Page 74 of Surrender

Silence stretches between us filled with silent heartbeats. “Are you going to stay here with us even after the cameras are installed?”

I dip my head slowly. “I plan on it.”

Whitney wraps her arms tight around herself. “Then I expect you to sleep in the bed tomorrow.”

“I’m not taking the bed from you, Whitney,” I protest her suggestion.

“I meant with me.”

My mouth falling open clicks in the otherwise quiet room. “That’s not necessary.”

“It’s what I want.”

How in the hell am I supposed to refuse that? “What about Lucy?”

“What about her? She isn’t going to be damaged just because you’re sleeping on the far side of the king-sized bed.”

“You don’t know that,” I mutter beneath my breath.

“I actually do because I’m her mother. She’ll sleep on one side, I’ll take the middle, and you can hug the edge like you’re afraid I might bite you while you’re sleeping.”

I lean forward and set the warm bottle of beer on the ground. “If you insist. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“You could come now,” she says softly, her voice warm and inviting.

I shake my head. “Tomorrow. After the cameras are installed.”

Seemingly undeterred, I watch her hips sway as she crosses the room. She stops in front of me, and I hold still as if I just got caught with my hand inside the cookie jar.

“May I?”

I don’t even know what she’s asking, but I nod anyway. If she’s smart, she’ll catch on quickly that I’d give her just about anything she asks for.

She places her hand on my shoulder to steady herself and gently lowers her ass to sit on my thigh. She curls her arm around the back of my neck, carefully situates her thighs across my lap, and tucks her toes beneath the armrest. Her head relaxes against my shoulder.

“Is this okay?”

Once her body sags against mine, I wrap an arm around her middle and hold her secure. This is...

warmth

light

perfection

“It’s fine.”

Her fingers twitch against my sternum. Warm breath fans against my neck. “I couldn’t sleep any longer knowing you’re out here.”

The arm around her twitches. “I’m comfortable.” More so with her snuggled secure on my lap. Christ, I don’t think I’ve ever done this. My fingers drift along a patch of skin on her low back where her sweatshirt rides up.

“Are you?” She wiggles closer, her ass brushing across my cock, and I still her with my hands on her hips. “Like this?”

“Yes,” I answer, though it comes out rough.

“Then a little platonic cuddling should be okay. You’ve opened your house to us. The least I can do is make sure I don’t leave you cold and stiff in the living room every night.”

An unrestrained bark flies from my mouth. “Whitney, I’ve explored every inch of you. Naturally, I find myself a little stiff around you. Not cold, though. Never cold.”

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