“Poppy, Poppy, Poppy. We have had this discussion already. Do I need to remind you again about how well I’m acquainted with your body? I’m looking forward to packing those items the most.” He laughs at me, but there’s that fire in his eyes that I haven’t seen for so long.
“Don’t care, not happening. Those drawers are off limits to you.” My cheeks are getting hotter, and I’m sure he can see me blushing now.
“Oh, that sounds like you might be hiding things you don’t want me to see.” Asshole, he knows what’s happening here. The moment I stepped into my room again, my mind went back to the last morning I was here. I was running late because I had a very hot dream about Landon and needed my trusty vibrator to help me out before work. Then I just threw it in the drawer beside my bed right on top of my panties. I knew I didn’t have time to clean it properly, and I was going to do it that night. So now my vibrator’s sitting in there, on top of the underwear I need to pack, covered in four-day-old me.
For fuck’s sake.
“Landon, I mean it!” My voice is getting high-pitched as I frantically try to push up onto my feet again. But it’s not easy getting off this low soft surface of the bed.
“Stop that,” he says as he stands in front of me. “I don’t want you falling.”
I tilt my head up to look at him. “You look so big from down here.” And as soon as the words leave my mouth, I see the smirk rise on his face. “Tall, you know… as in length—shit, I mean your height… Fuck, I give up.” Flopping onto my back on the bed, I lift my arm to cover my eyes in embarrassment. “It’s the drugs, I don’t make sense,” I mumble as I feel his legs brush along the outside of mine. The bed dips on one side of me, while he takes my hand and lifts it off so he can see my eyes.
“You already know the length, sweetheart,andwhat it’s capable of. Now, I love that you have your own guilty pleasures in this bed, but it’s not necessary to pack that in your suitcase for Boston. I guarantee you, it won’t be needed. Not. Once.” His words are so smooth that it’s like melted chocolate slowly pouring over my body, with a warming sensation that has me wanting more.
“You’re cruel,” I whisper.
“You started this.” His eyes fall to my chest where I know my nipples are hard as rock, confirming to him what being this close and his raspy voice is doing to me.
“Then you finish it.” I want him to touch me, anywhere. I shouldn’t want it right now, but I do.
He drops his head. “Fuck,” he says under his breath like he’s not able to look me in the eye. His body moves quickly, and he stands again, walking himself back so he isn’t touching me.
“We can’t. We both know that.” His voice almost sounds like he’s in pain. A quick glance at his jeans and I’m sure he’s uncomfortable. Lifting his hands to the top of his head andlinking them together, he sighs and turns around with his back to me.
Pushing myself back to sitting, I feel guilty for putting him in this position.
“Landon,” I say gently.
“We need to pack. Just tell me which drawer not to open.” I watch him take a deep breath before he turns and faces me again, and it’s like he’s flipped a switch. The commanding Landon is back.
“Okay.” I nod to him, acknowledging he’s right.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he checks the time. Clapping his hands together, he smiles at me. “Right, tell me where to start. Time’s ticking, and we’re not missing that flight.”
It snaps us both out of our lust-fueled moment to concentrate on the job at hand.
“I’ve put her suitcases on the bed in her room so you’re not bending over to unpack them, Mrs. B,” Landon announces as he comes back into my mom’s living room where she has me seated on the couch. There are enough pillows both around me and under my leg that we could open a pillow store.
“Thank you, Landon,” she replies as she brings in the tray with some glasses full of iced lemonade on it, as well as a plate of cookies and her famous cinnamon rolls. “Please sit, I’ve got you something to drink after your long trip.” Placing the tray on the coffee table, she motions for him to sit beside me.
“That’s kind of you, but I really need to go. I want to see the boys, and I’m surprised they haven’t come banging on your door by now.” He stands with his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.
“Oh shoot, of course you do. Just wait here and let me pack up some cookies and rolls for you to take home. I might have baked up a storm the last few days.” Mom is already walking out of the room, still talking to herself in the kitchen.
“Great idea, because I’m sure they need more sugar.” He rolls his eyes as he rocks back and forth on his feet.
“Hey, cut them some slack, they deserve a reward for being so good while you were away.” I giggle, thinking about the photo Felix sent us while we were waiting to board the plane in Rochester. It was of the cracked glass on the painting in Landon’s family room. There was a rogue game controller that got loose in a very intense game of bowling. He also sent a few snaps of the look of sheer panic on the boys’ faces at what they’d done. Landon, being the father he is, FaceTimed them straight away so they weren’t distressed for too long. Being firm with them that they need to be more careful, but then softening so they knew they weren’t in too much trouble and he still loved them.
“I love that you believe Felix, Adrian, and your mother that they were perfect little angels. Considering you spent two weeks with them over Christmas, you know that can’t be true.” He rolls his eyes at me.
We’re both making idle conversation, trying to avoid the important words that need to be said.
Mom comes hustling back into the room with the container full of goodies for the boys but stops short, as she takes in the awkward silence.
“I just need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be back in a moment, Poppy. Say hello to the boys for me, Landon.” She gives him a squeeze of the arm and then is gone again. Who knows if she even needed to go or if she knew we needed to talk and she’s giving us some space.
“I’d better get going.” He steps closer, standing in front of me. I wish I could just jump up and hug him, but it’ll take me almost ten minutes to get myself off this couch. And five of those minutes will be needed just to clear all the pillows.
