Page 73 of Regards, Mia

Her face falls. “Not smart enough.” She kicks off one shoe, then the other. “I can’t get that fucker. He’s too slippery.”

I wrap my arm around her waist, catching her a moment before she falls. “You’ll get him,” I say, lifting her into my arms. “But, right now you need to get ready for bed.”

She wraps her arms around my neck. “Now we're talking.”

I set her down on the tile floor.

“Why are we in the bathroom?”

“Wash your face and all the other stuff you do.”

“What?”

“You’re gonna be pissed in the morning if you skip your bedtime routine.”

She grins and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You’re so sweet.”

“I’m a fucking saint.” I back out of the bathroom to the sound of her laughter.

When she emerges a few minutes later wearing the hotelbathrobe and a pink fluffy headband, my heart skips a beat. She’s so beautiful like this, without the perfect hair and makeup.

“I love this robe.” She fluffs the collar around her neck. “You need one, too.” She pushes me toward the door. “Get your robe on and meet back here for a movie. And tequila.”

I swipe the bottle of tequila off the counter and hold it out her reach. “I don’t think more tequila is a good idea.”

“It’s an excellent idea.” She takes a step forward and flops onto the mattress with a groan. “The room is spinning.”

“It's not the room, it's your head.”

“I don’t feel so good.”

“Just lie still on the bed. You’ll feel better in a few seconds.”

She moans. “I’m drunk.”

“Yes, but you’re a nice drunk.”

She smiles, then grimaces. “Ugh. My eyeballs hurt.”

I brush her hair away from her face. She’s so still she looks like an angel. “Get some rest.”

She reaches up and takes my hand. “Stay.”

When I try to pry my hand from hers, she tightens her grip and tugs me down on the bed.

“Stay.” She wraps her arm around my waist and presses her face to my chest. “Please.”

I settle my back against the headboard and pull her into my arms. “For a few minutes.” I kiss the top of her head. “Because you said please.”

“Please, Jay.”

For fuck’s sake, I want to hear her say please when I’m deep inside her. The thought makes every muscle in my body tense, but I manage to suppress my desire. A moment later, when I can move again, I reach over and turn off the light.

“Thanks.” Mia sighs and scoots closer. “For everything.”

“Of course.” I plan to stay until she falls asleep and then leave quietly, but a long time passes and I’m still lying there, listening to the steady sound of her breathing.

Eventually, I kick off my shoes and pull a blanketover us. Every passing moment with Mia brings me closer to losing my heart. I should go back to my room, leave her to sleep it off on her own, but instead I rub my hand down her back and fit her closer to my chest.

---