Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

not to have sex. I personally don't know any women who do that, but it's a standard joke.'
    'I've never had that happen.'
    She bit him.
    'Ouch!'
    His hand came down on her buttocks, but it didn't have the desired effect. Joley just wiggled and gave him a sassy grin. 'Feed me. I'm starving. I haven't had anything to eat for days. We can call for takeout or something.'
    'The reason to have a house is to have a kitchen.'
    She wrinkled her nose and slowly sat up, straddling him. The movement caused a delicious aftershock. She waited for it to subside before sliding off of him. 'I thought a house was for privacy and lots of places to make love.'
    'I see your point. Your idea is better than mine.'
    'Only if there's no food in the kitchen. I really am starving.'
    'Go take a shower and I'll whip something up.'
    She sat on the edge of the bed. 'You mean it? You can cook?'
    'You'll see.'
    Joley didn't wait to hear any more. She was really hungry, and a shower would help to revive her. Now that he'd mentioned her head, it was hurting a little, but she'd never admit it, not when he might toss her on the floor, or against the wall, or maybe the kitchen table. It all sounded good to her.
    It didn't take long to shower and find every bruise and sore spot on her body from the explosion, but none of it seemed to matter. She was happy. She was with Ilya and he said he loved her. He made her feel loved. He made her feel so beautiful and sexy she didn't mind wrapping herself in a robe and finding her way to the kitchen.
    He'd pulled on a pair of jeans. They were only partially buttoned, leaving his body, so defined with muscle, for her to enjoy. She sank into a chair at the table, drew her knees up and watched him as he moved around the kitchen with sure, purposeful movements. This side of him fascinated her.
    'Ilya Prakenskii, all domestic'

    'One of us has to be,' he pointed out, flicking her a small grin.
    The flash of his white teeth sent a small, thrilling somersault sliding through her stomach. She loved making him happy. And he was happy. His melody was joyful, bright colors shining occasionally through that dark shield he always wore. She saw it for what it was now, a cover to keep him safe.
    'Fine. I'll admit I'm not great in the kitchen. Hannah loves to cook and bake, and she totally rocks at it. I can make tea though.'
    'Tea?' His eyebrow shot up. 'We're going to have sons, Joley, lots of them. I don't think tea is going to be a big hit on the menu.'
    She rubbed her chin on her knees and eyed him warily. 'Now it's sons. Are you obsessed with having children or something? Because this isn't the first time you've brought the subject up. And I don't like the sound of that word
    "lots'"
    He stirred the spaghetti sauce. 'In the interests of disclosure, I'm just warning you so you can't ever say you weren't prepared.'
    She put on her fiercest scowl. 'I've disclosed to you that I haven't a clue how to take care of a baby. I'm an artist. I sing onstage and travel around the world. I can hold them, but the entire baby thing is just plain scary. Do you have any idea what it takes to be responsible for a child? I made myself read parenting books, and no way am I trying that.'
    'I haven't a clue what it takes, Joley. I'll be relying solely on you and your experience.' He blew on a spoonful of sauce and tasted it.
    'What experience, you crazy man? I have no experience.'
    He added oregano. 'Sure you do. You were raised in a family. You have good parents, a pattern to follow, and we'll just go by what they did.'
    'You make it sound so easy. Do you really want children, Ilya? Is it that important to you?' She sighed. 'If it is, give me a few years and I'll give it a try.'
    He glanced at her over his shoulder, and his smile had turned into a knowing smirk. 'A few years? You think we should wait a few years?'
    She shrugged. 'We haven't even got to the marriage part. We're at the getting to know you part.'
    He stirred the sauce again, and she could see from his profile that he was still smiling. 'We're past the getting to know you part. That was this past year. Now we're at the we'd better get married fast part.'
    Joley wrinkled her nose. 'You aren't making any sense. We don't want to rush into anything. We have plenty of time to work everything out.'
    'You said you'd marry me.'
    She nodded, biting down on her lip. She had said it - and she'd meant it - but that had been in the heat of the moment. Now she wanted to be a little more cautious. 'I