“Next week is the mystery weekend. Braden will be there too. Is that too awkward?”

“No, he won’t be sharing a bed with us, and after waiting all week I don’t think I’ll have performance anxiety.”

“Waiting during the week definitely will build our anticipation.”

“Yeah, because we haven’t had enough of that,” he said dryly.

“It was worth the wait. This has been the most intense sexual experience I’ve ever had. And very romantic.”

“So, I’m doing this right?” He sounded relieved.

“Yeah.” I laughed. “Dancing with me, asking me to share your bed, and the music, I love the music.”

“I love the music too. Can I play you something myself sometime?”

“Are you kidding me?” I pulled up to look at him. “I would be thrilled. Can I paint you?” I asked tracing the lines of his gorgeous face.

“Sure. Should I wear a fig leaf?” he teased.

“I think I like you better in the nude.” I leaned up and nuzzled his neck. When I noticed he had a pensive look on his face. “What are you thinking?”

“It’s just hard to believe. I always thought you were really hot, but I never imagined that we would… you’re my girlfriend now, right?”

“I guess so, yeah. Are you okay with that?” Suddenly I felt a little uncertain.

“Yeah, sure.” He squeezed me tighter, and I relaxed. “I just didn’t really see it coming. I mean your dad is a senator. My dad is a high school history teacher. Your mom is a socialite. My mom is a social worker. You’re from the Main Line. I’m from The South Side of Pittsburgh.”

“My dad studied history in college too. And my mom is a big supporter of all kinds of charities. So, they do have things in common. But more importantly, we have things in common. We both love art and music. We both care about justice and helping the underdog.”

“Yeah.” He rolled me onto my back and looked into my eyes. “That’s what’s so different about you. That’s what makes you so special, that you care about those things. Beth, I’m not only okay with you being my girlfriend; I’m really happy.”

He leaned down and kissed me, and Lily was right, there was definitely more than just lust in that kiss. When he was ready, we had sex again, but we took our time, and it was slow and sweet but no less incredible. He was right too. I was busy for a long time.

Chapter Twelve

Mark

10:00 AM

“Hey,” I said with a smile when Beth’s eyes fluttered open. I had been awake for about five minutes, and telling myself it wasn’t really that weird to watch somebody sleep. Even after the night before, I had woken up with a raging hard-on, but I didn’t want to disturb her. We were both exhausted. We definitely had to limit this to weekends for now, or I would never make it to court on time.

“Hey.” She smiled back.

“You’re even beautiful in the morning,” I said and I meant it. For the record, freshly fucked hair looked very good on her.

“You’re even romantic in the morning.”

“I was worried I would screw that part up, but Adam said it’s easy when you’re motivated. Just so you know, you’re very motivating.”

“So are you.” She reached up and traced my jaw with her finger. Oh man, I loved it when she did that. The tent in the sheets reminded me what else I liked. I would probably wind up hobbling to Game Night later.

“I want you again.” I was about to guide her hand down to examine my supporting evidence, when her stomach let out a loud growl and she quickly hugged herself and blushed. God, that blush would do me in.

“I’m hungry too,” I said, putting my gentlemanly instincts ahead of everything else. “How about if I make us breakfast?”

“You cook too?” She sighed sounding content, and I got that warm feeling again. What was this woman doing to me? For a second I regretted how much I had tortured Adam about Lily, and then I remembered how Adam had tortured Braden and I didn’t feel so bad. I hopped out of bed and Beth’s eyes went straight to my groin. I almost laughed.

“Hey, missy, my eyes are up here,” I teased.

“Did you want to spend some more time in bed before breakfast?” she asked, looking up at me with a sexy smile. She stretched out under the sheets like a cat, and I almost gave in when her stomach rumbled again.

“I need to feed us or we won’t have enough energy. Wait for me here. I want to bring you breakfast in bed. Then after we eat, we can do other things in bed and then take a shower together. And do other things there too.”

“You’re on. Do you mind if I watch the news for a few minutes?” she asked glancing at the TV mounted on my wall.

“Not at all. Go ahead. The remote is in the drawer on my side of the bed.” I hesitated for a second, as what I just said sunk in. Holy shit. I had a side of the bed. Okay, think about that later. Food, get food. I grabbed a pair of sweats and put them on, heading down to the kitchen to whip up a couple of mushroom omelets.

I heard Beth put the T.V. on as I dug out a pan. She was watching a local morning news program. I had just grabbed some eggs and butter when she called out to me.

“Mark! Come here! You have to see this!” I put everything down on the counter and quickly headed back up to the loft. She was kneeling on the bed, wearing one of my t-shirts and she looked amazingly sexy, but I wanted to know what had her so worked up, so I tore my eyes away and looked at the T.V. There was a reporter standing in front of an upscale apartment building and the text below said “Mysterious Center City homicide.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling my gut tighten.

“There was a quick clip, and Caitlin was… wait ssh!”

The body of woman was found this morning in the Heights Terrace residential apartment complex in Center City. Sources say that foul play is suspected. The victim has been identified as journalist Elaine Cooper, employed by the Philly Beat.

A picture of a woman appeared on the screen. It took me a minute to place her but then it clicked. “That’s the tabloid reporter from the fundraisers,” I said and Beth nodded.

Ms. Cooper, who does not live in the building, was discovered by resident, Caitlin Reynolds, in the hallway directly outside of her apartment door. Ms. Reynolds is the granddaughter of painter Winston Reynolds, well known for his realistic still life portraits, one of which reportedly went missing at the time of his death. After being interviewed by the authorities, Ms. Reynolds gave the press a brief statement earlier.