Page 82 of A Not So Merry Rescue
“What time do you have to leave for the parade?”
“It starts at two, so I have to be in place around one-thirty. Probably leave here around one. I can throw something together for breakfast and lunch, though I’m not sure what we have. Or you can order something. Most places stop delivering around noon, so it’ll have to be early.”
Her gaze casts down, but I can’t tell why. I itch to tip her chin back up, read her expression, know what she’s thinking.
Ah, fuck it.
Gently, I reach my fingers under her chin, lifting it. Her expression is unreadable, a mix of emotions.
“I wasn’t asking to guarantee you’d provide the food. I didn’t want to be in your way when you’re getting ready.”
I share a small smile. “Ironically, I like cooking for you, Willa. Gives me purpose. It’s more fun to cook for two than one.”
“You have so much purpose in your life, Beckett. Why you feel the need to find more in feeding me is a mystery.”
The words to answer her get stuck in my throat.
This is temporary.She’stemporary.
She’ll be gone in a few days, never to return. And I’ll go back to living my life, forever changed by this stranger who crashed into my life unannounced and stole a piece of my heart, altering the fabric of my entire being.
Heidi’s right. I watch too many Hallmark movies.
I wouldn’t change a thing about this week, even if it means never again experiencing the feelings she brings out in me. Never finding my true love.
She is not your true love,the rational part of my brain argues.
I shake out of my stupor, this trance she has me in.
“I owe you orgasms. Let me lock up, and I’ll meet you in bed.”
A shy smile crests her lips. She steps closer to me, the traces of whatever seemed to bother her moments ago diminished. Herfinger rakes over my chest, trailing a soft, zigzag line along the hard planes. “Let’s start with your blow job. You’ve been waiting longer than this afternoon.”
It isn’t what I expected her to say, but I’m not at all disappointed. Who am I to deprive her of what she wants?
I didn’t bother setting an alarm last night. I’m always up before the sun. Creature of habit and my internal clock. However, I made good on my promise to Willa and kept her up most of the night worshipping her body. She reciprocated, starting with an out-of-this-world blow job, helping me feel more manly after questioning if I was too soft, too delicate.
After the way she let me fuck her mouth, I decided I can be both—hard and soft as needed.
A conundrum through and through.
Lazily, I move my head to watch her sleep. Even at rest, she’s beautiful. The fine lines around her eyes are smoothed out. She’s got one arm tucked under the pillow, her hair messy and framing her head. Needing to feel the silky strands in my fingers, I broke her hair tie when I ripped it out of her hair.
“Don’t be a creeper,” her groggy voice instructs. Her eyes remain closed, but her mouth parts.
“You don’t know I’m watching you.”
One eye peeks open. “You confirmed what I believed. Your thoughts are loud. Shut them off.”
I chuckle at her use of imagery, as if she can hear my thoughts. Better yet, as if I couldshut them off.Not a chance. Not with her.
“No can do, beautiful. Not with you in my bed.” I stop myself from adding any more. That’s enough of a reason I can’t shut them off.
Because she’s the freaking star of my thoughts, and I don’t want to shut them off.
“What time is it? And don’t say early. The actual time, Beckett.”
I suppress my chortle. “Hardass. Almost seven. I slept late today.”
