Page 96 of Whiskey Neat

“Accurate.” He brushes a kiss across my jaw. “One more request?”

“Okay.”

“Can I stay over? There’s no way I plan to wake up without you next to me.”

“Like I’d let you leave.”

Indy smiles, gripping the back of my neck and pulling me down into a heated kiss. Warmth spreads through me, but instead of heading to my dick, it meanders, filling in all the cracks and wounds left by callous lovers who never deserved me.

“I love you, Indy Hart,” I whisper against his lips. “You were definitely worth the wait.”

THIRTY-THREE

INDIANA

Sleep slowly fades as awareness returns. I blink my eyes open, smiling when it registers that Salem is wrapped around me like an octopus. I’m a little too hot and my bladder is full, but I don’t care. A little discomfort is worth the rest of this.

I’m in love.

Finally.

Damn. I thought it would never happen for a guy like me. Not having even an inkling of feelings for anyone all these years made me think I was missing a love gene or something. All the guys have been in relationships, but Cupid kept missing me. Gotta say, now that I’ve been hit, I’m so here for it.

“Please tell me it’s the middle of the night and I can go back to sleep for a few hours?” Salem’s sleepy voice is about the cutest damn thing ever. He sounds so… soft. Unguarded.

“You can sleep as long as you want, sweet thing. I’ll let your boss know.”

He snorts a laugh into the crook of my neck. “Benefits to banging the management.”

I card my fingers through his messy hair, tugging just enough to see his face. He grins up at me, his eyes still hazy, but he’s practically beaming. He loves me too.

“Don’t you dare even think about trying to kiss me with morning mouth,” Salem says with his hand covering his mouth.

“A little stank breath is offensive to you?”

“I have a pristine reputation to maintain.”

I tug his hand away, holding his gaze. “Get over it, beautiful. We’re in love, which means we’re gonna see the best and the worst of each other. That’s life and I’m here for it if you are.”

His expression practically melts. “Why is that the sweetest thing that’s ever been said to me?”

“Don’t know, but I guarantee it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever said.”

I press a kiss to his lips, sighing against them as he tangles his fingers in my hair and opens his mouth. We kiss lazily, wrapped around each other, but for once I don’t feel a desperate need to get us both off. I just want to hold him, kiss him, love on him. I want to remind him that what I said last night is true. He’s safe with me.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he whispers as we break the kiss.

“Nothing with you is bad. I think that’s how this happened.”

“This? Us?

“Yeah. You’re the first person I’ve ever spent time with who didn’t eventually make me want to crawl out of my skin. I never need space or want distance. I want to be around you all the time.”

“This feels like a dream. It always has. The way you’re so attentive to me and what I need is all I’ve ever wanted.” He plays with the hair on my chest. “I have a confession.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve wanted to bottom for you since the day we met.”