“Alright. Well, I won’t be gone as long as I was yesterday, but I probably won’t be back before the shop closes. Can I take you to dinner afterward?”
I sit up and tug the blanket up to cover myself. “Like on a date?”
“Yeah, on a date.”
I swallow, nervous and unsure. “I’ve never been on a date before.”
Now it’s his turn to look surprised. He leans down and kisses me stupid. Though I’m still desperately holding parts of myself back, it still feels like sand pouring through a timer, making me feel like any minute now, everything will catch up to us.
“There, now I got our date kiss out of the way. You don’t have to be nervous.”
I blink up at him before I crack up laughing. “You just ate me for breakfast, and your giant dick has touched places inside me no man has gone before. I think it’s safe to assume I’m a sure thing, even when I’m mad at you. A few kisses don’t scare me.”
He drags his nose down over mine. “Liar. You can handle sex. That was never the issue between us. But intimacy is a whole other thing. I’m not going to fuck you after our dates. I don’t want that to be what you’re focusing on all night.”
“Wait, you said dates. So, more than one?”
“Fuck yes, and if you give me a real shot, I want to do this until we’re old and gray. We can find a sitter for our kid, but you are the kind of woman who deserves to be wooed, and I’m smart enough to be the one to do it.”
“You know it was never about that, right? I don’t need expensive dinners and fancy things to measure how much you love me. I only needed you. Your time, your smiles, your love.”
“And you’ll have all that. But you deserve much more than that, and I refuse to let you settle for mediocre.”
“Good thing I’m not standing up. I might have swooned.”
He laughs, kissing the tip of my nose before he gets up, sweeps me into his arms, and carries me to the bathroom. “Get yourself ready, and I’ll order some breakfast. You fancy anything in particular?”
“Hmmm… bagels with cream cheese or cinnamon rolls.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He kisses me again before tapping my ass and nudges me into the bathroom.
I finally snap out of my haze. I lean on the counter and stare at myself in the mirror. “Don’t judge me,” I snap at my reflection. “I have stupid hormones, and my boobs ache, and honest to god, I’m horny all the damn time.”
My reflection doesn’t answer, but she stares back at me mockingly. I can see in her eyes what she’s thinking. This is all a game. He’s buttering me up to get what he wants, but then he’ll drop me again like a hot potato and crush me.
The truth is, he might. Hell, he more than likely will, but I find it nearly impossible not to give it one last shot. Yes, it couldbe my downfall. But what if it’s not? What if we make it all the way, despite the odds?
I flip myself off and go about my business. By the time I’m washed and dressed, Midas is ready for me.
“Food is being delivered downstairs. I made sure there was enough for Powers, too, spoiled bastard.”
I huff out a laugh at that. The prospect works damn hard, so I don’t think I’d call him spoiled. “Sounds like a plan. Let me just grab my phone.”
I look around for it but frown when I find nothing. I thought I’d plugged it in to charge last night, but neither the charger nor the phone is there. I blow out a frustrated breath.
“Everything okay?”
“I can’t find my cell phone.”
He helps me look, but after another five minutes, I throw my hands in the air and curse.
“I bet I left it at the clubhouse.”
“I’ve gotta head over there later anyway, so I’ll ask if anyone has seen it.”
“Okay, thank you. I’m turning into such a space cadet.”
“You’re growing a human. I think you should cut yourself some slack.”
