“Don’t look at me like that.”
Kissing his palm, I wrap my fingers around his wrist and tug it away. A flush blooms across his cheeks, but he looks pleased, not even slightly irritated. A total win in my book.
“Can I take you home? I think the others left.”
Harper curiously looks behind his shoulder, finally noticing that we’re alone. Confusion visibly sweeps over him for a second, before finally settling on realization. If Colby and Beau left him with me, then it means I’ve been given their blessing. I do my best to not puff up with pride.
“Take me home,” Harper murmurs quietly, shifting his now heated gaze back to mine. “Stay the night?”
“I don’t have to.”
Harper smirks and a small puff of air escapes him. An almost laugh. “I’m very aware. I’m asking you to stay.”
“I’ll stay as long as you want. Every night. Forever. Whatever you want, name it.”
Harper stares up at me, something like wonder shining in his bright eyes. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
Taking his cheeks between my palms, I kiss him one more time. Only a firm press of lips, but it’s overwhelmingly sweet. Harper is beautifully starry-eyed when I pull away.
“Let me take you home.”
Harper nods and lets me guide him out of the nightclub with a possessive hand at the small of his back. The air is slightly chilly outside, so I keep my arm around his waist, tugging him as tightly against my side as possible. I let Harper into the car first, then Honey, our new routine that we’ve all got down pat.
The drive back to Harper’s house is quiet. I turn the music up so that Harper can’t feel nervous even for a moment. I never want him to feel nervous around me ever again. Reaching across the console, I tangle our fingers together, rubbing my thumb over his knuckles. He hides his face from me, but not before I see the sweet curving of his lips.
I trail behind Harper through his house. Harper sweetly takes Honey out of her vest, so I dip down to give her a pat and a kiss to her wet nose. Harper slides the back door open with a whistle in a sign to Honey for her to use the restroom. She does her business like a lady as Harper fidgets restlessly with the hem of his cable-knit sweater.
I wish I knew what thoughts were racing through his head. Everything from here on out will have to be on his timeframe. No rushing. Nothing but me and him on a journey towards something I hope will be great. Something really long-lasting if I have my way. Once Honey rejoins us in the house to retire for the night, Harper slowly locks up the back door.
Honey pads down the hallway, probably looking for the bedroom she shares with Harper.
“You still want me to stay?” I ask, needing to give him an out.
Harper nods quickly, lip caught between his teeth. “Yes. I’m just nervous.”
“About what?”
Harper gestures towards me, eyes fixed beyond my shoulder. “Look at you.”
I look down at my body in confusion. “What about me?”
Harper huffs loudly. “You’re gorgeous.”
Crossing the few feet between us, I grasp Harper’s thin shoulders in my palms. I squeeze gently and shake him a little, forcing his slightly frantic gaze to meet mine.
“You’re a stunner, punk. I think you really underestimate just how badly I want to kiss you, hold you, even see you naked. Anything we do tonight is perfect. Kiss? Amazing. Cuddle? Perfect. Hand action? Ecstatic. Just lie in bed and stare at one another? Sign me up.”
Harper roughly shoves me away. “You’re ridiculous. We can make out as long as you shut up.”
I bite at my lip to hold back a grin. Darkness invades the hallway as I follow him towards his bedroom. Only a small lamp lights up Harper’s cozy bedroom. The walls are a midnight blue, the bed low to the ground covered with white fluffy blankets that I missed in the dark the last time I was in his room.
Honey’s tucked in the corner on a very comfortable dog bed. She slowly lifts her head to look at me, licks her lips, then lowers her head back down. Obviously, she’s not that surprised at my presence. The other day bonded us in some odd way. Canine companion and boyfriend, an unbreakable bond.
“Well?” Harper asks, tearing me from my introspection.
When my gaze pings back to him, my entire body flushes with heat. At some point he’d torn his sweater off, leaving himonly in his jeans. His auburn hair hangs loosely around his face, softly grazing his creamy shoulder. If he let me burn the world down for him, I would, just for one taste of his mouth. I’d even accept one nibble of his throat, as long as he was pressed against me, fingers curled tight into my shoulders to hold on to me as I wrung every ounce of pleasure from him.
Fuck. I’ve got to calm down. I stand frozen while Harper easily slides his jeans off, leaving him only in dark red boxer briefs that hug everysinglecurve. He climbs under the blankets, then fixes me with a curious stare.
