A Man Apart by Joan Hohl

rolled his eyes. “Give me strength. The woman’s tossing puns at me now,” he groused, lifting his body to roll over, sprawling next to her.
    Hannah gave an exaggerated sigh of relief. “That’s better.” Arching her back, she stretched the stiffness out of her arms and legs. “I’m hungry.”
    â€œYou said that.” He grinned and looked down at the front of his body. “And I explained that—”
    â€œFor food, man, ” she taunted, getting back at him for twice calling her woman. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “So drag your so depleted carcass off this bed and help me get something together to eat.”
    â€œSlave driver,” he complained, laughing as he practically leaped from the bed. “I’m not doing another damn thing, bossy woman until I shower and shave.” Circling the bed, he scooped her body up into his arms and headed for the door. “And you, sweet Hannah, are going into the shower with me.”
    Smothering yet another giggle, Hannah curled her arms around his neck and rubbed her face against his shoulder. “I’ve never showered with a man before,” she softly confessed.
    Justin stared down into her eyes. He shook his head, his expression compassionate. “You’ve never done a lot of fun things with a man, have you?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid you enjoy your, er, first thing?” He arched his brows, then wiggled them.
    Hannah laughed, feeling her cheeks grow warm. “Immensely,” she admitted. Darn it. What was it about this man, anyway? She hadn’t blushed since…hell, she couldn’t recall ever having blushed.
    â€œThen, trust me, sweetheart, you’re going to enjoy this, too,” he promised.
    He was dead right. Hannah thoroughly enjoyedevery minute of the playful splashing, lathering, caressing, kissing beneath the spray of warm water. Who knew how long they would have remained there, if not for the audible grumbling sound of hunger from her stomach.
    It was almost as much fun drying each other off.
    Clean, but still naked as a newborn, Hannah dove back under the covers while Justin shaved. When he walked boldly naked into the bedroom, she unabashedly watched, admiring his lean, muscular and magnificent body as he stepped into briefs, jeans and pulled a cable-knit sweater over his head.
    â€œSee anything you like?” he asked, arching a dark brow over laughing gray eyes.
    â€œActually, I like the whole package,” she readily admitted. “You’re a very attractive and nice man.”
    â€œBoy, that last compliment is a relief.” He heaved a deep sigh. “For a minute there, I thought you wanted me only for the pleasure of my body.”
    â€œWell,” Hannah said teasingly. “There’s that, too.”
    â€œThanks. Hey, aren’t you ever coming out from hiding? I thought you were hungry.”
    â€œI am. But I have no clean clothes here.” Shemade a face at their clothing scattered around the bed. “I’m waiting for you to be a gentleman and fetch my suitcases.”
    â€œI knew you were a slave driver,” he muttered.
    Justin was back in moments. He set the bags next to the bed, then stood watching her.
    â€œOut,” she ordered, flicking a hand at the door.
    â€œBut I wanna watch,” Justin said, in tones similar to a petulant little boy.
    â€œAre you some kind of voyeur?” Hannah asked, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at his head.
    He ducked. The pillow missed him by inches. “No.” He grinned. “But you watched me. Hell, I could feel you watching me. It was like a touch. And now I want the privilege of watching you.”
    â€œYou don’t have time to watch me,” she countered, enjoying the banter. “I told you, I’m hungry.”
    â€œThen I suggest you get your tush in gear and get dressed.” He moved back to prop himself indolently against the door frame.