That’s my cue. “I am. I’m giving you that space. You’re safe with me. You’re setting the pace. I’m following your lead. I shouldn’t have said the thing about torture. I like that you’re being bold, and I love that you’ve only been this way with me. I didn’t mean to make you feel like this wasn’t okay, because it is. More than okay. This can be our new routine. And just so we’re clear, we kiss now. You started that earlier, so that’s a new thing we’re doing.”
She laughs again.Phew!It kind of felt like I had stepped on a land mine there for a minute.
“Your turn.”
My turn. My turn? Oh...shit.I’m sleeping naked here. My turn to get into my pajamas.
Hesitation could send the wrong message here. Just do it.
Quickly pulling my shirt over my head, I notice she’s watching every move as I lay it on the back of her vanity chair. Now, I’m unfastening my still damp jeans as she watches. My boxers are cold and wet from the swim. The air in the room makes things even colder, and now I’m nervous. On a bad day, I’m still impressive under these things, but I had hoped that the first time she would see all of me would be on a good day.
Her eyes continue to track my movements as I hook my thumbs into the waistband of my boxers and tug them down. She follows the boxers with her eyes and then looks back up to my dick. Her eyes widen slightly before she darts them to my face.Concern. She’s worried. I don’t want her to be worried, but I have to admit that it’s league’s better than disappointment.
“Aren’t you cold?” The question comes out like an accusation. She knows I should be cold because I’ve been in wet boxers and damp jeans, and now I’m naked. I am cold, but I know what she’s wondering.
“We don’t have to worry about that right now. We’re going to sleep. That’s all. Just sleep.”
She turns her face to the bed and stares at it for a moment before slowly nodding. “Just sleep.”
Still impressive. Maybe a little too impressive?
Deciding it’s best that I move first, I go to the side of the bed opposite of where I see her phone charger and slide underneath the covers. Vaughn continues to watch my every move, giving me a small smile once I’m settled in.
“Just to warn you...I’m not much of a cuddler. I want to cuddle with you. Really, I do but I tend to distance myself in sleep. Just don’t want you to think it’s a conscious thing.”
Vaughn simply nods. There’s a faraway look in her eyes.
“Some of that bravado starting to slip?”
Her smile widens. “Maybe just a little.”
“You don’t have to try to be any kind of way with me. Just behave according to how you feel, and we’ll do great.”
A glimmer of something crosses her eyes. Is it awe? Hope? It’s a good thing, and that’s all that matters.
Vaughn pulls back the covers, climbing beneath them before sliding over to me. She stretches her arm across my middle before nestling her face into my chest.God...I take it all back. Don’t take me yet. This just keeps getting better all the time.
“Mmmm.” My groan is deep and thick with sleep.
“Good morning.” Vaughn’s sultry voice is slightly higher than normal and has a lilt of humor in it.
Sleep clings to me, so I turn to bury my face in the sheets, but the sheets are warm and feel a lot like smooth skin. The skin smells like....cinnamon and sugar. Shit. I will NEVER live this down.
My head is resting on a smooth, soft...stomach. My arms are wrapped tightly around curvy hips. My leg is hiked way up so that it’s lying across a set of perfect knees.Is there any possible way that the body I have entangled myself with doesn’t belong to the girl I told only hours ago that I’m not a cuddler?
“Sleep well, Teddy Bear?”Teddy Bear? Cuddle buddy. That’s essentially what she’s saying.
“Any chance we can be adults about this?”
“You can.”
Ah. So I can, but she won’t. Got it.
Chapter 14
Vaughn
“Why don’t we ever hang out at your place?”
