His arms were suddenly full of Mary, and they both stumbled backward.

“You’re going to kill us both with these heels,” he laughed and went down on one knee in front of her to divest her of one heel and then the other. When he looked back up at her, her eyes were dark, and her lips were bitten red.

“Promise me you’ll do that again when I can actually show you how sexy I find it.”

“I promise.” His voice was pure gravel. There were about seven hundred places he wanted to kiss her right now, but in order to save both their sanities, he simply placed a chaste kiss right on her kneecap before he stood up.

“Water?” he asked.

“Sure.” She swayed into the kitchen, yawning and stretching her arms up over her head as she went.

John took off his shoes and followed her into the kitchen. She put a glass of ice water in his hand and leaned against the opposite counter, hoisting herself up. They held one another’s eyes as they both drank deeply, John finishing his entire glass and her getting about halfway there. They set their glasses aside, and Mary pulled her knees apart a scant inch. John caught a glimpse of hot pink and he groaned, twisting his head to one side.

“Play fair, Mary.”

When he looked up, her knees were pressed together again, but her eyes were impishly pleased with herself. She yawned again.

“Are you sure you want me to stay?” he asked. “You seem tired.”

“Aren’t you tired?” She cocked her head to one side.

“Well, actually...” Now that she mentioned it, he was tired. It was a couple hours later than he usually stayed up on a work night.

“Bedtime?” she asked, sliding down from the counter and holding out a hand to him.

“Mary...”

“I won’t try anything.” She lifted her fingers in the Boy Scout pledge. “Let’s just lie down for a little while. I’m sleepy.”

He watched her walk down the long, dim hallway that led to her bedroom. She disappeared through the door, a lamp flicking on a moment later.

John dragged a hand down his face, feeling like he was in some sort of soupy, delicious dream. He knew exactly how he’d gotten this far into the evening without realizing he was drunk. Because Mary made him feel drunk even when he was dead-ass sober. Her presence, her spirit, her demeanor, it helium-ed him. He was used to feeling loopy and spinny when he was near her.