My disappointment is no match for how damn cute she is. I study her, wondering at what point it’s creepy to stand by herbed and stare. Her dark lashes are stark against her cheeks. A few fingers twitch a moment before she rolls to her side, tucking her hands under her chin. She curls her legs up.
Her phone is almost falling out of her back pocket, so I carefully slip it out and she stays asleep, which she obviously needs more than an orgasm. I set the phone on the nightstand by a small lamp and a framed picture of two little girls with dark hair sitting on a bench that has their dad’s name. The youngest of the girls has a big grin, missing teeth, and the older girl appears to be scrutinizing the camera or whoever is the photographer. A young Elodie was still a serious Elodie.
Next, I take one of the blankets that’s not completely under her and drape it over her.
I could leave, but if she wakes up and I’m gone, will she think I ditched her when I couldn’t get laid? If I stay and she wakes up to me, will she scream at me to leave because I smashed past another boundary? I don’t know. But I don’t want to leave.
I’m going to risk her wrath. I’d rather she be angry with me than hurt by me. Besides, waking up beside Elodie won’t be a bad way to experience a Monday morning.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Elodie
When my phone’s alarm goes off, I bolt upright. My memory’s a haze, but the blaring tone keeps me sitting up. What happened? Where am I? When did I go to bed?
A male groan vibrates beside me, and I freeze. Who’s with me?
The chimes of my alarm continue to ring as the fog dissipates from my brain. Cruz and my family get-together. Cruz and I making out. Cruz stopping my blow job. Me about to get laid. And then what?
He was over me, and he was going to beinme, and then he went to check the locks. Horror swamps me. Did I fall asleep? I pat myself and look down. My shirt and bra are in place and my shorts are still on.
“Goddamn, sugar.” His sleep-roughened voice sounds so out of place in my small apartment. “How early do you get up?”
“What are you still doing here? Where’s my phone?” My eyes adjust with the nightlight and I find my phone on the nightstand on the other side of Cruz.
He’s sprawled on his back with a hand tucked behind his head. His chest is gloriously bare, but thanks to the covers, I can’t see the rest. Without opening his eyes, he grabs my phone and hands it to me.
“Early.” I silence the alarm. “I usually set a different time for Monday so I can sleep longer, but I have to make up for last night.” Speaking of... I’m still confused. If I fell asleep, why is he still here? “What happened?”
“You gave me fabulous head and then passed out like a sex goddess who’s been up for seven days straight.” He cracks open an eye. “I didn’t want to leave and have you think that just because I didn’t get some, I jetted.”
My confused panic fades and my heart rate returns to a normal rate. If he wasn’t here, I’d still be fretting about how much I disappointed him. “That’s sweet.”
“It was a good excuse to get more time with you.” He rolls up and his abs crinkle.
My mouth goes dry at the sight, but since I didn’t brush my teeth last night before falling asleep, I scoot to the edge of the bed and let my legs hang over. “I seriously fell asleep?”
“A regular Sleeping Beauty.”
My cheeks warm. I might’ve daydreamed about cuddling with him, but not passing out without getting to enjoy him. “But it couldn’t have taken you more than a minute to check the locks.”
“You were tired. You’ve been working hard.” He sets his feet on the floor. “What are we baking this morning?”
“Cruz!” I twist and prop a leg on the bed. “You aren’t staying to work. You have your own job.”
He stands and yawns, scratching the back of his neck. His navy-blue boxers don’t do much to hold back his morning wood. Ugh. I fell asleep onthat?
He catches me looking and smirks. “I’m up, and I like the company. Gimme a hairnet, and I’ll do the dishes or something. I’ll ask Lane to check on my critters. Rufus usually joins whoever’s doing chores and gets some treats.”
“You haven’t gotten much sleep.”
“Neither have you. The sooner we get your baking done, the quicker I can finally get you naked.” He gives my thigh a pointed look. “I haven’t seen those flowers yet.”
“It’s my mom’s bouquet.” I lift the hem of my shorts. I never get to show them off, and this one is my favorite. “I took one of my parents’ wedding pictures to the artist.”
“Got any more?”
“Pictures? Yes.” I flash him a secretive smile. “You want to see?”
