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She glanced at him slyly, at the defined muscles in his neck and shoulders under the thin T-shirt, the finely shaped arms and hands. It dawned on her suddenly that she'd not taken anyone on the boat with her in nearly eight years-not since Griffin. She had to look away.
"We haven't talked about what happened at my house that night." Qui
"That's because you've avoided me since then."
Qui
"I'm trying to pretend it didn't happen," she mumbled.
Qui
"Ha!" Audie glared at him. "It's not."
"Me, either."
She studied Qui
And the longer she looked, the more pronounced the pulling inside her became, an opening up that was unfamiliar but not completely unpleasant.
"I need some time," she said suddenly. Audie hadn't really pla
"It's your call," was all Qui
He continued to look at her, all crooked grin and dancing eyes, and Audie let go with a huge smile. She hadn't realized she was holding it in, and it was a relief to smile at him the way she needed to.
"I really do like you a lot, Qui
"I like you, too," he said, rubbing a hand over his mouth, as if hiding his smile. He shook his head. "We make an interesting couple, that's for sure."
They sailed for several hours, down to Hyde Park, where they anchored for lunch, and back to the North Shore. She taught Qui
Qui
He cut a fine figure at the helm of the Take a Hint, broad shoulders held straight, the clean line of his nose, his trim legs covered in light brown man-fuzz.
She was thinking that Qui
In silence, she once again thanked Rocky Datillio for his perfect timing.
"Hey, Audie. Can I ask you a question? It might sound strange."
She laughed. "You've been asking me strange questions since we left the dock, Detective."
"Yeah? Well, this one's personal."
"They've all been personal."
"I mean about you."
"Sure, Stacey. Go for it." Audie saw an expectant look in Qui
"My question is what do you like to do in the winter in Chicago -say, February, typical Sunday afternoon sort of thing?"
That was the big personal question? She was thinking underwear preference or prescription medications or maybe religion again.
But the man looked downright nervous about her answer, and Audie narrowed her eyes at him for a long moment. He was obviously up to no good.
"Winters can be rough, Qui
He reached down for his beer and took a long draw, nodding.
Audie locked her eyes on his. "I enjoy having wild, sweaty sex on the floor and then popping out to a sports bar for a Gui
Qui
"Did I pass, Qui
"You could kill a man talking like that," he croaked, his eyes huge. "At least give me a warning next time, would you?"
"A warning? You mean when I'm about to mention sweaty sex? Or beer and sports bars?"
He thumped his chest. "How about 'em all, just to be safe?"
She laughed at the sight of him, standing there in shock. It was quite satisfying, really. She sat back down, crossed her legs, and smiled at him.
"And how about you, Detective? What do you like to do in the winter?"
The corner of Qui
She laughed with him, trying her best not to imagine having wild, sweaty sex with Stacey Qui
"I bet I know what you were thinking right then, Audie."
Her eyes flew open at the soft sound of his voice, and she stared at him, caught red-handed.
"You know, we are grown-ups-we can talk about this. I'm actually pretty uninhibited for an Irish Catholic boy, so it wouldn't embarrass me."
Audie felt the blush spread like fire up her throat and across her cheeks. "Talk about wh-what?"
"About the attraction," Qui
She glared at him and crossed her arms over her breasts. Kidding around was one thing, but she didn't like the serious tone of his voice. "We'd better head back," she said, all business.
"Someday, Audie, when you're ready, I plan on making love to you. I'm real interested in finishing what we've started."
She swallowed, blinked at him, and clutched herself tighter.
"In the meantime, I'd like to know what you like best, what feels good to you, so that I can be prepared."
"What?" She stared at him, feeling a shudder move through her.
Qui
"The moment I laid eyes on you, I started imagining what it would be like to have you in my bed. I'd like to know what it takes to make you crazy, Audie, get you wild, send you over the top. I just need a few details for the next time I find myself fantasizing about you-which would be right now, actually."
"God, Qui
"It's just that right now I'm not quite sure about you, Homey. I get a feeling you want something you don't know how to ask for."
"What the hell are you talking about?" She twisted away from him, looking out over the water. She felt trapped on this boat, trapped in his stare.
"Iget the feeling you're sexually frustrated."
"What!?" She stomped her foot down on the oak floor timbers and glared at him.
"Maybe you just haven't had the right lover, Audie."
She was dumbfounded, and for several long moments her mouth hung open. He stood there perfectly somber, looking down at her with those piercing olive eyes, not a hint of sarcasm on his fine lips. She felt her breath come much too fast for someone not doing wind sprints.
"I can wait, Audie. You asked for time, and I'll give you as much time as you need. Then… " Qui