Page 119 of Crazy In Love
“Where you going?” his deep voice said, and I peeked up to see him looking down at me.
“Hey. I thought you were still asleep.” I covered my mouth with my hand, realizing I probably had morning breath.
He chuckled and stretched his arms over his head. “How’d you sleep?”
“Like a rock.” I moved to sit up, taking in his broad shoulders and dark tousled hair, which was only a shade lighter than his black silk pillowcase. His gray eyes looked darker this morning, but there was no sun coming through the opening in thecurtains, as it was probably still snowing outside. “How do you feel?”
“I feel good.” He shifted, moving to sit as his back pressed against the headboard.
“Are you freaking out that I’m here?”
“I asked you to stay, didn’t I?” He reached over to his nightstand and grabbed the bottle of water sitting there. He took a sip and then handed it to me.
“You practically begged me to stay,” I said with a chuckle. I took a long sip from the water bottle before handing it back to him.
“Hey, I have no shame in doing whatever I needed to do to get you to stay. I’ll beg if that’s what you want, angel.”
My stomach fluttered at his words. I’d expected this morning to be a very different situation. I’d prepared for it. I thought the booze had done the talking last night, but here he was, talking the same game.
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I just want you to be honest. Last night you were talking about wanting more than a fling but also warning me not to go there.”
He blew out a breath. “Sounds about right. Listen, I haven’t been in a relationship in many years, and it’s by design. So I don’t really know how this would work, but I know that I can’t stop thinking about you, and I thought I should tell you that.”
I moved closer and took his hand in mine. “I’m glad you told me.”
“I’d understand if you didn’t want to bother with it.”
“How about you let me decide that.”
He nodded, his eyes boring into mine. “Have I mentioned that I’m not a patient man, either. So let me know when you decide.”
My head tipped back in laughter. “Wow. Noncommittal, difficult,andimpatient.”
His lips twitched. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I rolled my eyes. “As much as you’re trying to sway me, I’ve got a few rebuttals to your case.”
“Let’s hear it.” His chest was tan and muscled, the scruff along his jaw fuller than usual. He managed to look sinfully sexy first thing in the morning, which made thinking straight difficult.
“I’ve been in two serious relationships over the last few years. Both were disasters. This last one being the worst. And here’s what I know… I’ve dated men who pretend to be something they’re not. And then the more you get to know them, the more you see who they really are. But with you, I already know that you’re a moody bastard. I know that you’re a self-proclaimed relationship disaster. I’m more than aware that you’re bossy and rude half the time, but sometimes tender and sweet when nobody’s looking.” I scooched closer, straddling his lap as I faced him. “And, let’s not forget… you were my first crush and my first orgasm. That’s got to count for something.”
A loud laugh escaped him, and he stroked the hair away from my face. “I don’t sound half bad when you put it that way.”
“Listen, there are no guarantees with any relationship. We had a good time in Paris, and we want to see more of one another. There are no promises that come with that. We’ll just see where it goes.”
“I hope it goes to me being inside you soon,” he said dryly.
I fell forward with a laugh. “Maybe later, lover boy. I’ve got to be at the flower shop in an hour. I need to get home.”
He shifted forward, then tossed his legs over the side of the bed and pushed to stand, taking me with him. My legs wrapped around his waist as he walked to the bathroom, where he set me down on the counter.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m brushing my teeth,” he said, as if I should know what he was doing.
I went to push off the counter, and he put his hand on my thigh, motioning for me to stay while he continued scouring his mouth.
After he spit in the sink, he set his toothbrush down on the counter. “I’m going to kiss you goodbye before you realize I’m an asshole and call this whole thing off.”
