Page 86 of Sugar Rush

* * *

I was nervous about how to do this, but Rick made it easy.

“You got a spare toothbrush?”he asked, as I finished putting away the clean and dry baking equipment.The rhubarb sponge cakes had filled the room with a sweet, syrupy scent that reminded me of home.

“I’ll have a look.”I held out my hand, and he took it, flicking off the kitchen light before I led him up the stairs.The layout here was simple; bathroom straight ahead and then two big bedrooms spread out along the hall.

I rummaged in the bathroom cabinet and found a toothbrush still in its packaging.

“Thanks.”He leaned against the doorjamb, his beautiful body framed perfectly by the cream architrave.“You wanna use the bathroom first or second?I vote for you to go first.You’re about to keel over.”

“You know just what to say to make a girl feel good,” I groused, but his eyes held such concern that I couldn’t truly be mad.Besides, he was right.

He just smiled and stepped back so I could close the door.

By this point I was so sleepy that I didn’t even have the energy to get excited about Rick being in my bed.It was a big thing, ahugething, and I wanted it so much, but my body was slowly shutting down.I’d pushed myself too hard, for too many days in a row.

I finished in the bathroom, and then Rick took his turn while I changed into my pajamas and got under the covers.Thank goodness that Jess’ spare bed was queen-sized.

The room glowed with diffused light from the bedside lamp and I watched through half-closed eyes as Rick stepped in through the doorway.

“I’ll just sleep in my clothes, if you don’t mind?”he rumbled.

“Fine with me,” I yawned.I made sure to keep my eyes open as he bent to take off his boots and socks, leaving him to pad to the other side of the bed on bare feet.

He slid into bed, his proximity settling everything inside me.There was no table on his side of the bed, so I held out a cupped hand when he took off his dog tags.Rick lowered the chain and metal tags into my palm.The necklace was warm from his skin, and I curled my fingers around it before setting it on the little table by my cup of water.

“Light off?”I whispered.

“Light off.You’re sure this is okay?”The gentleness of his tone warmed me from the inside out.

“Veryokay.Would you please just hold me?”I clicked off the little beside lamp, and the room darkened.It was very quiet, save the sound of me moving to snuggle against him.Rick lifted his arm and I wiggled underneath it, pillowing my head on his chest.His heart beat steadily beneath my ear.He smelled fantastic.

He curled his arm around me, and he ran his thumb up and down my arm.“Thought about holdin’ you like this,” he said into the darkness.

“Hmmm?”I replied, because I wanted to hear all his thoughts about me, but he wassocozy and warm and I wassovery, very tired.

“Yeah.It’s even better than I imagined.”

My eyes closed completely.I fell asleep to the rhythm of his heart beating.

* * *

I woke slowly to the sound of chattering birds outside the window.My stomach felt heavy and warm, and I slid my fingers down until they met Rick’s arm, draped possessively across my lower belly.

He slept on his stomach, facing me.His face was relaxed in slumber, his lashes long and thick against his cheeks.What was that about?Why did men get better lashes, always?

Fortunately, in this case, I benefitted, as I was the one who got to enjoy just how fantastic he looked.

His hair was tumbled from sleep.I let my greedy gaze follow the column of his neck and the broad line of his shoulders.He took up over half the bed.

When I gave in to the urge to touch him and threaded my fingers through the silky-soft strands of hair at his nape, he opened his eyes.

“Mornin’,” he rumbled, and his sleep-rough voice waswonderfuland I wanted to hear it every single day.

“Morning, sleepyhead.”

He stretched languidly, like a big, beautiful cat, and then curled into me, and I eagerly wrapped my arms around him.He nuzzled into my shoulder.

---