Page 14 of Sweet Dreams
I considered pulling the covers back over me and going back to sleep, but I've never been woken up by a hottie lifeguard with hair I wanted to run my fingers through and twenty kisses. It's a pretty nice way to wakeup.
I tossed back the covers and watched Ivan's eyes glaze over as he took in the length of me. My camisole had ridden up, exposing my stomach. My pink, lacy thong was visible above the waistband of my pajama pants. His jaw tightened and the air in the room got a bit thicker. And call me a floozy all you want, I wasn't in a hurry to cover myselfup.
After his abrupt departure from our make out session last night, I was ecstatic to see I turned him on. I know I wasn't model thin and never would be, but I had worked hard the last few years to not only build a strong body, but also a strong mind that was confident in who I was. My automatic response was still to cover up and apologize for my body, which I did the first time Ivan and I met, but I wasn't going to do that anymore. He either was turned on by my body or he wasn't. And if he wasn't, well, this would be the shortest relationship inhistory.
Ivan dropped back down to his elbow and stretched his body out beside me. His hand traced a line from my collarbone, to the outside of my breast, down my exposed stomach, and then over the waistband of my thong. He and I both watched his hand travel, seeing his big, tanned hand on my skin being a huge turn on. Goose bumps followed wherever his hand went, the tickle causing me to catch mybreath.
"Jesus, Esa. You're so beautiful. You make me want to forget about everything and just spend the day in bed with you, touching your body. Seriously. I could play for hours," Ivan whispered in that gravelly voice that instantly turned me on, knowing he was turnedon.
I gave into the temptation and ran my hand through his unruly hair. "You sound like that John Mayer song...your body is a wonderland..." I sang off-tune, laughing as his eyes lit up withrecognition.
"Well, I did write that song you know," he teased me. "In all seriousness, you're hot, woman, but not such a great singer. How about we get to the gym and do our cardio there, not here, huh? I made you a promise last night that I intend tokeep."
My cheeks heated as I pictured how much cardio we'd be getting if we stayed in bed. I bet Ivan was one of those guys who would take his sweet time. I'd heard about guys like that, just never been with one to verify they were real. I loved that he was being patient with me, but I kept wondering why I waswaiting.
Ivan's cell phone rang as I was getting up and finding my workoutclothes.
"I'll take this in the bathroom while I change, okay?" Ivan asked as he moved toward mybathroom.
I nodded and then stripped quickly to put on my workout gear when he shut the bathroom door. I was lacing up my shoes, when he came back out, disconnected with whoever he was talking to, and walked up tome.
"Esa, we have a problem," Ivan said in a serious tone. I snapped my head up and raised an eyebrow inquestion.
8
"What now?"I said, not really wanting the answer to that question. I was still processing my poor shop being vandalized, I wasn't sure I could handlemore.
Ivan crouched down so we were eye to eye. "I just got a call from my buddy, Dean. He said he heard a police scanner down at Headquarters talking about a blue Honda Civic in the Pacific City parking lot being busted up. He went and checked it out. It's your car, baby. Someone busted out the tail lights, all the windows, slit thetires."
My jaw droppedopen.
"Are you freaking kidding me?" I shouted, jumping up and almost knocking Ivan down in the process. "I'm tired of this shit! Who's doing this? It can't be random, canit?"
Ivan straightened up in front of me, his hands on my arms, holding me inplace.
"Let's not freak out yet. Let's go check it out, file a report with HBPD, and get you safely to work. I've already contacted my lifeguard buddies. You'll be protected while you're at Pacific City since Headquarters is right there too. Don't leave your shop. I'll drive you to and from work. I'll keep you safe while the police figure out what's going on. Okay?" He dipped his head down to my level to make sure his words got through tome.
I took a couple deep breaths before I spoke. "Yeah, okay. Freak out over for right now. I just don't understand what's happening or why. Are you sure you have time to be driving me around?” Don't get me wrong, I loved the idea of lifeguards protecting me, but that's no way to live life. And I didn't want him hanging with me out of obligation either. He'd already spent the night at my place just so I'd feelsafe.
"Hell yes, I have time. And why wouldn't I want to hang out with the sweetest, most beautiful girl I've ever met?" he added before bringing me in for a hug. He kissed the top of my head and spoke softly. “I know you're scared, and I hate to see that. But you're not alone. I gotyou."
The tension left my body at his words, my heart melting a little more. Damn, this boy was sweet. Sweeter than my kick ass hot chocolate. And that was saying something. I rested my head on his chest and just breathed himin.
Bailey burst into the room, pulling on a robe over her pajamas. "What the hell is going on so early in the morning?" Bailey wasn't a morning person, especially when she worked late, and in my mini-freak out, I'd forgotten to lower myvoice.
I pulled away slowly from Ivan's embrace and told her what happened. "Sorry, B. Ivan's buddy just called to tell us my car was trashed at Pacific City overnight. I gotta go talk to the police and then get over to the shop," Iexplained.
"Ah honey, this is getting ridiculous. Do you need a ride to work?" Bailey asked as she pulled me into anotherhug.
"I can take her this morning, but will you be home tonight, by chance?" Ivan askedBailey.
"Yeah, I only have one client today at noon, so I'll be home after that. Whatchaneed?"
"I thought I'd bring her home after work and we'd all have dinner. But then I gotta go back for a team meeting at seven. I don't think she should be alone, so will you stay with her?" Ivan askedBailey.
“Yeah, of course! We'll have a girls’ night in, just like the college days, whadya say, Esa?" Bailey asked turning tome.
"You don't need to entertain me in my own house, Bailey," I said rolling my eyes. "But I do think your idea sounds fantastic....so...yeah, count me in!" I continued, building with excitement. "I'm thinking Chinese takeout, then pedicures and hot chocolate. Soundgood?"
