Page 91 of Resisting the Grump

I must’ve looked crazy. I certainly felt crazy.

He dragged a thumb across my cheek, swiping a tear away, but he didn’t say anything. For ages, neither of us said anything. We just panted and took turns looking at each other like loved-up teenagers.

He fell onto his back after a while and put his hands behind his head, his beautiful body stretched across his dark sheets like a piece of art.

When I finally caught my breath, I rolled towards him and rested my cheek on his bicep, inhaling the masculine scent of his sex and sweat and aftershave before draping an arm across his muscular chest.

“That was fun,” he said after a while.

I swirled a nail across his chest. “Not the word I would’ve chosen, but I’m not complaining.”

“What word would you have chosen?”

I sighed. Transcendent. Healing. Euphoric. “Adequate.”

He laughed and rolled over me, his bodyweight pinning me to the bed. “Adequate?!”

“What?” I asked. “You’re mister nine out of ten?!”

He acted surprised. “Did I say nine out of ten? Really? In the heat of the moment?”

“You most certainly did.”

“That’s just not good enough,” he said, using his knee to knock mine apart. “We’ll have to go again.”

“No!” I said, pushing my palms against his solid chest. “I can’t! I’m spent. I may never recover or walk again as it is!”

He laughed and fell onto his side, propping his head up and smiling at me. “I guess you’ll just have to stay and be my prisoner then.”

“I’m not really a prisoner if I don’t want to leave.”

He leaned down and gave me a kiss, the warmth of it traveling all the way to my toes before he pulled away. “Thanks for coming back tonight.”

I let my head fall in his direction, admiring the way the bedside lights illuminated the defined edges of his face. “Thanks for inviting me in.”

“Stay the night?”

“I can’t possibly walk, so yes, thank you. I would love that.”

“Let’s get you under the covers then, and I’ll go grab a glass of water.”

I sat up and lifted my body while he wiggled his thick comforter down and then over me.

“Your bed is really nice,” I said, smiling as he tucked me in.

“I know.” He ran a thumb across my cheek before rising to his feet. “It’s even nicer with you in it.”

I took a deep breath and feasted my eyes on his gorgeous body as he made his way to the bedroom door.

“Can I get you anything else?” he asked.

I shook my head.

He pulled the door open, and I called his name just before he disappeared. “Hey, Oliver.”

He looked over his shoulder and lifted his brows.

“You’re the best neighbor I’ve ever had.”

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