He loved how no-nonsense she could be, but damn that dreamy voice hit him square in the gut because he’d been the one to get her here. He’d been the one to chase that haunted look from her eyes and replace it with the satisfaction he saw there now.

“Oh, yes, chère.” Even he could hear how deep his natural accent had gotten. “But don’t think you’re going to get everything you want. Not yet. Not until I’ve had my fill.”

“You’re an obnoxious man.” But the words were said with a sigh that let him know she didn’t mind his obnoxiousness.

She might tomorrow when she realized he wasn’t going to be put back in the neat and tidy box she’d placed him in. But that was a problem for another day. The good news was he would sleep in her bed tonight. He would wake up next to her and if all went right, she would find herself in his bed tomorrow night.

He would greatly prefer his house since he could easily carry her through his hallways.

“Sorry,” she said as he tried to get around a stack of plastic containers. “I think those are his collectible action figures. They’re toys still in their boxes.”

“You need to have the world’s largest garage sale,” he muttered. They were definitely going back to his place tomorrow night.

The good news was the bedroom was neat and tidy. She’d replaced the LSU blankets and pillows with pretty, feminine bedding. Like the woman herself, the décor in the bedroom was lovely and restrained.

He laid her out on the bed and eased off her sneakers and socks. He was going to take his time, lavish every inch of her with his appreciation. He brought her foot to his lips and gently kissed the arch. He should be in a frenzy to have her, but he couldn’t give in to that side of his nature. Tonight she needed to be worshipped for the goddess she was, to understand that she was worthy and should expect his every tender care.

“You’re going to drive me crazy.” She looked up at him but made no move to push him along.

“I’m planning on making you so crazy you sleep like a baby tonight.” And crazy enough to stay with him, but he couldn’t say that yet.

“I don’t feel tired anymore.”

He gave her other foot the same treatment, taking it between his hands and rubbing strongly before kissing every toe. He kneaded the arch of her foot and was rewarded with a long groan.

Billie Holiday floated through the ramshackle house, lending an air of dreamy seduction. Time seemed to slow down, cocooning the two of them. He didn’t think about anything but this woman. She was his to please, and that was all that mattered.