All Fixed Up by Linda Grimes Read Free Book Online

at first, then picking up speed until I moaned with my impending release. “ You are what matters to me, Ciel. Not how you look. You. ”
    I toppled over the edge, staring into those eyes that never failed to mesmerize me, marveling once again at his ability to have me giggling one second and gasping with passion the next. He came seconds later, burying his face in my neck, gripping me tightly until at last we fell apart, holding hands and breathing hard, staring at the ceiling together.
    A minute or so later—long enough for our heart rates to slow back down—he turned his head to me, a naughty glint in his eyes. “Of course, the package you’re wrapped in is an awfully nice bonus.”
    I snuggled up to him. How did he always know exactly what I needed to hear? “Oh, you are good. ”
    â€œHuh. I guess it must be like they say…”
    The grin in his voice made me smile. “And what exactly do they say?”
    â€œGood things come in small packages.”
    I cracked up. Yeah, he was the one. The only one, I assured myself. This time I got no argument from my inner buttinski.
    *   *   *
    Much later, completely satisfied, and naked except for the blanket (me) and sheet (Billy) wrapped around us like togas, we sat at my dining room table, munching on freshly delivered pizza. I picked the anchovies off mine and gave them to Billy, who happily piled them on his.
    â€œI thought you liked anchovies,” he said with a suspicious twinkle in his eye. “Honest.”
    â€œEh. They’re okay. But not on Hawaiian pizza. They clash with the pineapple, and the ham is already salty enough. Which you knew when you ordered, because I explained it the last time we ordered pizza.”
    â€œHuh. Guess I forgot.”
    Yeah, right. Billy had the most obnoxiously good memory of anyone I knew.
    â€œBullshit,” I said. “You figured I’d give you my share of the anchovies.” I bit into a slice and made a face. I must have missed one of the little suckers. “Bleah. Too salty.”
    Billy leaned over and kissed me. “Mmm. Salty is good. I like you salty.” His tongue played delicately over my lips.
    I pulled away with a groan. “Stop! I’m hungry. For food now.”
    â€œI can’t help it. Seeing you wrapped up in a blanket makes me think of the boat in Sweden. That was when I knew for sure I had to have you.”
    I’d been wearing a blanket then, too, after an unintended dip in the Baltic Sea drenched my clothes (and almost drowned me, but I preferred not to dwell on that part). That little adventure had been the first time I’d started seeing Billy in a romantic light. And the beginning of all my confusion. Before then, I’d been safely and solidly wrapped in the cocoon of my unrequited passion for Mark. Was Billy intentionally reminding me my attraction to Mark was no longer unrequited? Was he fishing? Or was I being too sensitive?
    â€œAnd now you do have me,” I said simply, willing him to believe me, because, God, I never wanted to hurt him.
    After a pause, he smiled, seemingly reassured. He picked a piece of pineapple off his slice and put it on mine. “There. I’m atoning.”
    For what? The fish or the fishing?
    I chose to go with the least complicated path. Thank you, Occam’s razor, for shaving my conscience. “I gave you all my anchovies.”
    â€œYeah, but I love pineapple, so my sacrifice is greater. It balances out karmically,” he said.
    â€œYou’re such a saint. Honestly, I don’t know why you haven’t been canonized yet.”
    â€œMerely a celestial oversight, I’m sure. But enough about me, fascinating though the topic is. Catch me up on you. How’d your lesson with Laura go? I assume that’s where you were between the airport and bed with me.”
    â€œLaura! Oh, my God, I haven’t told you the news! She’s pregnant. Can you