“That is so sweet of you. I may take you up on that offer.” Where did that boldness come from? She wasn’t usually so forward when it came to sex.
As Blake kissed her again, this time with a mouth also minty fresh, a yawn escaped. When he pulled back and frowned, she apologized. “I’m sorry.”
“Am I boring you? I’ll have to step up my game.”
“Your game is perfect. I’m just so tired. I think I could sleep all day.”
“I can arrange that, if it’s what you want to do.”
“I’m not sure that what you have in mind involves sleeping. Maybe only the staying in bed part.”
“We could do both. Come here.” He plumped the pillows behind their backs and arranged the blankets. “Are you warm enough now?”
Since he’d stoked the fire when he’d gotten up, the room was very comfortable. The warmth from Blake was a different kind of heat. She’d have to watch that she didn’t get burned. But if he hadn’t slept with anyone in a while, then she doubted he was the kind of guy to go around hurting women. Right?
“Are you an early riser or a night owl?” she asked. His hand felt heavenly stroking her neck and shoulder.
“I like waking up early and getting a jump start on the day. You’re more of a night owl, I’m guessing.”
She hid another yawn. “How could you tell? Yeah, I wish I could jump out of bed early and get moving, but I’d rather stay up late, especially if I have a good book.”
“Or me?” Those wiggling eyebrows again mixed with the dimples, they were killer.
“Yes, you. I’d stay up all night for you.” Holy cow, had she just said that? She had, and for some strange reason she didn’t feel awkward about it. Sitting here in bed with him, chatting as if they were in a coffee shop, felt right.
Blake turned toward the window, cocked his head, then looked back at her.
“What did you hear?”
“The wind. It’s strong out there right now.”
“Can you tell me what else you hear? Describe it for me. I’ll show you how to sign it all.”
For the next half hour, Blake told her about the howling wind that blew branches to scratch the side of the building. The fire crackling, snapping, and hissing as the flames grew tamer. Footsteps from above moving quickly, some light, others heavy. As she did the signs, he repeated them.
“Excellent job signing today. I think it’s time for your reward.”
“What kind of reward are we talking about? Something good? Like I gave you earlier?”
“Even better.” It was Carli’s turn to waggled her eyebrows as she reached in the bedside drawer next to her. As she drew out the box they’d opened last night, she said, “A reward where we’ll need these.”
Blake’s eyes got big, and a grin split his lips. “My favorite kind.”
Chapter eighteen
Blake took the last of the chicken from the grill and put it on a plate that he handed to Carli. After turning off the gas, he picked up the pan holding the vegetables with a towel and closed the top. He’d cover it again once they’d eaten. It was cold today, too cold to be standing outside cooking on a grill, but the power still wasn’t on. Two days without heat and electric was harder than he thought. On the other hand, going through this with Carli had made it a lot more tolerable.
He stepped into his apartment and kicked off his shoes while Carli closed the slider behind him. After depositing the food on the table, they sat and dished some onto their plates.
“This is excellent. You’ll have to cook for me every night.” Carli’s smug expression was adorable. He was glad they’d made the effort to shovel off part of the balcony. Two days with only cold food wouldn’t have been fun.
“I’d be happy to.” And the truth was he would be. The more time he spent with her, the more he realized how important she was becoming in his life. He was still struggling with the sign language when her CIs were out, but they’d managed over the past few days. He signed what he knew and spoke the rest. Her lip-reading skills were excellent.
“Maybe we—” Suddenly, the lights came on.
“Power! Yes!” Carli pumped her hands in the air.
“So I didn’t have tostandout in thecold and cook our lunch.I could have waited.”
