Distracted (20 page)

“You didn’t get dressed, did you?”

“Now why would I do that?”

He pulled the sheet down and stared hungrily at her
naked bottom. Then he bent over and bit it.

“Ow. That’s not a biscuit.”

Spence lay on the bed, his hands resting lightly on
his furry chest. “Feed me, wench.”

Erin, sitting on her heels in the middle of the bed,
picked up the honey bear and a hot, buttered biscuit. She held his
eyes with hers while she squeezed honey onto the biscuit, then on
her breasts, letting some slide down between her breasts to her
belly.

Spence watched with a slight frown. Then he bit his
bottom lip. He gingerly took the biscuit from her hand and put the
entire thing in his mouth. He swallowed it, gulping hard.
Meanwhile, he watched as honey continued to slide down Erin’s
stomach and below her navel.

“Gotta love honey,” he murmured as he maneuvered
between her knees.

She stretched her hands to the wall, grabbing the
headboard for support. Soon she had pulled it loose from the wall,
banging it rhythmically. Spence moved his head to the side.

“That’s very distracting, you know?”

Erin giggled. “I’m never letting you go again,” she
whispered.

Once again, they were spending their days indoors,
naked and feasting.

“You know, this can’t go on,” she said. She looked
out her apartment window. A late snow had fallen all night and the
city was gridlocked. Offices closed, traffic stood still. The city
was a wonderland.

“Why not? I can’t go sailing in the snow.”

She picked up a pillow and swatted it with him.
“Let’s go outside. Make a snowman.” She waggled her head
encouragingly.

“What kind of clothes do I have here? You’ll have to
dress me.”

“Come on. Get up. Let’s go outside. I’m getting
bedsores. And I want a Krispy Kreme donut. Can’t you smell
them?”

She tossed up her window and indeed, Spence could
smell the donuts from around the corner. Erin slid into her jeans,
pulled a sweatshirt over her head and struggled into socks and
boots. She flexed her feet suggestively and smiled at Spence. "Bet
you wish you had socks now," she teased.

"There is a wimp-chill factor," he hedged, slipping
his deck shoes on bare feet, "but the wind isn't blowing out there
so I'll just have to suck it up."

Soon they were dressed and outdoors in the cold,
crisp morning. Spence raced her down the steps and made a snowball.
Erin ducked, and he missed. Her Yankee aim perfect, she hit him in
the ear with an icy missile. At the little park in Dupont Circle,
Erin lay in the snow to make an angel. Spence pounced on her.
“Somebody get a water hose,” she called weakly. He pulled her knit
cap over her eyes and heaved off after a friendly couple passing by
answered her distress call and pelted him with snowballs.

The snowball frenzy escalated and soon dozens of
people were in the park tossing snowballs at each other and at slow
cars traveling through the circle.

Spence and Erin rolled boulders into a snowman, and
Erin offered her scarf for its neck. Spence grabbed her cap and
shoved it atop the snowman. Then he grabbed her arms and pulled her
mittens off.

“He needs these more than you do,” Spence said,
shoving the mittens onto sticks and impaling the snowman’s
sides.

“You wretch. You owe me a new ensemble.”

He pulled off one of his gloves and gave it to her,
smiling.

They held hands and walked to a little restaurant
down the street. There, they roasted s’mores over a blue flame and
drank hot cocoa.

They were on the floor of her apartment, on a blanket
spread before the fireplace. The warm, woodsy smell intoxicated
Erin. Glasses of wine made her head spin. Spence lay beside her,
staring at the flames. Erin flipped over to her side and looked at
his profile.

“Spence.”

“Hmmm?”

“I need to tell you something.”

He nodded slowly, still watching the flames.

“Spence. I want you to look at me.”

Warily, he turned to Erin.

“It’s not bad, Spence. Well, I hope it isn’t.”

“What is it, babe?” He rolled onto his back, then
remembering her request, he looked at her.

“I think you should know that I love you.”

He snorted.

Horrorstricken, Erin hid her face in her hands.

“No, no, babe. Don’t do that. You had me worried, is
all. I thought you were going to tell me I had to leave, that Aidan
was coming back. Don’t cover your face. Erin. Listen. I’m glad you
love me.”

“But you don’t love me,” came her muffled reply.

“Come here.” He pulled her onto his chest, covering
her hands with his and resting them on his heart. “So you love me,
eh? What do you love about me?”

Erin stuck out her tongue.

“No, I really want to know. Tell me.”

“Hey, I’m hanging out here, all alone. It’s scary and
I’m going to cry and you’re making fun of me.”

Spence cupped her hands and brought them to his lips.
Then he kissed her eyes, tasting her tears. “It’s okay to be
scared, Erin. Now tell me what you love about me.”

Erin struggled to sit up and Spence slowly let go of
her hands. She hugged her knees to her chest.

“I love …. uh.”

Spence smiled encouragingly.

“I love your smile. It’s so bright. I feel as if a
window opens each time you smile at me,” she said.

“You are a good writer,” he encouraged.

“I love your sense of humor. I know I complain, but
sometimes I enjoy your teasing.”

Emboldened, Erin moved closer to Spence and picked up
his hands. She brought them to her face and held them against her
cheeks. “I love your hands. Your hands turn on this switch inside
of me. Lately, I’ve been a robot. Walking, talking, working, going
about my business. But you’re back and touching me again and I’ve
turned on. All of a sudden I see everything. I feel everything.
Food tastes better. Sex is better. Even my clothes smell better.”
Erin let go of his hands and lifted the neck of her sweatshirt,
inhaling deeply.

She continued, “You never hurt anyone else. You never
say anything negative and you always say what you mean. You have a
lot of integrity. You want me to go on?”

Spence nodded, crossing his arms behind his head.

Erin bent over and traced his lips with a finger.

“Did I tell you that I love your mouth? Especially
your lips. They drive me crazy. And your tongue. You’re very good
with that. I’m not asking any questions, I’m just happy to have it
around.”

Spence shook his head at her, smiling at her
audacity.

“Most of all, I love that you took my arm at the art
gallery opening. If you hadn’t been kind to me then, if you hadn’t
given me another chance, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that
I love you, and that I have, almost since the day I met you.”

Erin's eyes brimmed with tears and she ducked her
head. Spence sat up and pulled her close, stroking her head and
rocking.

“I’m so scared, Spence.”

“Why, babe?”

“What if you don’t love me?”

He kissed her. She clung to him, her lips hungry,
demanding. He pulled away with some difficulty. “Do you remember
that morning at the farm? In the squeaky old bed? We were kissing
and, I don’t know what happened but it all changed. You must have
felt it. That was the time I lost control, I hurt you.”

Erin nodded. “You didn’t hurt me. And yes, I
remember.”

“That’s when I knew.”

“Knew what?”

“Knew that you loved me. Knew that everything had
changed. We weren’t just messing around anymore. It wasn’t just
sex. I knew I wanted something more that night and I could only
have it with you.”

“More like what?”

“Like you, forever. I love you, too, Erin.”

* * *

Much later, they were caressing each other in bed. A
sweet lassitude filled Erin and she smiled as she drifted off to
sleep.

“Will you come back home with me?”

Erin held her breath. “You mean give up my apartment
or just come for a visit?”

“I mean come home again and live with me. I can take
care of you. You wouldn’t have to work.”

She thrilled at the word “home” and felt her stomach
flutter. “But I like to work, Spence.”

“Okay. You can work. I don’t mind. So it’s settled?
You’ll come home and marry me? Have children with me?”

“Just try to keep me away. I’ve kept a suitcase
packed and in my hall closet ever since that night in the limo when
I found out you’re a movie star. Or is it a professional wrestler?
I can’t recall.”

“Are you ever serious?”

“Always, love.”

Four months later, Erin stood on the pier at the
marina and watched as ex-Sergeant Mick Smith maneuvered his skiff
against the pilings. He tossed her a line and she wrapped it around
the cleat.

“Thanks, sweetheart. I’ve got a dive lesson this
afternoon,” he said as he clunked two diving tanks on the pier.

Erin rubbed her swelling stomach and smiled. Mick
caught the gesture.

“When’s the wedding?”

“Excuse me?”

He winked. “Well, gal. Appears you’re knocked up and
I’m asking you when’s the wedding?”

Erin watched a sailboat tacking its way up the
sound.

“I’ll ask. I’ll ask if you’re invited, too.”

Mick laughed and continued pulling tanks from the bow
of his motor boat.

That night, as Spence stroked her belly and kissed
it, she told him about Smith’s comment.

“He said ‘knocked up’?”

“Yes.”

“Well, did you tell him that it’s up to you?”

“No.”

“When will you marry me?”

“As soon as you finish the manuscript.”

Spence sighed. “How many pages do we have left?”

“Oh, I think we could wrap it up this week if you
promise to focus.”

“Baby, it’s not my fault. You’ve been distracting me
since we met.”

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madeline Sloane is a writer with more than 25 years
experience in communications. With ten published history books
under her belt, she is new to the world of romantic fiction but
finding it just as fun to research.

In addition to writing, she is a college instructor
whose interests include traveling and boating. Rounding out her
list of Top Five interests are reading, pets and cooking.

On the web at http://www.MadelineSloane.com

ABOUT THE SERIES: WOMEN OF EATON

The first novel in the "Women of Eaton" romance
series, "Distracted" introduces readers to Eaton, a fictional,
idyllic town tucked away in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Several
of the characters in "Distracted" are featured in other, soon-to-be
released books such as "East of Eaton," "West Wind" and "Deadline."
Look for Erin and Spence to return in a few of these new stories
that explore and celebrate romance.

Connect with Madeline Sloane online:

Madeline's website:
http://www.madelinesloane.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/madelinesloane

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/distracted.by.madeline.sloane

Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MadelineSloane

Prepared by The Omnibus

For all general information contact The Omnibus

Web: http://www.TheOmnibus.net