Page 50 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love
She grinned sleepily.“In that case, I’d like the good cop to hold me now.”
He pulled her closer without hesitation.“You’re very high maintenance.”
“Oh, shush, you love it when I’m bossy.”
Yeah, he thought as he spooned her.He did.
He loved a lot of things about Andromeda Swan.
And he was so screwed.
Chapter Twenty
How To Get Away With Cuddling
ANDROMEDA
Andromeda woke to an unfamiliar warmth wrapped around her body—a heavy arm draped across her waist, a solid chest pressed to her back.The foreign sensation of bare skin disoriented her until memories from the night before flooded back in vivid detail: Donatello’s hands exploring her curves, his mouth claiming hers, the way he’d looked at her right before they’d both fallen apart.She was naked in Detective Malatesta’s bed, and not a single alarm bell went off.A languid contentment settled in her bones instead, as comfortable and unexpected as the man still sleeping beside her.
Morning light filtered through the half-drawn blinds, casting golden stripes across the rumpled sheets.Carefully, Andromeda shifted to face him, moving slowly to avoid waking him.Asleep, Donatello looked younger, the perpetual crease between his brows smoothed away.His lilac hair was tousled, sticking up at odd angles that made him absurdly adorable for someone who’d been so commanding last night.
She studied him, taking advantage of this unguarded moment.His eyelashes—unfairly long for a man—cast feathery shadows on his cheekbones.The stubble along his jaw had grown thicker overnight, darkening the sharp lines of his face.One of his arms was still tucked beneath her, the lean muscle firm.Her gaze traced the contours of his chest, the defined slope of his shoulders, down to where the sheet draped low across his hips.
Andromeda couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this… satisfied.Usually, first-time sex with a new partner involved awkward fumbling, misinterpreted signals, and polite disappointment.But with Donatello, it had been like their bodies had known each other all along.He touched her like he already knew every place that made her shiver.
And then there had been that moment—that strange, breathless pause when he’d just… stopped.Held himself above her, gazing down with an expression that had made her chest ache.In that suspended second, with his eyes locked on hers, their connection had become something more than bodies seeking release.As if they’d been making love, not having sex.The realization disturbed her as much as it thrilled her.
Andromeda ran her fingers through his lilac hair, the silky strands slipping between them like water.
Donatello stirred under her touch, his eyelids fluttering before opening to reveal those dark eyes that saw right through her defenses.He blinked once, twice, focusing on her face.Then a slow, lazy smile spread across his lips.Her heart kicked in response.
“Morning,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep.He shifted closer, burying his face into her neck and breathing deeply.“You smell good.”
She raised a brow.“I smell like sex and sweat.”
“Mmm.I’ve never been this into either before.”
His lips brushed her pulse point.She gripped his hair hard.
“Any chance my hair could go back to black?”
Andromeda widened her eyes in mock innocence.“I never admitted having anything to do with the color change, detective.”
“No?”His hand slid up her side, fingertips tracing patterns on her skin that made it difficult to keep cool.“You’re sticking with denial?”
“It’s worked for me so far.”
His eyes narrowed playfully.“I could make you confess.”
“I’d like to see you try—”
Before she could finish, he lunged forward.His mouth found the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, and he delivered a series of quick, playful bites, nuzzling her as she squealed and laughed.
“Stop!”she gasped, squirming beneath him.
“Admit it was you,” he growled against her skin, his stubble ticklish.She’d have to use a spell to hide the beard burns.
“Fine!Fine!”Andromeda surrendered, breathless from laughing.“It was me!I cursed your hair!”
