance. She hadn’t been shy about it either. Teasing and taunting and tempting. What must he think of me?
    Neither of the other men she’d been involved with would have ever played along with her little game. Or given her five orgasms before sunrise. Her body still hummed from the experience.
    It gave him a power over her she wasn’t comfortable with. Now that Mason knew just how much she liked sex, would he use it to manipulate her?
    She swallowed hard as Mason opened the door to his apartment. He probably thought she was a closet dominatrix,