Jamie
He ducked a fraction, passing under the doorframe.
There was ample clearance, but it seemed low, given that the upstairs space was the top of a barn conversion.
Jamie moved into the cosy sitting room, which opened into a small galley kitchen with two doors at the far end.
He found the space cramped, but perfectly proportioned for her petite stature.
She’d painted the walls pale green, offsetting the ivory kitchen cupboards, and the natural wood countertops gave it a homely charm.
Skylights in the sloping ceiling let in the soft afternoon light, offering a hazy glow over the room.
As he moved further inside, worn floorboards creaked underfoot. A strange warmth spread through him, a comfort he couldn’t quite explain.
Being in her personal space was like being handed asecret, something rare and coveted, as if he’d just been tipped off about a sure thing at the bookies.
In the sitting area, a small green couch crowded the wall and a tan leather stool wedged into the corner.
Both faced a flat-screen TV mounted on a steel arm, framed by a collage of colourful rosettes and golden trophies.
Shannon shirked off her padded jacket and hung it by the door before unzipping her worn black half chaps. She kicked off her jodhpur boots and left them in a careless pile under her coat.
Jamie watched her every move, observing her unrefined gracefulness.
Glossy black hair tumbled in untidy tendrils over her narrow shoulders as she concentrated, sticking her tongue out between her teeth while trying to balance on one leg to peel off knee-length chequered socks.
Her face was bare, no makeup, and her jet-black lashes framed stunning blue eyes. Those eyes of hers drew him in and he couldn't understand why they had such an effect on him, but they did.
Every time she met his gaze, it was as if she saw straight into his soul.
She was an effortless beauty, a woman who needed nothing extra to shine.
A little rough around the edges in scruffy breeches with specks of wood shavings stuck to her ass and a wrinkled t-shirt that clung just enough to hint at her curves.
But to him, she was damn near perfect.
His fingers tightened around the whip, a low growl rumbling from his chest. “Shannon.”
Her eyes flicked up, meeting his with a flash of something unreadable. “Yeah?”
The subtle swallow in her throat, paired with the slight parting of her lips, told him everything he needed to know. She was nervous.
“I want more than lunch.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Her gaze dropped to the whip still in his hand, and for a moment, the air between them thickened.
She didn’t flinch, but there was a noticeable change in her posture, a shift that told him she was aware of his intentions.
A slow smile spread across his face. “You know exactly what I want.”
“Do I?” she asked, her voice teasing now, light and playful. “You seemed pretty content with a bacon butty a few minutes ago.”
As Shannon moved a step closer, Jamie’s gaze never wavered. He took a half-step toward her, letting his body press just enough to brush hers.
His lips hovered close to her ear, but they didn’t quite touch it, his breath ghosting over her skin.
