Page 60 of Sunshine

Julian put his arm around my shoulder. “I’m always down for snuggles.”

“Great.” I popped up. “I’ll get the blankets.”

I grabbed the weighted blanket again and the stuffed animals. Part of me wondered if cozy snuggle time would forever put me in the friend zone, but I couldn’t help but crave even the slightest touch from him.

We assumed the same positions, me laying with my back against Julian’s chest, his arms around my waist. I pulled theblankets over us, and we spooned. Slowly his scent evened out, until it smelled normal. Coconuts and pineapple, tropical and beachy.

I let myself drift in the warm comfort of being around one of my favorite people in the whole world and fell asleep.

When I woke up a couple of hours later, I was refreshed and ready to take on the world. Or at least a snack.

Julian was like a furnace behind me, his scent teasing my senses. I made a happy noise of contentment. I should bring up the dating thing today. While we were both content and happy, with no chance of being interrupted.

Julian sighed behind me and nuzzled his face into my neck.

On instinct, I lifted my hand to touch the side of his cheek, turning my face toward his. It put my mouth not an inch away from his.

Julian was sleepy, his defenses down, open in a way I hardly ever saw him. He leaned into the last inch of distance and pressed his mouth against mine.

I melted against him.

His mouth was warm and soft. He kissed me thoroughly, like everything else in the world no longer mattered. Time stopped, his mouth on mine, his arms around my waist.

Warmth from comfort but also now desire moved through me like smoke. I kept my hand on his cheek, the position leaving me feeling oddly vulnerable since it made me stretch a bit to reach him.

He kept kissing me, breaking away to brush his lips against mine, only to dip back in. I floated, his kiss anchoring me. I opened my mouth, and he pressed his tongue inside.

Liquid heat curled through me, my nerves firing with electricity. His mouth was a blessing and curse, breaking me into smaller pieces only to make me whole again.

We kissed and kissed, time stretching out until it was my whole world. His tongue swept into my mouth, and I moaned, wanting more of him, whatever else he wanted to give.

He pulled back from the kiss, his mouth hovering near mine. “I was supposed to ask if you wanted to go on a date with us.”

I laughed, my sleepy, sex-addled brain confused. “What?”

He moved his hand slowly, lazily, over my hip, his fingertips brushing against the bottom of my t-shirt.

“I want to go on a date with you. Luca and Logan too.”

“Really?” My brain seemed to have stopped working. Everything good was happening at once and I wondered if I was still dreaming.

He pressed a kiss against my mouth. “Really.”

“I thought you weren’t dating anyone.”

“We aren’t dating random people, which is why Luca and Logan said no thanks to matchmaking. But we want to dateyou.” Both his hands moved over my hips, now.

“I want to date you.” I brushed my hand over his cheek again. “So badly. Luca and Logan too. It felt like hubris, thinking that you would make an exception for me.”

“Not hubris.” Julian kissed me, trailing his mouth down my jaw. “In case you haven’t noticed, you’re incredible.”

I sighed. His hands brushed the small strip of skin between the bottom of my shirt and the top of my pajama bottoms.

“This okay? Touching you? I don’t want to rush you.” Julian pressed a soft kiss near where my jaw met my neck. “I crave you.”

“This is amazing. Don’t stop.” I whimpered, my body lighting up like he was kissing somewhere more intimate.

He had every nerve firing, even the smallest bit of movement felt sensual. He gently brushed his hands over my stomach, over and over, until I was breathless.

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