Like I’m in a trance, I’m already moving to lie down next to her. Reaching out, I pinch a few strands of red hair. “I couldn’t leave if I wanted to. Get some sleep. I won’t budge until you’re out.”
Even if I want to pull her to my chest and cradle her close, my worries are genuine. I plan to keep my word, even if my body is going against it entirely.
Satisfied with my answer, she dips her chin with a nod and curls up on her side. Facing me, I can’t miss the curve on her lips.
It’s that smile of hers that keeps chipping away at my heart, claiming each piece one chunk at a time.
7
Emery
I don’t know what time it is when I wake up, but when I do, I’m surrounded by both darkness and warmth. Breathing in, there’s that pine smell that I’m growing addicted to as well.
It’s not the blankets on the bed that I’m snuggling my face into, but Callan’s chest.
His breathing is slow, and it’s clear that he must have accidentally fallen asleep waiting for me to do the same. Maybe I shouldn’t have encouraged us to stay up for an extra hour just talking about the silliest of things.
Can I be blamed? Despite my body needing the rest, my mind was wide awake after what he had me experience. That pleasure… Just thinking about it now has me getting wound up all over again.
I should close my eyes and go back to sleep, but what’s to say the direction of my dreams won’t be what wakes me up again?
Sighing against his chest, I turn and realize he’s got his arm locked securely around me like a bar. It seems like I’m not going anywhere. All I can do is twist around so all that heat is pressed against my back instead.
I’m pretty sure any inch of my body he touches is meant to feel good. Even now, I just want to soak up all the heat he has to give.
With my movement, the moment he shifts, I realize I’ve woken him up. Like me, from the sudden stiffness of his body, he’s confused at first. But then he relaxes, and I feel his breath tickle my neck.
Unsure if I should pretend I’m asleep or not, I make up my mind when he tries to lift his arm. It’s embarrassing how quickly I clutch it to keep it in space. Through the darkness, he can’t see the heat on my cheeks or the desperation on my face.
“Don’t go.” Curling against him, I feel the rumble that vibrates in his chest as sleep coats my plea. “It’s okay, really.”
He pauses long enough to probably try to make up his mind.
To make it easier, I grab his hand against my stomach and squeeze it. “I like the way it feels when you touch me.” Moving his hand is easy now that he’s alert, and I don’t miss the noise he makes when I drag his palm up my chest to feel my racing heart. Will that be enough to convince him?
“Emery…” His voice is scratchy in all the right ways when he’s tired. Instead of lingering where my heart is, he groans and moves slightly to cup my breast. “Can’t you see that’s where the issue is? All I want to do is touch you.”
His words are all I need to realize that we both have different definitions of touching. However, I think I like his more. Especially when I feel his fingers pinch my nipple and pluck it through the shirt.
Now the heat is flooding back. Not just because of memories, but because of the present, too.
Arching against him, I can’t help the moan that slips past my lips. Squirming with him at my back, I can feel every inch of his body. That includes the stiff part of him digging into my lower back.
“Fuck, you’re a sensitive little thing, aren’t you?” Like he can’t help himself, he does it again with the same result, cursing again beneath his breath.
Lifting my hands, I start undoing buttons. Wanting to be able to feel him directly against my skin, I don’t miss the groan that leaves him once he realizes what I’m doing.
“You’re making this hard…” Despite his complaints, he stops only long enough to finish the top three before pulling the flaps open. Then he pulls away, much to my dismay. Before I can complain, the dim light from his lamp is flooding the room.
Now he sees me entirely. Flushed and naked for his hungry gaze to devour.
I don’t think either of us is thinking about sleep now. But now, Callan is scowling so deeply, I can’t help but wonder what’s wrong.
“What is it?”
His throat bobs as his eyes flicker around like he can’t decide which part of my body he wants to look at more. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I want to do far more than touch you.”
I like how honest he is, and from the way he isn’t even looking at my leg, I know what he’s referring to. I don’t know how he knows that I’m a virgin, but I can hear it in his voice.
