Then, something dawned on me and I shrank back and slapped one of my palms over my mouth. “Morning breath!”
Paxton’s deep ocean blue eyes twinkled, and he grabbed my hand pulling it from my face. “I don’t care, I need your mouth, sweetheart.”
His head descended and his mouth possessed mine in a kiss that jump started my heart. He knew how to make a woman swoon and my bare toes curled with desire. Morning breath be damned, I was glad I didn’t miss his mouth on mine.
When he pulled back, our heavy breathing mingled together as one, and in that second I was so glad he had stopped me from leaving.
Even in the morning he was a gorgeous man. Which made me feel a bit self-conscious about my appearance right then. I truly wasn’t kidding when I said I thought he could be a model, he had the looks going on for sure. But lying in the circle of his arms and with his weight pressing slightly on me now, I knew he had a body any girl would dream of.
At least me anyway.
My husband was a bit stiff, business fueled. Sure he was nice looking and had charmed me at first, but when he changed, my view of how he looked changed too. In my eyes he morphed into an awful person and unattractive man.
Paxton was so different from Thomas, and right then I was thankful for that even though he sent a thrill through me that I didn’t have any clue how to deal with.
I was walking in new territory with feelings I’d never been accustomed to.
“Thank you for not letting me run,” I whispered.
One hand came up and his thumb caressed my cheek.
“Thank you for promising to not try it again.”
* * *
My day started very differentlyin many ways.
From waking up to a sexy man, having him kiss me senseless, and then proceed to clean up his nail polish mess on my foot while we both laughed and I teased him about painting my toes.
Then after getting ready, Paxton had to go to his own place for a bit, which to be honest made me nervous. Once he was back, we went to the bakery together. Even though it was Monday we were still closed until the following day so we could hammer out some details of how things would happen going forward.
That started with the guys fromNo Surrenderpiling into the shop to talk with Paxton because he wouldn’t leave me alone to go to their building. I worked around the bakery to clean some stuff up, prepare some things for the next morning, and let him do the talking.
The conversation the evening before had done me in.
I couldn’t help but notice each of the guys looked over at me from time to time with different expressions on their faces. Sometimes it was rage, but I knew it wasn’t directed at me. Other times it was sorrow that shined in their eyes over what I had gone through. What I never saw was anger at me for not being honest with them.
At that moment I wondered what would have happened if I had just told them all earlier. Maybe my life wouldn’t have felt so scary and I could have given my friends more like they deserved. But I also knew in some sense that it was Paxton who changed everything. He drew me in and made me want more. And even if someone hadn’t broken into the bakery, I think he’d still have found a way to make me stay.
But what did that all mean?
I was still scared. Not only because of the bad people after me, but also because my feelings for him were on a whole ‘nother level of intimacy I had never experienced.
My thoughts were ripped from my mind when the bell over the door jiggled, causing me to jump out of my skin. I cringed when I saw it was only Brinley and I had overreacted. Paxton was out of his seat and by my side in a flash.
He’d been practically stuck to me like glue all day and if he wasn’t right next to me, he was really damn close.
“We’re all right here, nothing is going to happen,” he said softly, laying his hand on my hip.
The simple touch felt intimate, protective, and comforting. It sent a shiver through me.
“Was I really that obvious?” I scoffed. “I don’t know why I’m so jumpy.”
He leaned in closer, resting his mouth close to my ear so only I could hear him. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, beautiful.”
His warm breath tickled my ear and I swear I didn’t mean to, but I giggled out loud. What the hell was this man doing to me? Obviously making me forget I’d been dramatic a moment before, but there I was giggling again. And so everyone could hear me.
Slowly lifting my gaze away from Paxton and moving them to our friends, I saw every one of them was staring at us. Brinley had a smirk on her face and the guys were all looking at me with curiosity. I quickly glanced down at the floor and groaned in embarrassment.
