Page 45 of Bozo

"Hey, Sunshine," he says, reaching out to pull me into his arms. "Missed you."

I melt into his embrace, inhaling his scent of leather. It's intoxicating, just like everything else about him. "I missed you too," I murmur against his chest.

He pulls back slightly, cupping my face in his rough hands. "Rough shift?"

I nod, suddenly aware of how bone-tired I am. "Yeah, it was crazy."

Connor's lips quirk into a smirk. "Well, let's get you to bed then."

My breath catches as he scoops me up, carrying me effortlessly to my bedroom. He lays me down gently then starts to undress me with practiced ease.

"Connor," I whisper, my body responding to his touch despite my exhaustion. "I need to sleep..."

He chuckles, a low, rumbling sound that sends heat pooling in my belly. "Sleep, Sunshine. I'll be here when you wake up."

Surprise floods me. He will? That’s new. He's never stayed before, always leaving right after we've had sex. This is different, and I'm not sure what to make of it.

He finishes undressing me, his touch gentle and sweet. Then he strips down to his boxers and climbs into bed beside me. I curl into him instinctively, relishing the warmth of his body against mine.

"Sleep," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I've got you."

Despite my racing thoughts, exhaustion quickly overtakes me. I drift off to sleep, curled up in Connor's arms.

When I wake up, the room is bathed in late afternoon sunlight. I'm alone in bed, but I can hear movement in the kitchen. The smell of coffee wafts through the air.

I sit up, rubbing my eyes. Did Connor really stay? Is he actually making coffee in my kitchen?

I pull on a robe and pad out to investigate. Sure enough, there he is; his back to me as he stands at the counter. He's wearing just his jeans, his muscular back on full display.

"Connor?" I say, my voice still rough from sleep.

He turns, a mug in each hand. "Hey, Sunshine. Sleep well?"

I nod, still trying to process the situation. "Yeah, I did. You... you're still here."

He hands me one of the mugs, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, I am. Is that okay?"

I take a sip of the coffee, buying myself a moment to gather my thoughts. It's perfect– he remembers exactly how I like it. "Of course it's okay," I say finally. "It's just... different."

Connor leans against the counter, his dark eyes studying me intently. "Different good or different bad?"

"Good," I reply without hesitation. "Definitely good."

He nods, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Good."

We stand in comfortable silence for a few moments, sipping our coffee. I can't help but drink in the sight of him–his tousled hair, the sight of his bare skin and tattoos. He's gorgeous, and for once, he's not rushing out the door.

"So," I venture, breaking the silence. "What brought this on?"

Connor sets his mug down, his expression turning serious. "I've got a card game. I’ll be gone for about a week," he tells me, his gaze no longer on me.

My heart starts to race. He’s still working for Lorcan? I thought that stopped when he joined the Fury Vipers?

"For Lorcan?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

He takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah,” he says thickly. “Na Cártaí Dubha is hosting one of the biggest cash games in Spain. Lorcan wants me there.”

“I hadn’t realized you were still working for Na Cártaí Dubha,” I say, unable to keep the bite from my tone.

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