Flash Burned by Calista Fox Page A

me.
    Dane’s warm, soft lips skated over my skin, up my neck. He kissed me softly and asked, “Is that a yes?”
    My eyelids drifted open and I gazed into his sparkling emerald irises. A smile tugged at my lips as tears of happiness pooled in my eyes.
    â€œGoes without saying, don’t you think?”
    *   *   *
    The smile that had started the previous evening, while Dane was nestled snugly inside me, remained plastered on my face. I even woke with it.
    Despite being alone in our bed, I couldn’t fight the grin. Or the delirium that flowed through me.
    Sparing a glance at the clock on the nightstand made me grimace. Through my smile.
    It was almost ten o’clock. I never slept late. And I’d missed tee time with my dad.
    Still, I was absurdly giddy as I tossed off the covers and slipped from the bed. Not fully recovered from the whirlwind Lux preparations, Dane’s lovemaking, my nonstop excitement … but feeling refreshed enough not to spend the rest of the day curled in a ball under the down comforter.
    I went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, then brushed my teeth. My hair was a tangled mess I didn’t even attempt to straighten. I snatched Dane’s discarded dress shirt from the night before and pulled it on, not bothering to button the flap. I crossed the hall and grabbed a black lace thong from the bureau in the dressing room, then traveled the long, wide corridor, following the scent of huevos rancheros and coffee.
    Passing the great room, I heard Dane on the phone.
    I stepped into the vast space, eclectically decorated with tables, chairs, and sofas scattered everywhere and floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors that highlighted the dense forest and rushing creek beyond the terrace. The fireplace was lit to keep the morning chill at bay. I was barefoot, but the heated stone floor left me toasty warm.
    And then there was Dane. One look at him and my internal temperature skyrocketed.
    He stood in the middle of the room, wearing dark-gray lounging pants. Nothing more. My mouth watered at the sight of him, so tall, tan, and gorgeous. His sculpted chest and ridged abs drew my attention before my gaze drifted up to his devilishly handsome face.
    Our eyes locked. He said into the phone, “I’ll call you back.” He disconnected and slid the cell into his pocket. “Interesting look,” he told me as he took in my disheveled state. “Damn sexy.”
    â€œLike I just rolled out of bed after spending the night with a man I couldn’t get enough of?”
    â€œOr he couldn’t get enough of you.”
    â€œAh, except that he left me in rumpled sheets this morning, when he should have woken me up and made love to me again.”
    Dane winked. “As much as I was tempted to do just that, I like you cognizant of me when I’m inside you. As it was this morning … Baby,” he said as he closed the gap between us. “I’m not sure how to break this to you, but you snore like a buzz saw when you’re exhausted.”
    My head snapped back and I playfully swatted at him. “I do not!”
    With a healthy laugh, he said, “I’ll be sure to record you next time.”
    â€œDane!”
    He gathered me in his strong arms and kissed me senseless. Then told me in a rumbling voice, “I’m to blame. I shouldn’t have kept you up, or drained you even more by making love to you.”
    â€œNever say that,” I begged.
    He kissed my forehead. “Why don’t you eat something? Rosa was here earlier than usual and left breakfast. I think she’s worried you’re going to get tired of my limited culinary skills and leave me.”
    â€œNot a chance. I could starve and still want you.” I kissed him. “But that won’t happen, because we have the very brilliant Chef D’Angelo on our side. He gave me a fantastic recipe for this evening.” I pulled