‘Ow,’ complains a deep voice. ‘We’re going to need a bigger bed.’
I crack one eyelid, my body jolting awake as I realise that the hazy sense of fulfilment has turned to a shocking pulse between my legs.
‘You’re a wriggler,’ Ben grumbles, his tone deliciously sleep rasping and throaty as he rubs his forehead. ‘I don’t know what’s worse. That you wriggle or that you snore.’
‘I do not snore,’ I reply—not for the first time—while I struggle to sit as Ben’s strong legs wrapping like vines around mine, the brush of coarse hairs on his thighs doing funny things to my insides.
‘See, there you go wriggling again. And as for snoring, I’ll record you next time. Don’t worry,’ he adds with a lazy half smile. ‘It’s more like a little wheeze and seriously cute. And with duvet pulled up to your throat, you look like a tiny sleeping bunny,’ he teases.
‘No wonder you have girls dropping their panties at your command. So smooth, Captain Monroe, likening me to an asthmatic rodent.’ Bringing the back of my hand to my head, I fake a swoon before asking, ‘Tell me again, what charm school did you go to?’
‘I charmed you out of your knickers pretty easily.’ From a swoon to a scowl, my eyes scan his body for a soft spot to poke. Unfortunately—or not—all of Ben is hard, even as I pull the sheet draped around his waist for a quick peek.
‘Seriously?’ I almost squeak, pulling back the sheet a second time. ‘How does that even work?’
‘You’re asking how a hard-on works?’ A sinful smirk twists his lips as he straightens the sheet over his erection, running two fingers along its length. ‘Come over here and I’ll show you. And you a doctor,’ he chides, stroking himself over the cotton once more for good measure.
‘I know how itworks, I just don’t know where you get the stamina from.’
‘It’s all you,’ he answers, suddenly quite serious. ‘And always around you.’ A deep yawn overtakes him, moonlight highlighting the brilliance of his white teeth as he draws his tall body along the bed with a growl. ‘And also,’ he begins, picking up his reply once again, ‘probably something to do with being trained as one of her Majesty’s finely-honed machines.’
‘Great. That’s just great. I’m in bed with a Robo-Cop wannabe with a thing for furries. Is it the creatures or do you like girls who dress up as rodents as such like?’
‘No, Nell.’ Rolling onto his side, he pulls me tight against his chest. ‘You’re in bed with a man who has a thingfor you.’
‘Yeah, I’ve seen it,’ I say, beating him to the quip. ‘Go one; you’re missing your chance to tell me how big it is.’
‘It’s big,’ he repeats, though not with the expected humour or comedy I’ve come to expect from him. ‘So big it’s frightening.’ His breath fans my cheek, soft and warm, as he pushes the hair from my face.
‘What are you trying to tell me, Ben?’ My heart beats so wildly as I wait for his answer. I can’t—won’t—allow myself to anticipate what he’s about to say.
‘That rabbits aren’t rodents. And this rabbit is seriously cute.’ He retreats to humour and quips as he runs the back of his knuckles against my right breast. ‘Look, it’s got a little pink nose and everything. Ow! what was that for?’
‘You can’t be serious even for a minute, can you? Let go of me!’ I sort of complain, though not really, even as he captures my flailing feet between his legs.
‘Nope, that’s not happening,’ he murmurs, pulling me against the expanse of his chest. ‘I’ve tried serious already.’
‘When? Did I blink and miss it?’
‘When I told you I was no good for you. I’m glad you weren’t listening,’ he adds quietly. Then, bringing his fingers from my face, he takes my hands in his. So much for serious as, before I can snatch them away, he brings them solidly between his legs. ‘Can you feel that?’
‘I’d rather not,’ I retort, even as a hot pulse begins to pound between my legs, his satin head seeming to throb in time with it.
‘It’s all for you,’ he whispers, bringing my captive hands to my heart. ‘This is all for you, too.’ Under my fingertips, his heart thunders, his eyes glittering in the darkened room. ‘Damn it, Nell. I didn’t want to love you, but I couldn’t help it. I want every part of you, half-pint. I want your mornings and your midnights and every minute in between. I can’t promise you we’ll spend every moment together, but it’s a fair exchange, isn’t it? Wherever I am in the world, you’ll already own all of me.’
‘You love me?’
‘To distraction.’
‘But you don’t want to,’ I say with a small shake of my head.
‘That’s what you got out of my heart-wrenching expression of love?’ he drawls. ‘I love you, Nell. Fuck the rest. Be mine. Be mine but . . . bring your bunny suit.’
‘My bunny suit?’
‘You know, the outfit from your Tinder profile.’
‘That’s all it took? Me, dressed as a ro—’
