His loud chuckle echoes through the bathroom. “Hey, don’t judge my cuddle cravings.”
“Never.” I rinse my toothbrush and drop it into the holder. “Woman” by Kesha has been stuck in my head all day, so I grab my hairbrush and use it as a microphone while I lip-sync.
I’m rocking pretty hard, so I almost miss it when Luca grumbles, “What the fuck?”
Turning, I watch his silhouette through the steamy glass. “What the fuck, what?”
“Uh, nothing.”
“Didn’t sound like nothing.”
He turns off the water and opens the shower door, shaking his head with his nose crinkled. I love how adorable he looks when he’s confused.
There’s a grin on my face when I hand him a fresh towel. “Did you find my hair in your butt crack?”
His eyes go wide. “YES! How the actual fuck?”
I shrug, putting my brush down next to my collection of dry shampoos and body sprays. “Welcome to living with a girl, Beefcake.”
“The nightstand covered in shit? That I expected. The clothes on the floor, too. And that,” he motions at the counter with his chin while he runs the towel down his chest, “didn’t surprise me one bit. But hair getting caught between my ass cheeks? That I was not prepared for.”
“I could move back into Lil’s room,” I offer innocently.
He pins me with a glare. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
“You sure? That’s not the last time it’s gonna happen.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll deal.” He hangs the towel up. “You ready for bed?”
I nod and pick up a bottle of lotion. “Just about.”
He kisses my forehead before walking intothe bedroom. “Baby, what time do you want me to wake you up to come workout with me tomorrow?”
“As late as possible,” I say, rubbing the last of the lotion into my skin.
“Alright, I’ll get up early, toss you in bed with Lil for a couple hours, then come wake you both up.”
I stop in the door frame to take a few seconds to simply look at him standing naked next to the bed. “I’m not loving these super early mornings,” I pout. “I like waking up with you for the day best.”
“I know, me too. I just need to make up some time before the fight Saturday night. Tomorrow’s the last early day for a while, I promise.” He turns to look at me, and like always, I feel adored. Even though he just saw me a minute ago. Even though I’m standing here in a pair of period panties.
He’s never made me feel like my scars are ugly or like I need to hide them from him. He kisses them all almost every night, even the dog bite on my ankle. Tonight, he strides toward me and runs his thumb over the scars on my chest before dropping his head to kiss them.
I bury my hands in his hair. “Luca,” I whisper.
He raises his head, and his lips meet mine softly as he picks me up, his strong hands on my ass, and he takes me to bed. “Time to cuddle my girl.”
I wake with a jolt and a whimper. My whole body shivers as I try to shake the nightmare away. Luca’s arms tighten around me. “I’ve got you, baby. I’m right here,” he whispers. I take a couple of deep breaths, letting everything Luca seep in and calm me. His touch,his voice, his scent, his heartbeat against my back. It all melts into me, and I melt into him. I turn in his arms. He kisses my forehead, then my lips when I tilt my face up to him.
“Thank you for being mine, Luca.”
“There’s nothing I’d rather be than yours, Ariana.”
I fall back to sleep, safe and loved, cradled against my husband’s chest.
Chapter 79
I can make lists, too
