She stirred in my arms, her lips parting as she slept soundly. I smiled, tucking her golden hair back and kissing her nose. She looked like an angel when she was asleep. And a bratty demon when she was awake.
My eyes shot open when her phone blared with an alarm, making her jerk in sleep. “Shh,” I said gently, patting her head, and stopped the alarm, noting the time.
It was six in the morning. We had stayed up till two before she passed out and I cuddled her to sleep.
Sunlight scattered through the curtains, falling over the bed and warming our feet. I stretched, her body closing over me to leech the warmth, making me chuckle.
“Bad… pillow,” she muttered, her cheeks puffy. Gosh, she was adorable. Getting angry at a ‘pillow’ in her sleep.
I moved slowly, careful not to wake her up. I tucked her hair behind her ear and brushed my lips on her forehead. She was so perfect for me.
Wearing my boxers and a robe, I went downstairs to make breakfast for us. She must be starving. Her stomach couldn’t stop rumbling the entire night. I wanted to wake her up and feed her, but she was sleeping so peacefully that I let her get some rest.
My eyes fell on the tub of tiramisu in the fridge and the crochet thing on the kitchen island. She had brought them with her to surprise me. Imagining her baking and crocheting while thinking about me made my heart beat faster. Chelsea had made those things forme.
And I had surprised her with my ex in my house.
Sighing, I closed the fridge. I felt conflicted that she didn’t tell me about the loan shark’s debt or the emotional trauma she had regarding finances since her father couldn’t provide for her family.
I called my friend, and he picked it up after three rings. “It’s six in the morning, asshole,” Derek greeted me, his voice groggy.
“Good morning to you too,” I said. “I need you to make me a contract.”
I heard some shuffling and a woman’s voice in the background.Uh-oh, must have disturbed his one-night-stand. “Didn’t I already make you one?”
He had, but Chelsea was only supposed to be a good girl for me without any intimacy between us. I wanted her to kneel for me when I’m working or sit on my lap whenever I wanted to touch her. No kissing. No oral sex. No penetration.
And absolutely no falling in love.
But things had changed ever since I had to get to know her better. I wanted to protect her and make her mine.
“Make another one,” I said, turning on the heat of the stove. “With different clauses.”
He stayed quiet for a moment before saying, “You’re insane.”
“I’ll give you two coupons for my restaurant,” I persuaded him.
Again, he stayed silent for a few seconds. “Deal.”
I smirked. “I knew you would give in.”
He scoffed, “That’s your parent’s restaurant, not yours.”
“Potato.Potato,” I said in a sing-song voice. I chuckled when he cursed at me once more before ending the call.
Hearing light footsteps behind me, I turned around to see Chelsea. I almost dropped my phone, seeing her in my shirt and a blanket wrapped around her. Nothing else.
Her eyes were sleepy, her blond hair was in a bedhead and she looked so fucking pretty. Like an angel. A clumsy one as she bumped into the stool. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” She asked, yawning.
I leaned over the island as she sat down and poked her nose. “Good morning, pretty girl.”
She flushed, swatting my hand away. “I look?—”
“Gorgeous,” I finished her sentence, petting her head.
I cooked our breakfast, eggs and toast, while she watched me, dozing on and off.
Serving the food with blueberry yogurt, I told her about the tiramisu. “How did you know I love tiramisu? It’s my favorite desert.”
