Page 56 of Noble Neighbor
And so they had.
Their second time had been as special, one where she got to explore — and taste — his body, ending with her on top.
Oliver had stumbled to the bathroom afterward, returning with a warm, damp cloth. Instead of handing it to her, he’d wiped away the sticky residue he’d left behind before crawling back into bed, sliding his arms around her.
“Oliver,” she’d protested.
“Don’t deny me this, Sunny. I just … I need to hold you for a while.”
“You can’t—”
“Shh.” He placed a finger over her mouth. “I’ll go before you, or Molly, wake. Promise.”
She’d fallen asleep in Oliver's arms.
And now she was alone.
Sunny bit back the intense regret flooding through her, desperate to hang onto the glow of being loved so thoroughly by Oliver, but the incandescence quickly faded as the harsh reality crept over her.
Being intimate with Oliver had been a mistake. A huge, colossal,giganticmistake, and unfortunately, one she knew she’d be repeating.
Again, and again.
Because Oliver was her drug, and she’d had her first hit.
She was hooked.
Sunny turned onto her back and stared through the dark at the ceiling. Why had she let things go so far? Become so muddled?
No expectations?Urgh. How foolish of her.
She’d said, with her own mouth, that she was his. Just his.
Because she craved him, could deny him nothing.
But in truth, he was not hers. Could never be.
A good woman had loved him once. One who’d given him a shield of protection.
Why would he want to sully himself with Sunny Jones?
He deserved to be with someone without blemish.
Without stain and shadow.
Oliver had been a cop, and Christie Armstrong’s murder would’ve been a double blow for a man sworn to protect, to uphold the law.
He’d never accept Sunny Jones and her past.
The familiar tread of a nearing animal alerted her it was time to stop wallowing in self-pity, face reality, and start her day. She glanced at the bedside clock.Just gone six. Still early. Molly would sleep for anotherhour or two, maybe more considering the late night.
Sunny pushed herself upright and snapped the bedside light on. She winced at the soreness of body parts long unused as she stood, stretching her arms high above her head.
Despite her despondent thoughts, she couldn’t stop the small, smug smile as it broke across her face. Last night had been good. Like really, really good.
For her,andfor Oliver.
A disgruntledarfsounded from the doorway. Hooch needed out. Sunny sighed. It was time to face the day. “I’ll be a minute, Hoochie-boy.”
