Noah smiles softly. “You don’t. You look cared for, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying it,” he replies simply, and I melt a little. “And I like taking care of you.” Okay, I melt a lot.
When he finishes, he tosses the cloth into the hamper and grabs a pair of clean sweats and a T-shirt from the dresser for me, and another set for himself.
“Here you go,” he says, offering me the clothes before peeling off his own and cleaning himself off with another cloth I hadn’t realized he’d brought in. He’s standing there naked, and all I can do is stare. His body is a work of art, carved from hours at the gym. Sun-kissed skin and golden hair. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. How did it take me so long to notice that?
I have the urge to ask him to turn around so I can finally get a good look at his compass tattoo, but I feel too awkward to speak the words.
I dress slowly, fingers clumsy with leftover adrenaline, watching the way his muscles flex as he pulls his clothes on. His top is a little big on me, he’s much broader than I am, but it smells like him. I drag the neckline up to my nose and breathe it in. And of course, he catches me, giving me a sly grin and a wink as heat rushes to my cheeks.
God, this man needs to stop winking at me, or I might actually combust.
When we’re both dressed, Noah slips under the blanket again and pats the space beside him with a playful smile.
“You look good in my clothes, baby.”
I climb in with roaring red cheeks, the warmth of him already seeping into me.
He pulls the covers up around us, and he’s close enough that I can feel his breath against my temple. “You should get used tothis,” he murmurs, “because I want to take care of you like this every chance I get, if you’ll let me.”
The promise makes my chest feel funny. It’s not a bad feeling, more like there’s something too big trying to fit where it never has before. But what makes me feel like I could float is that he said,if you’ll let me.
He nuzzles into my neck. “Let’s cuddle for a bit longer.”
I curl closer until my nose brushes his throat. I let my eyes fall shut, holding onto him.
31
NOAH
Gabe’s still asleep, curled against me when I blink awake again. The room is brighter now, meaning we’ve been here a while. I’m probably going to be late to work, but I can’t find it in me to care, not when I get to hold him like this. He’s facing me, my arm draped over his waist where I left it, my palm warm against his back. His face looks so peaceful, devoid of the worry that usually creeps in when he’s awake. He looks younger, jaw relaxed, mouth parted. I want him to sleep this well every night, free of nightmares, and waking in my arms.
Every time I get to share one of these simple moments of intimacy with him, I fall a little deeper. It’s in the quiet—in the moments he holds my gaze longer than he would anyone else’s, when his fingers slip into mine, when he’s having a bad day and lets me hold him.
What happened earlier is on my mind. The way he froze, the way he stayed anyway. Gave me more of himself. And then he grinded against me until we both came like a couple of horny teenagers.
I stare at the ceiling for a moment, grinning like an idiot. My grin falters as all the pieces click together in my mind—how he jolted when I grabbed his ass as he straddled me last week, the fact that he panicked when I put my weight on him this morning. Everything he told me after his nightmare the other evening. I’ll be more careful. I understand now he isn’t interested in being touched like that.
But I can’t help wondering if he wants to touchmethat way.
I’ve never bottomed before. I like to use toys on myself now and then, but I’ve never been in the type of relationship where I trusted someone enough to fuck me. Never trusted anyone enough to be that vulnerable with them.
I trust Gabe, though. More than anyone else in my life. I’d let him do whatever he wanted to me. And if all he ever wants is what we have now, I’ll enjoy every second of it.
He wiggles beside me, stretching a little before his eyes blink open. His hair’s a mess, and his lips are still swollen from kissing.
“Morning, again,” I murmur, brushing my fingers through his hair. The dark waves are so thick and soft, he leans into my touch further, eyes fluttering.
His lips twitch. “Morning, again.”
Neither of us makes a move to get up right away. We lie there, tucked under the duvet, facing each other. It feels easy. Like we’ve done this a hundred mornings in a row.
Eventually, Gabe sighs. “I should get up. Need to open the store.”
I groan into my pillow. “I don’t wanna adult, I’d rather cuddle all day.”
He laughs at my expense. “We could do that the next time we both have a day off.”
“Really?” I ask excitedly, making him smile and nod.
