Emma giggled at his frustration.

The door swung open, and he compelled her in ahead of him, pulling at her coat before she was even through the door. Their coats landed on the floor right inside the door. He grasped her sweater while she unbuckled his belt, both pulling and tugging until their clothes were in a pile at their feet.

His lips came down on hers in a devouring kiss that had her clinging to him and then gasping when he lowered her to the floor, coming down on top of her without missing a beat in the frantic kiss.

She took him in hand and directed him to where she wanted him so badly.

He pushed into her, taking hold of her hands and pinning them over her head. “Is this okay?”

She appreciated that he would stop in the midst of madness to ask that. “Only because it’s you.”

Her reply seemed to fuel his ardor, and he pounded into her in a way he never had before, wild and unrestrained.

A knock on the door had them both freezing mid-stroke.

“Ella? Is that you? Are you and that Guthrie boy hanging pictures again?”

Grayson’s eyes got very big before he lost it laughing, taking Emma down with him. “That’s Mrs. Abernathy, the landlord,” Grayson whispered.

Another knock. “Ella?”

“Say something,” Grayson said. “She’ll think you’re Ella.”

“Everything’s fine, Mrs. Abernathy,” Emma said as cheerfully as she could while Grayson throbbed inside her and his chest hair abraded her sensitive nipples.

“Okay, dear. Just making sure. Good night now.”

“Good night.”

When they heard the older woman walk away, they began to laugh again. They laughed so hard that tears ran down their faces and they gasped for breath.

“Oh my God,” Grayson said when he’d recovered somewhat. “Ella and Gavin… hanging pictures. Those dirty devils. I can’t wait to see her again.”

“If you tell her what happened, you’ll be confessing that you were hanging some pictures of your own.”

That got him laughing all over again, which started her up again, too.

“Have we lost the mood?” he asked when he’d recovered.

“Maybe a little, but I bet we can get it back.”

He smiled down at her. “I’ll take that bet.” He kissed her lightly. “Shall we relocate to the much more comfortable bed?”

“Yes, please.”

Grayson withdrew from her and stood, reaching out to help her up and then wrapping his arms around her. “That was the best laugh I’ve had in years.”

“Me, too.”

He held her close to him as he walked them toward the bedroom.

Emma kept her arms around his neck and followed his lead, walking backward as he navigated for both of them.