RENLEY
“So that’s what sex is like,” I say as I slip into Theo’s bed after cleaning up for the second time.
He chuckles. “Why are you asking me? This is the first time I’ve ever had sex like this.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.” He shakes his head. “I’ve had my fair share of sexual encounters, including a threesome, but nothing has turned me on like this, nothing has made me be able to go again that quickly, and never in my life have I had three goddamn orgasms in a few hours. So if this is what sex is really like, you’re not leaving my fucking sight.”
He pulls me into his chest and wraps his arm around me protectively, letting his hand rest on my hip.
When I left to go clean up, I slipped on one of his shirts, which is what I’m wearing now. I love how it smells like him and how big it is, and how he pushes up the hemline so he can still have skin-on-skin contact with me.
I swirl my finger over his chest as I say, “Maybe because it’s been a little bit for you, you’re more randy than usual.”
“Nope,” he says with full confidence. “It’s you, love. I’m so fucking attracted to you that even when you’re near, I can feel my stomach flip with excitement.”
God, he’s making me smile every freaking chance he gets.
“Same,” I say.
“Remember when you denied my proposal? Think about how we could be married right now, not sneaking around. Regretting it now, aren’t you?”
I laugh. “No. I wasn’t about to marry a stranger.”
“Instead you fucked him.”
“Hey, I know you now, so you’re no longer a stranger in my head.”
“No, I’m your boyfriend.”
Loving that he’s so proud of that, I kiss his chest. “You are.”
“Maybe you can take me out on that fishing date this weekend. I know we talked about it, but we never solidified anything.”
“You seriously want to go fishing?”
“I do. When was the last time you went?”
“A while ago,” I answer honestly. “I didn’t really get to go in the spring because everyone was getting ready for tourist season, so I was running around, taking on projects here and there that business owners and renters needed done for their properties. And then this summer, well, I’ve been busy, as you know. Haven’t really had much time for myself.”
“Then take the time,” he says. “You’re going to burn out if you don’t take a moment for yourself.”
“I know, but I’m almost done with the shop. If I can just?—”
“One day is not going to make or break you,” he says. “One day might actually energize you and get you across the finish line.” He squeezes my hip. “Come on, love. Take a day with me.”
I think about it for a moment, my mind warring with the idea because I honestly don’t know what it means to relax.
“What’s holding you back?” he asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I clear my throat, feeling sort of shy about it. “I’ve just been on the go for so long that sometimes I don’t remember what it means to slow down. Do I enjoy fishing? Yes. Do I get to do it a lot? No. It’s rare. If I went into the garage, I know my fishing gear would have spider webs on it right now. But that’s just how it’s been. I’ve had to keep working, keep finding new jobs, overloading to the point that when I get home, I’m so exhausted, I just sleep. So the term ‘relax,’ it doesn’t really make any sense. Also…relaxing means I stop working and that means I can’t provide, which in turn makes me panic and feel guilty. I just have to keep working. I have to stay afloat.”
“Renley,” he says, shifting so I slide off his chest and we’re now facing each other. “You can’t wear yourself thin like that. And I know it’s easy for me to say, because I have had a very different life. I don’t know what it means to have to fight to put food on the table, but what I do know is that if you don’t take a second to breathe, you’re going to break down.” He cups my cheek. “And I won’t allow that.”
“You don’t really have a say?—”
“Going to stop you right there,” he says, growing serious. “What we have going on between us is serious to me. There have been projects and ideals and morals that I’ve given a damn about over the years, things that have truly pinched at my stomach and made me work to make it better, despite my father telling me I was wasting my time. But when I came here, something in me changed. It wasn’t just a pinch in my stomach, it was a full-on ache when I met you. I don’t think I’ve ever cared about anything as much in my life. I care about you, I care about your success, I care about your well-being. And I know that we’re still figuringthings out and this is all new to both of us, but I’ll be damned if I sit by and watch that smile or the fight and spirit that I see in your eyes wither away. You need to pace yourself. And if I can think of one reason that we were brought together, it’s because you need someone in your life looking out for you. And that someone is going to be me.”
