Gods, it was nice to wake up to him like this. I couldn’t believe this was real, that I was really here.
Remi crept off of me and over to Alistair out of desperation.
“He’s a persistent little thing,” he said, his voice gravelly from sleep.
I groaned again. “You’re telling me. Twice a day, every day. I’m the food bitch.”
“Well, while you’re here, I’m more than happy to be the food bitch if you tell me what I need to do. The two of you are my guests.”
I could never get Don to help make our kids breakfast and get them ready for school, but here was Alistair offering to take care of my cat.
He made an amazing partner.
“Why don’t I feed him breakfast, and you can do dinner? I might as well get up and do my morning yoga while I’m at it.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against his body. “You don’t want me to make you some breakfast first?”
I ran my hands through his curls, admiring how his long lashes fanned out over his chestnut eyes. “I like to get my morning practice in before I eat. But you’re more than welcome to have breakfast waiting for me when I’m done.”
He gave me one of his signature lopsided smiles. “It would be my pleasure. Why don’t you set up in the living room? You can look out over the valley while you practice yoga, and I can watch you from the kitchen.”
“You want to watch me?” I asked in shock.
He nodded, his horn rustling back and forth over the pillow. “Of course I do. You. In tight spandex. Moving your body in all sorts of ways. Why wouldn’t I want to watch that?”
He had a point there.
I wouldn’t mind seeing him in spandex, either.
“Alright. Since you’re making me breakfast, I guess you can watch.”
I kissed his pink, velvety nose, but when I tried to get up, he pulled me tighter.
“Pam.” He caressed my cheek with his thumb, and my heart fluttered. “I’m really happy you’re here.”
“I’m happy I’m here, too.” All of it was worth it. The distance, the flight, everything. Sharing these moments with Alistair, in person, was worth it all.
Remi jumped on my shoulder, digging his nails in to maintain his balance.
“Alright, alright!” I hissed and shooed him off. “I’m coming.”
Alistair finally released me from his grip, and I reluctantly climbed out of bed. The moment my feet hit the floor, a shiver rattled through me.
Shit, he kept this place cold, but then again, I wasn’t covered in hair.
Remi sat on Alistair’s chest, getting pets and waiting patiently while I rifled through my suitcase.
I’d packed quite a few sets of matching tank tops and leggings for the trip, but ultimately decided on an olive green set—one that matched my favorite scarf and my eyes.
Alistair rose up on his elbows and whistled. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to focus on cooking breakfast with you looking like that. I might get distracted and burn the pancakes.”
I slid my glasses onto my face, laughing. “Someone is flirtatious this morning.”
“You’re just so beautiful I can’t help myself.”
“Thank you.” My cheeks heated, and I bent over to grab my yoga supplies and the sequence Chai had written for me. “I’m going to head down and get Remi fed.”
Alistair stretched with a deep yawn before rolling out of bed. He walked over to me slowly, his sweatpants sitting just below his belly and his hairy chest displayed in all its glory.
