“You need to be on your best behavior, Oreo.”
His black nose twitches. The small bundle of black-and-white fur looks up at me like I’m crazy. Which, I likely am because I’m telling my bunny to be on his best behavior. Not like he has any other kind of behavior.
He hops around in his play pen most of the day and eats and drinks whenever it’s time to feed him.
The perfect companion for me and my crazy schedule. When I’m gone on road trips, my older neighbor who lives across the hall with her cat watches him.
And now I’m bringing him over to Bex’s—my, well, I don’t know what to call her. Girlfriend isn’t appropriate. Partner doesn’t fit either.
Friends with benefits kind of fits the bill, but I feel like it cheapens what we have. A quick screw every now and then? Not really what we have.
Not something I need to worry about as I step out of my car and take Oreo into my arms. Before I can even knock, Bex is there, pulling open the door.
“Hey Ni— You brought Oreo!” Her eyes immediately drop to Oreo’s, whose nose is madly twitching away.
Using two gentle fingers, she strokes the fur between his eyes. Bex has the look on her face of anyone who comes into contact with something small and cute. Even though she’s already met him once, she’s still just as excited to see him again.
“I didn’t want to leave him at home since I’ve been gone most of the day.”
“Can I hold him?”
“Sure.” I pass him over and Bex coos at him as she walks inside.
“I’m so happy you’re feeling better, Oreo.” Bex sits down on the couch and cuddles him in her lap. Oreo only sniffs at her, investigating Bex now that he’s more like himself.
If you ask me, Bex sitting there with Oreo is about the cutest damn thing in the world.
“Noah wasn’t home to watch him?” Bex looks up at me with happy eyes. Makeup still lines her face, even though she changed out of her work clothes from earlier into a pair of yoga pants and a Black Diamonds T-shirt.
I shrug a shoulder and drop down next to her. “He had other plans, and I figured you wouldn’t mind having him over.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
“I’m glad.” I throw my arm around her on the back of the couch and pull her closer. The sweet, candy smell of her perfume infiltrates my every sense and scrambles my brain.
She nods, letting herself sink into my touch. “I’m also glad you didn’t think to tell other dates about this, because I’m glad I have this all to myself.”
“Mmm.” I drag my nose along her jaw and nip at her ear. “You do.”
She tilts her head, letting me kiss the exposed skin of her neck.
“All to myself,” Bex moans. “Nick…”
Fuck. Listening to how turned on she gets makes me so damn hard, I’m punching a zipper pattern into my dick.
“Let me get Oreo set up so I can have my way with you.”
Bex watches as I pull out a small, collapsible play pen for Oreo and set a few toys inside. Dropping a kiss to his soft fur, I put him in the pen and then turn my attention back to the woman consuming my thoughts.
“Upstairs.”
I pull Bex up from the couch and motion her toward the stairs. She steps in front of me and leads the way. The oversized T-shirt she’s wearing does nothing for her, but I know what lies beneath. I can’t wait to get my hands on her.
Turning on the landing, I follow her toward her room. No words are said, but the tension is thick.
We both want this. I ache for this woman in every possible way. When I’m not with her, I’m thinking about her. I may be in too deep already, but fuck it. I’m past the point of caring.
Dropping down on the king-size bed that takes up the majority of Bex’s room, it’s the only thing I notice before I pull her onto my lap. Her fingers find purchase in my hair, twisting the strands to turn my gaze to hers.
