“A lot’s happened in the last twenty-four hours,” I admitted, looking into his caring eyes.
“It has. And as much as I can’t wait to explore things with you, I’m probably going to want to take a nap as soon as we get inside.”
“Me too. Is it wrong that there’s nothing else in the world I’d rather do than sleep in bed with you?”
“Nothing wrong with that at all. It’s one of my favorite things to do, too.”
I flushed, and he paused in the walkway between the house and the garage, cupping my jaw as he pulled me in for a soft kiss.
“I know a lot of this is new to you, but I want you to know that this is new to me, too. I have never, ever felt this way about anyone. You are so amazing and special and beautiful.”
I blinked, wiping away the tears. “Shut up.”
He chuckled. “Never. I’m never going to stop telling you how much I love you. Now that I’ve got you in my arms? Prepare to be sick of me.”
“Did you just quote TikTok?”
“Probably.”
We laughed, and he let us into the house, then took me by the hand and practically dragged me to his bedroom. We got down to our boxers and slipped into bed. There was something so sensual about his size, the warmth of his skin against mine, knowing that he was a little older, a little wiser.
More than anything, I felt protected. Woody, of course, had always watched after me, but I’d never been protected like thisby an intimate partner. Based on how Kess stepped up for my friends, he was a man who would jump in front of a bullet for me.
I snuggled into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me, then settled his leg over mine, cocooning me in his warmth. Seconds later, sleep took me under.
I’d been upfor ten minutes already, and I needed to check in with Sadie, but I was still wrapped up in Kess’s body, and I couldn’t pull myself away just yet.
I wanted to laugh because it turned out that my sexy, elegant, sweet boyfriend snored. Currently, he was blowing my hair across my face, and I had to bite my tongue more than once.
“Are you laughing?” he asked, his voice gravelly.
“I was trying not to.”
“What’s so funny?”
I kissed his chest. “You snore like it’s Christmas time and you’ve got the only chainsaw for miles.”
“Oh man,” he said, turning bright red. “I usually sleep on my back with my head elevated so it’s not so bad.”
“Well, if it’s between sleeping on your back with no snoring and snuggling me with snoring, I know exactly which one I would choose.”
“Shut up.”
“That’s my line.”
He squeezed me till I squawked, then pushed me back on the bed and kissed me until my eyes glazed over. I rubbed his chest, my fingers accidentally grazing his nipple. He inhaled sharply, pressing his forehead against mine.
I grazed the nipple again. Another sharp inhale.
“You like that?”
He nodded. “A lot. I love having my nipples played with.”
Feeling a little empowered, I leaned in and swiped my nose against the sensitive bud. “What would you like me to do with your nipples?”
A deep rumble from the center of his chest shook me.
“Tell me.”
