Page 57 of The Love Ambush
She stirs against my chest, letting out a little sigh of contentment. I consider sliding out from under her and going back to my own bed, just so I won’t see the look of horror I’m expecting when she realizes she’s shared a bed with me.
I very much doubt she’ll remember how she begged me to cuddle her all night. But I’ll definitely never forget it.
Gentry bolts suddenly upright with a gasp.
“The kids,” she says.
“They’re with Brodie and Liza, honey. They’re fine.”
She sighs, and her whole body relaxes. She drops back down onto the bed and smiles sleepily up at me. “Thanks for staying with me.”
I let out my own sigh of relief. “You remember asking me to stay?”
She laughs. “I was stoned, not drunk. Of course I remember.” She rolls over and supports her upper body with her elbows so she can look right at me. “I remember everything from last night. It was the best night I’ve had in a very, very long time.”
“Are you still high?” I ask because this is not the Gentry I’m used to.
She smiles sweetly. “Nope. I’m feeling more like myself than I have in forever. And I’m not mad at you anymore. It feels really good not to be mad at you, Levi Sullivan.”
I love this relaxed, happy side of her almost as much as I love hearing that she’s forgiven me for my past fuck-ups where she’s concerned. “Well, what do you want to do this fine morning?”
She rolls right out of bed. “First, I’m going to brush my teeth, because I cannot talk to you while I have morning breath. Then, I’m going to get back into bed and cuddle with you until I have to be responsible again.” She hesitates, looking unsure for the first time. “If that’s okay with you? I just… I really love cuddling.”
“I am at your service,” I say, sitting up. “And happy to be.”
Her gaze drops to my bare chest, and her tongue darts out to lick her bottom lip. “I’ll be right back.”
While she’s in the bathroom, I put on deodorant and brush my hair. As soon as she’s out, I go in and brush my teeth. I do not put on a shirt.
When I get back to the room, Gentry’s sitting on the edge of the bed, looking unsure again.
I dive onto the bed, hugging her to me as I fall. She laughs and cuddles up against me.
“Are you sure?” she asks. “If you had other plans, or—”
“If I change my mind or ever don’t want to do something, I’ll tell you.” To emphasize my point, I kiss her forehead. Her skin is so soft, and she smells so sweet, that one kiss isn’t enough.
I pull back just enough to study her face, and she smiles softly at me. So, so sweet.
I kiss the tip of her nose and am aiming for her round chin when she tips her head and meets my lips with her own.
The kiss is more intense this time, like she’s been building to it since last night as eagerly as I have. It almost feels like too much, too bright, too combustible, too hungry.
Almost, but not, because she’s right there with me, moaning into my mouth and arching her body against mine.
Her hands are on my back and in my hair, pulling me closer with an urgency I never expected from her.
She is perfect, learning me as I’m learning her. The kiss is even better than the last one. I can’t remember how I survived so long without her in my life.
I slide my hands slowly under her pajama top, giving her time to tell me to stop.
She pulls away with a gasp.
“I’m sorry—” I start.
“Not your fault.” She runs a hand through her hair. “Maybe…” She looks around the room, like she’s just realizing where she is and exactly what she’s doing. “I can’t promise you anything beyond right now, Levi.” She looks at me, her gaze intense. “But I really want this, and it’s been so long since I’ve done something I’ve wanted as much as I want you. Can we just do this and have it not mean anything?”
I swallow hard and shift away from her a bit. “I can’t promise you that. If we do this, it’s going to mean something to me.” I consider my options, because as much as I want this for myself, I also want her to have it. I want to give her all the pleasure in the world. Even at the risk of my own heart being broken in the end. But isn’t that what every relationship is? It’s always a risk. “But I can handle—”
