“And you’re a perfect fit for me.” He branded her throat with more kisses, and he might be purposely scraping his rough beard over her skin just to mark her more.
When she climbed out of this bed, he wanted her to feel how thoroughly he’d claimed her. And when she looked in the mirror, he wanted her to knowwhohad claimed her.
Crew rolled into the thick covers, dragging her with him so one thigh draped over his hip and she cuddled into his shoulder. Her gentle breath felt like the softest summer breeze against his skin.
“My downstairs neighbor is going to wonder what those noises were.” She twisted her face against his shoulder and shook with a giggle.
“What will you tell them?”
“That I had an extra-heavy potted palm I was trying to move?” She burst out laughing.
He studied her, memorized her beautiful features that, as she laughed, transformed into something spectacular. “If your neighbor knows anything about you, they’ll believe it.” He pressed a kiss over her temple. “The first time I saw you was with a dead plant.”
“And I stuck my foot in my mouth.” She sobered.
He directed a lock of rich, red-brown hair off her cheekbone. “I don’t remember you sticking your foot in your mouth.”
She pulled back to search his eyes. “You don’t? Well, I rambled on, using some military terms and thanking you for your service.” She compressed her lips. “After you left, the clerk told me you were on the Black Heart. I didn’t know what that meant, so I asked my boss.”
“I’m touched that you went to the trouble to ask. But I don’t want it to weigh on you. You didn’t know, and none of us want people walking on eggshells around us either.”
Lip trapped in her teeth, she nodded. “It was great to work with some of the guys today. Do you think they’ll come back to the garden?”
He smoothed his hand over her back, and her skin pebbled in response. “Why wouldn’t they? They loved you.”
She giggled. “I wasn’t sure after that story I told. Not everybody likes my weird stories.”
“Not weird. Quirky.” He stroked his hand back up to her shoulder blade. “You’re quirky. And it doesn’t matter if everyone doesn’t love that about you because I do.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
With a soft sigh, she settled against him. “Thank you for being so supportive, Crew.”
Warm heat spread through his chest, and he tightened his hold on her.
“From the start, you were a nice guy, picking up the pots of what you call dead plants.”
He arched a brow, amusement tipping the corner of his mouth. “You mean theyaren’tdead?”
She laughed. “No. In fact, they’re thriving.”
“No way.”
Her deep green eyes twinkled. “I can show you.”
“Lead the way.”
They slipped out of bed. She grabbed a dark green robe from the end and padded from the room, bare feet whispering on the carpet. He saw so many plants lined up in front of the bathroom window, some lush and some only sprouts. But all were reaching toward the sun.
He could only shake his head. “You have such a special gift, Fern.”
Her eyes glowed as she stared up at him.
He closed the gap between them, cradling her face in his palm. “You’re such a special person…” Then rougher, more honest, he said, “To me.” His throat clicked as he swallowed hard.
“Oh, Crew…”
They stared into each other’s eyes for so long that he forgot that just weeks ago, he lived his life without Fern in it.
She slid her hand up his nape and into his hair. “Stay the night with me.” Her brow creased. “Are you allowed to do that?”
