Trudging up the stairs. The sun is coming up, and we’ll have to get up in a few hours, but at least I’ll get that.
Hopefully Naomi sleeps in later than she normally does because I need the time.
Creeping into the quiet house, I get my boots off and check on Naomi. She’s still sound asleep. Closing her door quietly behind me, I go across the hall to shower.
Once I’m cleaned up, I sneak into my room with a towel around my waist. The door creaks and I wince, trying not to wake Mae up.
I search for some boxers and shorts, wincing as I open the creaking drawer.
“Cooper?” Mae calls, her voice groggy with sleep.
“I’m here,” I whisper.
She sighs and rolls over without another word, falling back asleep. Once I get dressed and slip into bed next to her. I’m more awake than I was when I got home, and all I want to do is stare at her.
Her black curly hair is all over the place, and her lips are slightly parted, the top a little thicker than her lower, and the most kissable I’veever tasted.
This is it. This is how I want to wake up every morning. Blood rushes in my ears with the realization and the reality of a ticking clock I’ve done everything to ignore. If I don’t figure out how to get her to stay, then I’m afraid she might leave with half my heart. The other half belongs to Naomi, but last time I checked, it’s hard to function with only half.
I need her to stay.
She sighs and opens her eyes. “Hi,” she whispers.
“I didn’t mean to wake you up. Go back to sleep,” I tell her, pushing some hair from her face.
“Everything go okay?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I tell her and pull closer. Her cheek rests on my chest.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she says.
“Did Naomi wake up?” I ask her.
“No,” she sighs.
“Good.”
She hums, and her breath evens out again.
“I think you’re it for me, stubborn,” I whisper and fall asleep with the woman of my dreams in my arms.
***
Warmth presses against my chest, and small kissing sounds bring me out of sleep.
I peek my eyes open to find Mae kissing my chest.
Lifting my head, she stops and smiles sleepily at me.
“Damn, that’s pretty,” I rasp.
“What?” she asks.
“You. This,” I say and bring us to eye level.
“Good morning,” she says.
“What a good morning it is,” I rasp.
