She vaguely remembered that part now, too.
After stretching, she asked, “How long have I been out?”
“Only an hour.”
“Sorry to, uh, keep you in here. But thank you for staying with me. I bet you’re ready to go to bed now.”
John grinned, exposing his dimples, and driving her wild. “I’m in bed.” He stretched out, put his hands behind his head, and laid in that relaxing pose while continuing to smile at her.
Trixie couldn’t help but giggle. She also couldn’t help but look at his shirtless chest and washboard stomach. Wearing nothing but gray sweat-shorts, he was the sexiest thing she’d ever laid eyes on.
Her finger was tracing his right arm, going over the biceps, before she even realized what she was doing.
“Sorry,” she said, turning away in embarrassment.
When she tried to retract her hand, though, John took hold of her wrist and gently kept it in place.
“I’m not.”
She giggled again.
“Do you need me to stay with you tonight, honey? Or do you want some privacy? I’m good either way. Seriously.”
The answer was of course she wanted him to stay with her! And not juststay, either. There were plenty of inventive ways she could think of for how they could spend the night.
Now probably wasn’t the right time for all that. But beyond her desire, she didn’t want to be alone tonight.
Trixie fell against John’s chest and wrapped her arms around him, holding on tightly.
“I want you to stay. But are you comfortable with that?”
“You have no idea how comfortable.”
She giggled. But she had a pretty good idea she understood. “Will people talk?”
“Who cares?” He chuckled now. “But no. Not anybody in this house.”
She kissed his bare skin, sending electrical currents through her lips, and making her realize what she’d just done.
Crap, Trixie! Talk about throwing yourself at this man! Get it together.
He must have sensed the sudden stiffness and hesitancy in her body, because he shifted and repositioned her until he could look in her eyes. “Are you sure? Because if I’m moving too quickly just say the word and I’ll back off. Give you some space until you’re ready.”
“No!” she blurted out quickly, before burying her head back in his chest bashfully. After a few seconds to recover, she looked up again. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. And I don’t want to be alone tonight. But… I need it to be you… here with me.”
He studied her eyes for a moment, as if gauging her sincerity. He must have accepted what he saw, because he nodded and said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Trixie had a feeling he wasn’t just talking about tonight.
They stared into one another’s eyes for a moment before John put his hand beneath her chin and lightly guided her face up.
Their lips locked in a passionate kiss that nearly took her breath away. It ended too soon, but John seemed to have something else in mind.
“It’s late, honey. You need plenty of rest.”
Well, that sure wasn’t what Trixie had in mind. But her groan of protest was cut short by a yawn.
Darn. That just proved John’s point, she thought with a faint smile.
