“Oh.” I couldn’t look at his eyes. Mine were growing glassy and I didn’t want to do this right now. We’d been having such a lovely time and I-
“I rather think I’m growing attached to the smell of dried leaves,” he admitted, grinning but not pressing me for more, cutting in on my thoughts. Catching sight of the sheen in my eyes, he bent to look at me. Those pretty green eyes met mine. His thumb brushed over the corner of my eye. “I’m sorry. I did that.”
I shook my head to deny it, but he wasn’t buying it.
“Will was right, though,” he said suddenly, expression growing serious.
“About what?” I asked when he left it hanging like that.
“While it hurts my heart to know they’re there and it’s my fault…” His expression grew sad, “Will said your eyes are beautiful when you’re about to cry. He was right.”
Not sure how to respond to that, it didn’t matter. His lips pressed to my cheek, as if he meant to kiss away the tears glistening next, but I lifted my head and kissed him, our lips mashing in a quick, short, almost sloppy yet perfect meeting of mouths.
Long arms came around me, piano player’s hands, long, graceful fingers sliding up my back to hold me to him. With a soft rumble rattling his chest, he whispered against my mouth, “Stay with me.”
When I blinked my eyes open, the fog receding, he entreated, “Tonight. Stay with me.”
I wanted to say yes but a part of me still hesitated.
“I’ll make dinner,” he added quickly.
“Not alphabet pasta,” I blurted, then blushed until my face was hot.
“Not alphabet pasta,” he swore.
My hand lifted, fiddling with the flower still in his hair so it didn’t shake loose. His thick hair was coarse, and sprinkled with white that shined with hints of green. I rather liked it.
“I’m a little tired,” I whispered, closing my eyes to slowly press my forehead to his.
“It’s been a long day,” he agreed, shuddering and shivering as he inhaled deeply and then slowly let it out. “We could just go to bed…” Though his eyes were closed, I noted as mine cracked open to peek at him, his lips were twitching.
“You couldn't survive another round with me tonight.” I stopped hiding my smile as his eyes popped open, our faces so close his features looked distorted to me, and he blinked.
“Did you just-”
“It’s the truth. We both know it.” I wasn’t bullshitting him. A chuckle left me at the look on his face. “I’ll stay.If... if we snuggle.”
Gren stilled to pull back. “Really? I’ll go change the sheets.” Abandoning me to rush down the hall, I cocked my head when his receding steps came thundering back. “You should probably know now. I’m a heavy sleeper and I get hot easily, hence, the need for sheet changing.”
“I like the left side.” My shoulders lifted in a shrug. “It’s what I’m used to.”
“Anything else I should be aware of?” He looked so giddy I was waiting for him to whoop and jump into the air.
“If you snore, I’ll smother you with a pillow.” I didn’t smile.
Gren blinked like he was waiting for the punchline that never came. Slowly, he continued down the hall.
“But I might!” I called after him, grinning, wondering if I’d freaked him out. “Snore, that is.”
“You? Never! You’re an angel. My flower, you can do no wrong,” he shouted down the hall. “And if anyone should claim otherwise, I’ll smother them with a pillow.”
He was mad, completely bonkers, and yet… Why was I feeling so sweetly seduced?
∞∞∞
Too filled with nerves to think of eating, I’d passed on dinner to go straight to bed.
Yet now, wondering if he meant for us to actually sleep, standing on the left side of his large bed to stare down at the dark blue sheets and thick plaid comforter, I had to question my judgement, just hopping into bed with him like this, like I was about to do.
