Treasured Dreams by Kendall Talbot

you again. So what can I do to make you happy?’
    â€˜Take my cast off.’
    He scrunched up his nose. ‘Other than that.’
    She laughed and let out a huge sigh. They were good together. There was no other man in the world who could make her feel like Archer did. ‘You can kiss me.’
    He glided his thumb over her lips. ‘My pleasure.’ He lowered and as their lips met she traced over his rock-hard pectoral muscles and placed her hands so his nipples rested between her thumb and forefinger. They hadn’t made love since before the helicopter crash, and as he pushed his tongue into her mouth she realised just how much she’d missed it.
    She rolled her hands down his body, absorbing the heat of his skin with her fingers. The towel was still wrapped around his hips. She tugged it from his body and gasped. ‘You’re naked.’
    He rolled his eyes. ‘Well I wasn’t until you took the towel off.’
    â€˜Where are your boardies?’
    â€˜I took them off when I brought the wine in. They’re still a bit wet.’ His dimples punctuated his cheeks.
    She suddenly remembered the wooden box he’d removed from the fridge. ‘Are you going to show me what that little surprise is?’
    â€˜Hmmm, you’ll have to ask me nicely.’ The golden flecks in his eyes dazzled.
    His full, kissable lips always fascinated her, and as if knowing exactly what she was thinking, Archer flicked his tongue over them. She used his gold pendant to pull him towards her for a kiss. This time she forced her tongue into his mouth, and the weeks of tension that had gripped her glided away as she tasted him. Kissing Archer captivated all her senses—sight, smell, taste, touch, and even sound, as little whimpers of pleasure tumbled from his throat. She cupped his buttocks, massaging the firm flesh in her fingers, and at the right moment she smacked him on the bottom.
    He pulled back, eyebrows raised.
    â€˜Stop teasing me. What’s the surprise?’
    â€˜I do believe, Miss Calucci, it is you that’s teasing me.’ He gave her a quick kiss before he pushed off the bed. Just the sight of him naked was enough to set her heart racing and draw delicious heat to her loins. It was her turn to run her tongue over her lips as she admired his body while he walked away. The muscles in his well-toned bottom bulged and flexed with each step he took to the coffee table centred between the two red leather day chairs.
    He turned with the wooden box in his hands, and a full-blown erection between his legs. The heat between her thighs hit overdrive as he stepped towards her with burning desire in his eyes.
    â€˜I bought this the other day and I thought it would cheer you up.’ He placed the wooden box at her side.
    She propped up on her elbow to study the gift and instantly recognised the insignia burned into the lid. ‘Oh, Archer. When did you go to Arte Del Cioccolato?’ Roberto Cattinari was one of the finest chocolatiers in Florence, possibly in all of Italy. Rosalina had been fortunate to spend a few months working with him during her chef apprenticeship.
    â€˜I didn’t. I rang Roberto and he selected out a few of your favourites.’
    â€˜You rang him? How do you even know him?’
    â€˜I didn’t, but when I told him who the chocolates were for he was more than willing to help. It seems you were one of his favourite students.’
    She frowned, completely confused. ‘But Archer, how did you even know that I’d worked with Roberto?’
    â€˜You told me once.’
    â€˜I did?’ Rosalina had no recollection of it.
    Archer slid the lid back on the wooden box to gradually reveal five rows of individual chocolates. Each one, she knew, would be unique and exquisite. ‘We were in Melbourne, in one of those fancy mosaic-tile-lined arcades, and we stopped for a coffee and chocolate. You took a bite of your treat, screwed up your