“Game theories?”
“Usually not. Typically, it's things that are a type of parallel play—let’s go kayaking, let’s catch a show, let’s play a game. This is new.” Rylee gestured between them. “I like it. Thank you.”
And suddenly, Rylee was exhausted. She felt the energy drain from her body.
“You’re worn out.”
“I’m sorry.” Rylee shifted around. She didn’t want this evening to end. But a week of sleepless nights from the painful tingling in her hands and feet, along with everything else, caught up to her all at once.
Dakota came to a crouch, then he gathered up the pizza boxes and trash, “Tank and I should get out of here and let you get to bed.”
“Stay?” she asked.
He stilled.
Rylee tipped her head back to catch his gaze. “I’d like you to stay.”
“I have a gym bag in the car. I’ll be right back.”
Tank lifted a brow but didn’t move.
While Dakota was gone, Rylee let her head rest on the chair cushion and closed her eyes. She heard him come in and lock the door. Heard him move into the bathroom and brush his teeth. Heard him wander into her bedroom.
“Rylee,” he whispered, “time for bed.” He pulled her arm around his neck. “Shshshsh, you don’t need to wake up.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her to bed.
In the dark room, she was a mere shadow.
“Do you want to change?” he asked as he lay her down.
Rylee reached out, resting her hand on his chest. “Can I wear this?”
Dakota tugged off his T-shirt and handed it to her.
Rylee undressed, dropping her things in a pile beside the bed. “Mmm, this is warm and soft, nice. Thank you.” She lay back, and Dakota tucked the covers around her.
“Do you want me in here with you?” Dakota crouched beside her and swept the hair from her face, kissing her lightly. “Or do you want me on the couch?”
“Here.” She wiggled over to make room for him on that side of the bed. “Can Tank be on the bed?”
“No, but he can lie beside you so you can reach him.” Dakota signaled to Tank around the bed, where he plopped down with a satisfied sigh. “What do you want me to wear? I can leave on what I’m wearing now, or I have gym shorts.”
“Whatever you normally wear,” Rylee murmured.
He hesitated.
“Yeah, if you sleep naked, that’s okay too. I’m asking you into my bed, Dakota. After all, we caught up on the first two months of dating in one night.”
He chuckled. “Oh, so that’s what we were doing?”
“If you’re okay with it. And if you’d like,” Rylee lifted her hand to point toward the bathroom, “I have condoms in my medicine cabinet.”
Chapter Twenty
Rylee
Saturday
Rylee was lying awake in bed, trying not shift around restlessly because she didn’t want to wake Dakota. It felt wonderful that he had scooped around her in his sleep. And the arm that rested over her, with his hand gently on her shoulder, felt protective.
