Page 77 of Away With You
“It wasn’t you who crossed the line, Nathan. It was me.”
Now I really wish I didn’t have a drunken hole in my memory bank. If Katie crossed some sort of line last night, I’m gutted I can’t remember it.
“You did?” I tread lightly, noting her face twitch at my words. “You crossed a line?”
She sits up, wrapping her arms around her middle, looking wretched. “Yes. You don’t remember?”
I wrack my stupid, tequila-muddled brain and come up empty. “The events of last night are hazy. But let me assure you, where you’re concerned, no line exists. You can cross them all.”
Her small nose scrunches in the most adorable way. “What does that mean?” I open my mouth to clarify how much I wishshe’d cross all the lines when she jumps in. “And it wasn’t last night. I made sure of that by sleeping over here.”
Comprehension dawns as I watch her glare at the bed. Ah, my loose lips spilled our little bedtime secret. I must have told her about her nighttime adventures over to my side of the bed, and she’s feeling awkward about it.
Hmm, not on my watch.
“So, that’s what this is about?” I ask, trying and failing to hide my smirk.
Her eyes narrow. “It’s not funny. You refused to sleep in the bed with me last night because you didn’t want to wake up with me wrapped around you.”
“Not possible.”
Her glare moves from the bed and lands on me. “That’s what you said.”
“Even in my most drunken state, I know I’d never say that. Kitty Kat, waking up with you in my arms was the best part of my day. It was having to let you go that I couldn’t handle.”
I let that sink in, watching her chew her lips while she chews on my words. “Is that true?”
With a sigh, I stand and reach over to scoop her up into my arms. She shrieks, her arms winding around my neck and holding tightly.
“Nathan! What are you doing?”
I shift her in my arms until she’s comfortable and stride us back over to the bed, dumping her down and lying down next to her. Watching her reaction, I pull her close until her body is flush against mine.
“This. This is how I want to wake up every morning. I just didn’t want you to wake up and be embarrassed.”
Her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink, and I hold my breath, noting emotions dance over her expressive face. Embarrassment, indecision, reluctance, and finally…acceptance. From the smile growing on her lips, she very much looks like this is where she also wants to be.
“Well, I guess if it’s what you really want,” she sasses with a smirk. “It’s fine with me.”
I pull her even closer, my stomach clenching when she rests her head on my chest, her eyelids fluttering shut. As her body melts into mine, I relax, yawning, and let my poor, hungover body succumb to the sleep it desperately wants. And I get to hold Katie in my arms, knowing this will be the best sleep I’ve ever had.
?·?·?
Several hours later, the sun is now high and bright in the blue sky, my sluggish eyelids peel open, and for the second time today, I take stock of the situation. My smartwatch tells me it’s well past waking-up time and that we’ve most likely missed whatever Victoria and George have scheduled to torture us with today.
Shame.
Careful not to move too much, I stare down at the woman still in my arms. Over the course of our slumber together, we’ve shifted. She now has her back pressed against my front, so that I’m spooning her in the most delicious way. Her hair—her gorgeous hair—is spread across my chest as my body is all-but wrapped around her. In the past, I’ve never been much of a cuddler, much preferring my own space to move and kick as I please as I sleep, but now, with Katie here, I’ve found a new sleeping preference. One that has her as close to me in every possible way.
“I’m hungry,” she mumbles through closed lips, her eyes still shut like she doesn’t want to fully wake up.
Taking her hand in mine, I press a soft kiss into her neck and snuggle into her. “It’s almost 10 a.m., Kitty Kat. I’m not surprised you’re hungry.”
At this, her eyes pop open and she sits up. “10 a.m.?” she shrieks. “We’re late!”
I lie on my back and put my arms behind my head, admiring the view. Morning Katie is beautiful. Wild hair, flushed skin, sleepy golden eyes. This is a view I’d be happy to stare at every morning for the rest of my life.
Whoa. Where did that come from?
