Free Too Wicked to Keep by Julie Leto

begged you to,” she reminded him, even as her nipples pebbled beneath her T-shirt. “And the only thing I’m begging you to do right now is let me up.”
    She sounded so reasonable, so calm, he had no choice but to comply. He might have tricked a few women—including her—into doing things they might not have done otherwise, but he’d never forced anyone.
    Still, he couldn’t help himself from prolonging the situation for a bit longer. “The sun’s up now, sweetheart. That means the rules have to change. And I happen to know that as much as I was dreaming about you last night, you were doing the same about me.”
    He was guessing, of course. He’d been too caught up in his own fantasies to have picked up on any of hers. But the instantaneous blush of her cheeks told him his theory was dead-on.
    The truth knocked him senseless long enough for her to scramble out from under him. Stunned, he rolled over and folded his hands behind his head while she attempted to straighten her yoga pants and zip up her hoodie.
    Her skin was still pink and she was a little breathless. He supposed he should feel a measure of remorse after what he’d promised her last night, but he didn’t. High from the prolonged contact of his body against hers, his blood zinged through his system and made him feel as if he could take on the world.
    Or at the very least, one questionable art collector.
    â€œSo if we’re not going to spend all day in bed, what is on the agenda?”
    â€œStrategizing,” she replied, snatching up her empty mug.
    From the outer room, the doorbell rang.
    â€œWho’s that?” he asked.
    â€œDelivery. Take a shower in the guest room and stay out of sight. I don’t want to explain you to anyone just yet.”
    â€œAs if you could,” he teased.
    She frowned, then disappeared out the door.
    Curiosity piqued, Danny followed her into the hall and found a spot that was both hidden and had fairly good acoustics to the entryway.
    â€œAre you going to tell me why you need men’s clothes and toiletries?” a sharply feminine voice asked.
    â€œNot yet,” Abby answered. “But thanks for coming through for me. Did you do the other thing, too?”
    â€œOf course,” the woman replied, her annoyance evident, as if the thought of her not doing something that Abby had asked was utterly repugnant. “But you need to tell me what’s going on. The last time you were so secretive…”
    â€œYeah,” Abby said quickly.
    Interesting. Danny wasn’t normally so vain as to think that all conversations were about him…well, maybe he was. But in either case, this one certainly seemed to fit. He was, after all, Abby’s biggest mistake. From what he knew of her life, she’d been the perfect child, the perfect daughter, the perfect student and the perfect wife. Except for the part where she cheated on her fiancé—thanks to him.
    He ducked farther back into the hall. Somehow, he didn’t think that inserting himself into the conversation was a good idea.
    He heard the rustle of plastic coming nearer. He dashed into the guest room and removed his shirt seconds before Abby stopped dead in the doorway.
    â€œWho’s that?” he asked.
    His voice popped her out of her frozen state. She scurried inside and shut the door behind her.
    â€œMy friend Erica. She lives on the Magnificent Mile, so I asked her to pick up some clothes for you—well, notfor you specifically, but for a man your size—as soon as the stores opened so we didn’t have to go out in public together before we had a plan.”
    â€œI am perfectly capable of shopping for myself.”
    â€œI’m sure you are, but I prefer to keep an eye on you until this business is handled.” She tossed him the bag. Inside were jeans, a shirt, a sweater and underwear.
    Tighty whities?
    As if.
    â€œAnd she did this favor for you