Page 28 of Something Borrowed

He chuckled. “Oh, there are about a million fucking things I wanted to be when I grew up and none of them were anywhere near noble.”

“That doesn’t surprise me in the least,” she said with a smirk. “You weren’t someone I would have considered a viable role model when you were growingup.”

“Touché.” He shook his head, wondering how much of the old him she saw when she looked at him. “I think more than anything I wanted to be that NFL player. I saw the money, stardom and travel and wanted itall.”

“Good thing you got some of that travel in,” she teased.

“Ha, ha. You’re a comedian still. Always willing to spar with me for a smart remark.”

Wiping her mouth, she stood up and gestured for his plate after picking up her own. “I have always been good at that, haven’tI?”

“The best,” he agreed and polished off his scotch, unable to suppress the yawn that slippedout.

“I wore you out today, didn’t I?” she asked with a smug look as she walked into the kitchen.

“That you did. I even napped while you went into work!” he snickered, allowing another yawn to slip out as he scooted back from the table.

“I guess the time change is officially getting to you.” She offered him a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “You’d better hydrate. I only have you for three more days and I have plans, Mr. Donovan. Big plans.”

“I’m a little sorry I don’t hear a double entendre in that.” He took a sip of water and put the glass down to tug her into his lap. “What do you have in the works?”

“Well, I thought tomorrow we could go and hang out with Kailey and Jim for a bit – maybe go down to Bourbon Street for somefun.”

He rarely drank to get drunk, but he didn’t want to ruin her plans and it was unlikely she’d notice if he wasn’t toasted and she was. “Go on.” He started to climb the stairs, but looked over his shoulder at her as they both walkedup.

“Then, Thursday I wanted to see what you thought about a day holed up in here. Me, movies and some fastfood.”

He kissed her and took her arms, placing them around his neck so he could stand holding her. “I think that sounds nearly as perfectly as getting rest does right now. And what about Friday? What do you have in store for me on our finalday.”

Sadness crept over her expression and he wanted to kick himself. He wasn’t a sensitive person, but it was obvious Adrianna was, at least in terms of their separation.

“I was thinking about a trip to Baton Rouge. It’s been forever since I went up that way and I’m so sick of the stock in the stores downhere.”

“Whatever would you do without multiple Targets?” he blew a raspberry as he sat her down on the edge of the bed. Everything in him screamed at him to take her again, but he knew that he physically wasn’t up for it, no matter how badly his cock thought otherwise. “You know they don’t exist in Germany; would youdie?”

She paused, looking over at him as he took off his pants. “Did you almost sort of just imply I’d have issues if I came to live with you in Germany?”

He froze, hearing his statement in his mind. He’d been trying to tease her, but it sure had sounded a fuck ton like he was implying she should move in with him. Panic crept stealthily through him, like a cat stalking its prey as the otherwise compatible silence twisted into something uncomfortable.

“Well, in a roundabout way, yes.” The confession wasn’t a shock to him. He already knew how he felt about her and it was only natural that they would either have to move to the same country at some point, or say goodbye. From where he was currently standing, only one was an options.

“Hmm, I guess if we ever get that serious, I guess you’ll have to get re-stationed to somewhere that has a Target.” She winked and turned over to crawl up to the top of the bed and twisted around to sit up once she was next to her pillow.

“Gee, why hadn’t I thought to just get a new billet whenever I felt like it?” He teased as he pulled his shirt off and joined her inbed.

“I don’t know. Guess I have the brains in this relationship?”

Rolling on top of her, he pinned her down gently and dipped his head down to capture her lips. He body thrummed with anticipation, but the yawn that pulled from his lips ended their kiss, leaving them both laughing.

“As much as I’m going to hate saying this, I’m too tired for anything but sleep.” He glanced at the clock on the cable box. “Fucking hell, it’s only nine o’clock.”

She patted his hand and got out of bed. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

“You heading somewhere?”

“I do most of my chores at night. You get some sleep without me and then tomorrow night you’re in for the cuddle session you’re getting out of tonight.”

He chuckled, his eyes ridiculously heavy with sleep. “Far be it from me to argue with the brains of our relationship.” His last thought as he lay his head on the pillow was how much he’d love to go to sleep with her every night.

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