Page 72 of Perfect Imperfections

Exhaustion swept over him. He collapsed, rolling to his side to tuck Ellie into his arms.

“You’re staying, right?” He knew he was in too deep with this woman, but right now, tonight, he needed her.

“Of course.” She snuggled closer. “But we should really clean up before bed.”

Right. The mundane afterward parts of sex they didn’t show in the movies. Showers, bathroom trips, all the tiny annoyances of real life. He wished life was more like a movie and he could pause this moment forever. Just stay here with Ellie in his arms.

“Come on, before you fall asleep on me.” She rose, tugging his arm.

He followed, realizing with a small bit of apprehension that he’d likely follow this woman anywhere. Once they’d cleaned up, he got Ellie one of his old shirts to wear to bed. They resumed their positions, her in his arms, snuggling up to his chest so perfectly it was like she’d been made to fit him. Two perfect puzzle pieces.

“Goodnight, Ellie.”

“Goodnight, Sullivan.”

As she drifted off to sleep, he heard the faintest whispered confession.

“You make me feel safe to be myself.”

CHAPTER 25

Normally Ellie would never be so presumptuous as to sneak into someone’s kitchen and use their coffee maker without their knowledge. But she desperately needed a cup this morning and Sullivan had looked so peaceful sleeping. She hadn’t had the heart to wake him. Again. She might have woken the man once—okay, twice—in the middle of the night to repay the very thorough mapping of her body with one of her own.

He hadn’t seemed to mind. In fact, he’d been very accommodating when she ordered him to grasp the headboard with his hands and let her have her way with him. Sweet Sullivan, always the gentleman.

Since she’d been to the house often in the past few weeks, she knew where the coffee beans were. As quietly as possible, Ellie spooned out enough grounds for a four-cup pot—she might be overreaching, but she wouldn’t make a pot and not leave some for Sullivan—and filled the water receptacle. Now all she had to do was wait for the wake-up juice to brew.

“Did you stay the night?”

The innocent question in the soft, child-like voice made her jump about a foot. Turning around, Ellie grimaced when she spotted Charlotte, still in her jammies, hugging El to her chest.

“Oh, um, hi, Charlotte. I…ah…” What the hell did she do now? Caught in the act—well, not the actual act, thankfully—but caught after the fact by an eight-year-old. What did she say? “I, ah…”

“Charlotte.”

The deep, masculine, sleep addled voice saved her from any pathetic excuse for a confession.

“Go get dressed for pancakes,” Sullivan said with a smile, coming into the kitchen.

“Yay! Pancake day!”

The little girl squealed with glee and turned to race out of the kitchen, her heavy footsteps pounding up the stairs.

“I’m sorry,” Ellie confessed once Charlotte disappeared. “I thought I could be gone before she got up.”

Sullivan came to her side, wrapping his arms around her. His lips pressed gently against her temple. Despite exhausting themselves in bed the previous night, Ellie found her body still craved the man. Her nipples tightened and heat gathered between her legs.

Down body. Now is not the time.

“Don’t worry about it. Gavin sleeps over all the time. She doesn’t know you slept in my bed.”

Right, because they were just having fun. It wasn’t going to turn into something serious. A chill gripped her chest. She was afraid it was too late. Sullivan might still be under the assumption they were friends, casually dating and having a good time, but she feared her fallen heart didn’t get the memo. This would only end in tears for her, she was sure of it. All she could do was hope that end came later rather than sooner.

“And you think she’s okay with it? Me staying over?”

“She loves you, Ellie.” He turned her in his arms, staring down at her with those brilliant green eyes. “Have to say, I’m pretty fond of you myself.”

Fond didn’t even begin to describe what she felt for Sullivan. If she were being brave, she’d admit that she’d fallen head over heels in love with the man. But bravery had never been big in Ellie’s life. That was more her best friend’s thing. Cam was outgoing and willing to lay everything out there. Ellie had trouble with even simple human interaction, let alone busting her heart open and revealing all her imitate feelings for someone to stomp all over.

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