Page 49 of Resisting the Grump

“Oh right. That makes sense.” He looked at me like he was about to say good-bye. I felt a pinch in my chest, but I didn’t want to seem needy just because he’d ploughed me with enough oxytocin to kill a small rhino. “Sorry I can’t stay and… butter your toast.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, lifting the steaming mug. “It’s still pretty buttery from last night.” I wasn’t sure if the metaphor was obvious enough, but the look in his eyes told me it was.

“I’ll call you.”

“I also accept illicit images and texts.”

“I’m not a dick pic guy.”

I bit back a smile, amused at the ridiculous thought of him snapping a picture down his pants.

“I’m not fussy,” I said. “Your abs or backside will suffice.”

He grinned. “Careful now. You’ll make me feel like a butterface.”

I narrowed my gaze. “Don’t dig for compliments. You know you’re a handsome man.”

“You mentioned that once or twice last night,” he said, his side smile making me melt. “Though I think the word you used was ‘hot.’”

I blushed, hoping I hadn’t done too much pointing out the obvious. Lord knows there were moments I clearly liked what he was doing and felt compelled to tell him anyway. Like when he was licking me senseless on the sofa or when he carried me to the bedroom and took me from behind, his big hands wrapped around my hips like they were handlebars. Hey, maybe he’d think of me next time he took his bike for a spin. Either way, stating the obvious was no harm, right? Who didn’t love a bit of positive reinforcement? “I’m sort of relieved to hear my mumbling was coherent,” I admitted. “I was worried most of it might have come across as breathy babbling.”

“It was hot,” he said, perhaps sensing that’s what I wanted to hear. “Everything you did last night was incredibly hot. Starting with your striptease and ending with the way you asked me to stay.”

“I wish you’d stay now.”

“I wish you didn’t look so deliciously moreish all tucked up in bed because I genuinely have to be going.”

“But coming is so much more fun,” I said, trying to keep my tone flirtatious instead of breaking into a full-on pout.

“I can’t wait to see you again.”

I scoffed. “There’s not much you haven’t seen, but I’d like to see you again, too.” And ride all the rides again, please!

He leaned forward to give me a soft kiss, and the warmth of his lips and attention made me feel so safe and cozy I couldn’t imagine wanting to wake up alone or with anyone else ever again. It was terrifying. All he’d done was make me tea and treat me well. Was I pathetic or was he actually a prince?

“I’ll see myself out.”

“You really don’t have to go,” I said, worried the spell would be broken if he left. “You could stick around and wait on me all day. Or I could wait on you.”

“Rain check,” he said, rising from the bed and taking the comforting weight of his body with him.

I figured it made more sense to stay put than chase him out in the nude. “Thanks for a great night. I really enjoyed myself.”

“If you didn’t, you have an odd way of showing it.”

I slapped the air between us like he didn’t need to rub my enthusiasm in my face. If he knew how long it had been since I got treated like that, he’d understand. And I don’t just mean what happened at mine. I mean the whole date. It was a dream. Just the right amount of risky business to balance out the romantic meal. The guy was a catch, and I was lucky he’d set his sights on me, no matter what the future held for us.

“Do you have far to go?” I asked.

“No,” he said, pausing at the door. “I’m only a short walk away.”

The thought of walking made my pussy wince. There was no way I was getting out of bed… except to grab my laptop and order a Santa Fe breakfast burrito stat. Maybe I’d spring for extra guac, too, and make this morning a real home run. I made my hand look like a phone and held it up to my ear. “Call me.”

“Bye, Avery.”

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I heard the door close behind him. Then I sighed, set my tea down, and slouched under the covers, smug from head to toe and hopeful for the first time in ages that my love life might not turn out to be a tragedy after all.

T W E N T YS I X

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