Love Jones For Him by Mia Loveless

an old house back to life. The best part of it, though, was being around Gordon.
    She dusted off her hands, turning to him with a smile. His back was to her, and he clattered nosily with his tools as he gathered them.
    “It was nice; all five courses. There was the most delicious shrimp…”
    “I wasn’t talking about the food, Victoria.”
    “I know,” she replied with an impish smile, coming up to put her arms around him, feeling the rigid column of his back beneath her cheek. Hmm, he smelled delicious, like fresh, hot male. “And he’s gone, Gordon. Back to New York. He left on the first flight.”
    He turned in her arms, and grabbed her. She felt like a waif in his strong arms as he bound her tightly to him. He kissed her and claimed her with the force of it. Into her mouth he dove, his tongue raking her warm depths like he would devour her alive. Victoria moaned and opened to him; as always she unlocked herself to his hungry passion. His need for her was like sustenance to her being; it made her soul dance and her body tingle at its nerve endings. She wasn’t sure there would be a time she could ever refuse him. He’d always have the key to her desire.
    “I want you to stay,” he said against her lips, making her force herself to focus. Her hands held either side of his face, and she pulled back to stare up at him.
    “What?”
    “I never wanted to bring this up before. But now…Victoria, keep the house. Stay in London. I don’t want you to leave.”
    She let out a dazed laugh, her eyes wide with amazement and humor. “You’re not serious?”
    “I’ve never been more so,” he said calmly, his fingers raking into her hair, and tugging it back. Her neck was bared to him, and he traced the smooth, delicate line with his moist tongue. “This is your home, Victoria. I know you’d come to love it here.”
    “But...My business, my friends – “She couldn’t believe she was actually considering this.
    “You’re an interior designer, Victoria. I’m sure your skills are much in demand here as they are in New York. And as for friends – you can always make new ones. But there’s really only one friend you need, sweetheart.” His head lifted, and there was a dark appeal in his sea-washed eyes. “I don’t think I can let you go, Victoria. Not so soon.”
    “I’m not sure what you mean,” she said lightly. But she knew exactly what he meant. This thing they had – whatever it was: perhaps it was too good to walk away from. She could return to New York and forget all about him. Or she could stay, and find out where all this could lead.  Would it be worth the sacrifice?
    “I think it’s pretty simple,” he told her, his tone sensible. “You already have a place to stay. You have no cause to dash back. Think of how much more we could explore the possibilities between us. If you leave for New York, you’ll never know.”
    “You’re talking like I’ll be on the other side of the moon,” she teased, though she broke out of his hold. She couldn’t think straight when he held her close.  “Why don’t you come to New York? You could visit whenever you want – and I’ll do the same; I’ll hop on a plane to London whenever I need to.” She shrugged, adding easily, “Nothing drastic needs to be done. Besides…If I stay, you just might get tired of me. What happens then?”
    She was smiling, though her words had a ring of uncertainty. His eyes flashed as he stood across from her.
    “Try me,” he said softly, and she felt her skin shiver as she looked into his eyes. Just what was he offering? Her heart lifted at the thought that maybe he’d come to have deep feelings for her. Why else would he be insisting this way?
    “I’ll think about it,” she said, buying time. She was all confused. When she’d known that Jeff was already on his way back to New York, her deep instinct had been to go right after him. Just jump on a plane and leave, before she got mired in a net of her own