Studying the bed, I notice it’s mussed. I’m usually a calm sleeper—that’s how I manage to have so much energy the rest of the time. Harley was definitely here, but she’s gone. A clink outside the bedroom draws my attention, and I pause to listen. Through the bedroom door, I can hear faint noises coming from the living area. Relief seeps into my pores. She didn’t do an early morning walk of shame. She’s still here. Before she can get it into her head to leave, I pull on a pair of boxers and follow the sounds to the kitchen, where I find her at the counter, pouring granola into a bowl. The sight punches me in the gut. She looks like she belongs barefoot in my kitchen.
“Morning, beautiful.”
A flush stains her cheeks and she doesn’t look at me until she’s covered her breakfast with skim milk. “You’re a heavy sleeper.”
I shrug. “One of my best qualities.”
When she gives me her attention, her eyes widen as they greedily look up and down my torso. I smirk, and tense my abs as her tongue flicks out to wet her lips. Yeah, she likes what she sees.
“You’re not dressed.” Her tone is accusatory, as if she actually expected me to take the time to put clothes on before making sure she hadn’t disappeared. Unfortunately, sheisdressed. She’s wearing the crop top and yoga pants from yesterday, and I can’t help but be disappointed. She looks good in them, but better naked.
“Nope.” I pop the ‘p’ with relish. “I see you helped yourself to my cupboards.”
“I did,” she says agreeably. “Hope you don’t mind. I’m pretty accustomed to eating other people’s food.”
“You can eat my food any day.”
She rolls her eyes but smiles. Behind her, the kettle boils, and she turns and fills a mug. “You want tea or coffee?”
“I’ll make a coffee. The good stuff.” But for now, I’m enjoying the sight of her in my kitchen. It’s so fucking domestic my heart almost can’t take it. This is what I want with her for years into the future.
“When are you heading into the gym this morning?” she asks. “I want to make sure we don’t turn up at the same time and make Seth suspicious.”
Damn.Just when I’m riding an emotional high, she has to go and say that. I sneak a peek at her. She’s sipping a green tea she must have found somewhere in the back of my pantry, and it’s difficult to read her expression. I can’t tell whether she regrets being with me, but surely the fact she’s here bodes well.
“Actually…” I draw the word out. “I was thinking we could play hooky. It’s a Sunday, after all. The gym is basically dead.”
She raises her eyes to mine over the rim of her mug. “But you usually train on Sundays, and so do I, whether it’s dead or not.”
“Today isn’t a typical Sunday. Spend the day with me.” I waggle my eyebrows. “You know you want to.”
She snorts, and it’s adorable. “If we both don’t turn up, Seth will know something is going on.”
There it is again. The mention of Seth. A sliver of discomfort lodges in my spine. I really hate this whole being secretive thing. It’s not in my nature. I’m an open person because I know how much untruths can hurt, and Seth is my friend. Keeping shit from him seems all kinds of wrong. But it won’t be for long, right?
“How about the morning, then? You can go in later and I’ll stay home so it doesn’t look like we’ve been together.” I round the counter and go to her, setting a hand on each of her hips, which are slim and golden from the sun. “Or are you planning to dine and dash?”
She sighs as if she’s hard done by but her eyes glitter with amusement. “Okay, I’ll stay. Just for the morning.”
“Awesome!” Leaning over her mug carefully, so as not to knock it, I press a kiss to her forehead. “We could go for a walk. See some of the sights.”
“Or we could stay here.” She places her mug on the counter, comes to me and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head on my shoulder. “Have some alone time together…”
Harley
Devon’s uncertainty is written all over his face. He likes the idea of going back to bed, but hates the thought of hiding away, and that makes him so much sexier because it means he’s unlikely to betray me like Thaklaew did. I can’t imagine a guy like him sneaking around behind my back, and that’s an incredible relief. I’m lucky he’s willing to humor me. I know I’m asking a lot.
I tilt my chin up at the same time he dips his and our mouths meet in a gentle kiss that slowly builds. I nip his lower lip and he angles his hips, rubbing his hard dick into the V of my yoga pants. His boxers hardly conceal anything and it’s a miracle I’ve been able to keep my hands off him for this long. His tongue meets mine and he groans.
“Maybe staying in is a good idea,” he says.
Grinning, I back him into the counter and go onto my tiptoes, letting him take my weight. He brushes those delicious lips over my forehead, and I’ll never admit how much I love his tender kisses. Then, faster than I can comprehend, he spins us around and lifts me up, depositing my butt on the counter. He steps into the space between my thighs and I laugh, delighted. It’s not often someone catches me off guard.
“Are you laughing at my mad skills?” he demands, pretending to pout.
“Admiring them.” I cup his face in my hands and show him how much I like his moves with my lips and tongue. His breath is warm and sweet because apparently he’s a freak of nature who doesn’t get morning breath. As for me, I popped a mint from the collection I found in his pantry before he got out of bed.
He pulls away and steps back. “Eat your breakfast, before I decide you’re breakfast.”
