CHAPTER 15
Bailey
I woketo the rustle of clothing. I reached out, hand sliding over cool sheets, and lifted my head with a confused sound.
“I’m here.” Flynn’s weight made the bed dip by my thigh. He brought the scent of sandalwood and cinnamon with him. One of his trademark toothpicks was tucked into the corner of his mouth. “Gotta get to work.”
I reached up to tug his beard until he bent over me. “Gonna leave without a goodbye kiss?”
He plucked the toothpick from his mouth and set it over one ear. “Never.”
He kissed me, even though I probably tasted foul, and smoothed my hair back from my forehead. “I wish I didn’t have to go, but I can’t afford to fuck this up. I’m too close to the end of the probationary period.”
“It’s okay,” I said with a sigh. “Tricky diagnostics will wait for no man.”
Flynn and I had talked shop between orgasms and emotional confessions last night. I’d given him a few tips to try on a vehiclethat was refusing to start consistently but seemed fine in every other way.
Probably an electrical problem. Those were a bitch to nail down.
“You’re heading back to college today?” Flynn asked tentatively.
“Yeah. The tuition is paid, so I might as well try to pass my classes.”
“Such enthusiasm,” he teased.
I grimaced. “I’m trying. It’s not really my thing, but I’m not a quitter either.”
“Hmm. Tough spot to be in.”
“Yep,” I said, popping theP.
It was nice that someone understood my conundrum. I appreciated the opportunity Holden worked so hard to give me. I really did. It just wasn’trightfor me, and I didn’t know how to break that to him without letting him down. And letting down Holden would be letting myself down too. I owed him pretty much everything good in my life. When Mom died, Dad became an even bigger asshole. I never could have come out the other side so unscathed without Holden stepping in and taking care of everyone.
But these thoughts were too mopey for a morning with my new hot-as-fuck boyfriend.
I patted his chest. “Go show that Malibu who’s boss.”
“Text me when you get back so I know you made it safe, okay?”
I nodded. “Do you need me to get out of here?”
“Nah. Take your time. Leave when you’re ready. There are egg burritos in the freezer. Coffee is already brewed in the pot. It’s not much, but it’s what I got.”
“Sounds great,” I said. “You better go before I pull you back into this bed with me.”
He traced my lips with his index finger, looking tempted. I grinned and licked his fingertip, tasting salty skin.
He groaned and leaned down to give me a hard and fast kiss, then pushed up and away from the bed.
“Drive safe!” he called on his way out the door.
I only had one class today, and I was doing surprisingly well in chemistry because the instructor enjoyed getting a little more hands-on with demonstrations and experiments. So, I went back to sleep for a couple of hours before getting up, showering, and heating up a cup of coffee.
I looked at Flynn’s bed and thought about making it for him, but I liked the idea of him coming home to rumpled sheets tonight and remembering everything we’d done there.
Goose bumps rose on my skin. Damn. I still couldn’t believe it had finally happened. I’d fantasized about Flynn for months, but sexy images in my head while I touched myself couldn’t compare to the real weight and strength and smell and taste of him. He’d been gentler than in my fantasies. Sweeter too. But that tracked.
Flynn looked like a beast, but inside, he was a gentleman.
