Page 348 of Dark Love

“Well then, let’s taste them.” Vex holds out his free hand to me.

There’s no way I’m going to mention that I already taste-tested a few of them. Lifting the heavy tin out of my purse with one hand is a challenge.

Vex takes the cookies from me staring at the kittens and flowers on the outside of it for a long moment. He uses our joined hands to hold the tin steady while he lifts off the lid, pulls away the paper, and lifts a perfect cookie to his mouth.

Does he like them? Sometimes I get too fancy with things, and a simple cookie would have been better.

“You win.”

“What does that even mean?”

“You’ll figure it out.” Vex clicks the game back on as he eats his cookies.

***

I don’t want to wake up, even though the sunlight is peeking through my closed eyelids. Just a few more minutes. I cuddle into my pillow… It’s not a pillow. The firm heat… My eyes pop open as the last few days flood back.

This isn’t my bed.

This isn’t my little townhouse.

And that certainly isn’t my pillow. Why in the world is Vex’s chest more comfortable than any pillow that I’ve ever owned?

Worse… why don’t I want to ever move again?

My life is messed up. Everything is messed up, but I don’t care as long as I can stay right here forever.

It’s selfish and wrong to attack Vex in the middle of the night like this. If he had done it, I’d be shouting loud enough for the world to hear… maybe.

Right this moment, the world feels too right to complain or even move. I’ll just lay here enjoying the few more moments of peace I have. When Vex wakes up, I’m going to have to move away and apologize. Until then…

Waking Up In His Arms

Dahlia

Is this what it’s like to sleep with a man? Because I could get used to this. They’re like the best electric blankets known to mankind. There’s got to be some service out there where you can rent a man to cuddle with on a cold winter’s night.

Though it’s doubtful any of them could smell as intoxicating as the man next to me. Nor as safe. It’s more than the fact that he’s all muscle… Vex is a crime lord. He knows how to use those muscles to keep himself safe. And he must have more than his fair share of brains to run a successful club. Smart, strong, and sexy can’t be rented.

I’m a nut. All of this has driven me absolutely batty. My mother didn’t raise a risk-taker. Fleurs are practical, logical women. We live by the rules. We avoid risks. We live safe, happy lives.

What am I doing here?

Hugging the sexiest man that I’ve ever met while he sleeps soundly.

Let go.

Slide your body to the other side of the bed.

Even better, sneak out of his place and go home.

Home is good.

Home is safe.

But home doesn’t have Vex. A sigh escapes my lips.

“Are you going to pretend to be asleep much longer?”

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