He was too starved for her to slowly drive her to the detonation point. He pushed back the skin hiding her clit with his lips and settled his mouth over the hot spot. “You taste so f**king sweet.”

“You’re so amazing at that.”

His response was to suck harder in precisely the way she liked.

Wasn’t long before she started to rock her hips into his face, and he felt that first spasm against his mouth.

He sucked and swallowed those sweet juices, growling against her tender flesh. When her legs stopped trembling and the pulses ended, he kissed the inside of her thigh. As he eased her off the pool cover, he kissed straight up her belly. He latched on to her nipple, which had gone tight in the cold night air.

Amery wrapped her legs around his waist. When she was fuzzy from orgasmic bliss, worrying about his injuries appeared to be the farthest thing from her mind.

Ronin feasted on her ni**les. Warming them with his mouth, wanting to slide her body down to where he ached and slip inside her. He kissed his way up her chest to her chin. “Amery, baby, I lo—”

She slanted her lips over his and kissed him with deliberation. “I do taste pretty sweet on you,” she murmured between soft pecks on his mouth.

Once again, she’d stopped the words in his heart from passing through his lips. Why?

Because she’s scared.

Then she proved it by pushing away from him. “I’m cold. Let’s go inside.”

• • •

AFTER they crawled into bed, Ronin said, “I should let you know that Shiori will be calling you to have lunch tomorrow.”

“Did she say why?”

“No.”

“Huh. That’s weird.”

“You don’t have to go.”

“I know.”

“In fact, I wish you wouldn’t.”

She turned over and gave him a cool look. “Why’s that? Afraid she’ll ask me how your injuries are healing since I doubt you’re being honest with her either?”

“Either? It’s been a week since the fight. I’m nearly back to normal.”

“Then there’s no reason for me to stay here and tend to you, is there?”

Goddammit. Why was she baiting him and then moving closer to taunt him?

Amery touched the bruise on his chest. She ran her hands across his ribs. “Are you so insistent I see you as bounce-back Black that you’d rather I leave than admit that you aren’t one hundred percent?”

“Would you rather I pretended my recovery time is taking longer than I expected so I can keep you here?” he countered.

She sighed. “You are such an exasperating man.”

Ronin plucked her hand from his chest and ran his thumb over her knuckles. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

His declaration didn’t seem to bother her because she didn’t argue. “Will you start driving tomorrow since it’s been a week?”

“Maybe. I’d thought about taking you to lunch, but my sister beat me to it.”

“How about if I cut out early and bring you food? Then, if you’re feeling stir crazy, we could go for a drive.” A wide smile spread across her beautiful face. “I’d love to get behind the wheel of your Corvette.”

“No chance.” He kissed the inside of her wrist. “And the only time I’m stir crazy is when you’re not here.”

“What happened when you went down to the dojo today?”

“Are you asking if I overexerted myself? I didn’t. There were a few business things I needed to handle. All in all, I wandered around and felt pretty useless.” Jesus. Why don’t you just blurt out all of your fears? That with limited physical contact, your students will see you the way you’ve seen so many other martial arts instructors—as washed up? As a teacher who knows the techniques but can no longer employ them?

“You’re not useless.” She scooted even closer. “You’re so not.”

He wanted to show her just how useful he could be to her.

But then the crazy woman shocked him by pulling his mouth to hers and kissing him. She never let it get to the combustible stage, keeping it slow. A gentle exploration. A sweet communion. A promise of more.

After she’d incited him and soothed him with her kiss, she didn’t sleep on her side of the bed for the first time in five nights. She curled her body into his and fell asleep in his arms.

CHAPTER FIVE

AMERY arrived at the bistro early, scoring the prime spot in the corner, where she could keep an eye on the door. Since her last formal meeting with Shiori had been at the Ritz, she wanted the familiarity of her home turf.

Gigi, her favorite server, sauntered over with a smile. “Where have you been keeping yourself? I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“I’ve been working through lunch most days.” A lie, but confessing she couldn’t afford to eat out seemed pathetic. “Someone is joining me, but I’ll start out with a Moscow mule.”

“Is Emmylou your lunch date?” Gigi asked hopefully.

Her office mate had flirted outrageously with Gigi the last time they’d eaten here, and the poor girl had eaten it up. “No. She’s traveling this month.”

“Oh. I’ll put that drink order in for you.”

After Gigi flounced off, Amery noticed other neighborhood business owners scattered throughout the restaurant. She waved at a couple and then scanned the menu. The lunch special, turkey salad on homemade molasses bread with a side of Colorado peaches and mountain huckleberries, caused her stomach to rumble. They hadn’t had time for breakfast this morning, and she was starved. Ronin would be too, and this sandwich looked healthy enough that he’d eat it.