Things That Make You Happy

Today is family dinner day, covering two birthdays and the regular monthly dinner. I spent half of yesterday in the kitchen making a giant vat of chili, and right now I'm about to put mac and cheese in the oven as well. I did cheat on dessert and the bread--I got mini cornbreads with this week's grocery order, as well as apple-walnut and pumpkin loaf cakes for dessert, but that's okay with me. My oven is only so big. Haha.

Even with time spent doing prep, family dinner days make me happy. We've tried to do these regularly since the boys moved out so we can see them. It isn't the same as them still living at home, but that's okay, it shouldn't be anymore, no matter how much my mom-brain wishes they were still here all the time. These days make me happy, kitchen prep and all.

Now I'm going to go pop that mac and cheese into the oven, but before I go, I have a snippet for you this week from Hunting Medusa.

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Andi tugged uselessly at her wrist, but his arm didn’t move from his side. “Hey, Harvester.”

The obnoxious grin slid off his face. “Stop calling me that.”

“It’s your name.”

He glared at her, then folded his arms over his chest, dragging hers along and forcing her to half roll toward him again.

She yanked away but he put his other hand over her wrist.

“Go to sleep.”

She shot him a disbelieving glance. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to sleeping in handcuffs. Or with all the lights on. And I’m not tired.” That last sounded rather childish, she admitted to herself, but the man had nerve.

He observed her for a long moment, until she wanted to squirm under his scrutiny. Then another slow grin started at one corner of his mouth, gradually curving his full lower lip all the way to the opposite corner. “I bet I can fix that.”

“I don’t think so.” She leaned as far away as her trapped arm allowed.

He moved fast, flipping her on top of him before she realized his intent.

Andi blinked, then felt her heart pound faster. The Harvester had muscles on his muscles.

Not the best time to be noticing that, perhaps.

She watched him warily as he shifted under her, settled her close, then stretched their cuffed wrists away from their sides. She put her free hand on his shoulder and pushed herself up a little. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you tired.” His other hand slid up her spine to the nape of her neck, where his fingers started massaging the tight muscles.

“Stop it.” She shifted her head to one side, then the other, but his strong fingers continued exactly what they’d been doing. She frowned down at him.

He smiled innocently.

“That doesn’t work for me.” It did feel good, though. Not that she’d tell him.

Kallan’s bright gaze slid down from her eyes to her mouth, almost like an actual touch on her lips.

She swallowed. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Too late,” he murmured, using his grip at her nape to bring her closer.

Andi sucked in a startled breath when he brushed his mouth along hers. “You’re sick.”

It was his turn to blink. “What?”

“You’re here to kill me, right?”

His brows dipped into a frown.

“You’re not supposed to be…screwing me too.” She blushed.

His frown disappeared. “I’m not trying to screw you. Just kiss you, Andrea.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock.

“Well, that makes it much easier,” he said softly, lifting his head to catch her lips.

His kiss wasn’t what she’d expected. Not that she’d been imagining it. Not really. His lips were warm and soft on hers, not demanding or ruthless—although she was certain he possessed both qualities, and probably far worse, knowing his gene pool. His kiss was more an exploration. A gentle caress.

And for a moment, she decided, she could enjoy it. It had been a very long time since a man had kissed her.

She shivered when he nipped at her lower lip, then heard a soft sound escape her throat when his warm tongue soothed the bitten spot. At her nape, his fingers still moved gently, and the friction sent unexpected heat rushing down her spine and into her belly.

Gods, it had been so long. She leaned into his caress, just a little.

And his kiss shifted into something a lot more demanding.

Hot desire exploded in her middle, reaching out to all her extremities—to her face, tightening her nipples and making her press them into his chest. The hand she’d had propped on his shoulder slid up to his hair.

She knew this was a really bad idea. The man was an assassin. Her assassin.

But his kiss… It was a kiss unlike any other she’d experienced. Ever. And apparently, her impending PMS had already set her hormones in motion. She wouldn’t be able to use the vibrator with him here, but this was so much better…

Dark heat expanded inside her, making her forget the danger he posed. Making her wish she could indulge this unexpected attraction. Just for a little while.

Beneath her, his body hardened—even more than it had earlier in her kitchen—and the hardest part pressed just, oh Gods, at the right spot for her to shift her hips against his, hearing a soft moan. She knew it came from her and she didn’t care.

His hair was like silk along her fingertips, and his mouth feasted at hers, fueling her own desire.

When they had to part to breathe she could barely force her eyes open, and when she did, she found his dark with need. And wide with shock.

She gulped in some air that failed to cool her desire. It didn’t even really sate her body’s need for oxygen, but it was the best she could do when her brain wouldn’t function properly.

“Tired yet?” he rasped, his thumb sliding along the side of her neck.

An unexpected laugh bubbled from her throat.

He smiled faintly.

Andi swallowed hard. “Have you forgotten who you are? Who I am?” She really needed to remember both of those things. If she could only make her brain work again.

His smile disappeared, and something like regret surfaced in his eyes before he shook his head. “Unfortunately, I have not.” He pressed his thumb harder against her neck, and her world went black.

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Over on my Facebook page, we talk daily about things that make us happy, so I guess today, we're expanding that to the website as well. What is making you happy this week? A new book? Coffee with a friend? Something else? I'd love to hear about it!

Until next week, happy reading!