Cash’s gaze slid to mine, and his grin softened into a warm, shy smile. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” I reached out for his hand and threaded our fingers together.
Cash leaned against me and let out a long breath as Dog finally settled. “Is it time to feed the kittens?”
“I already fed them when I took Dog out.”
“Good.” His eyes slipped closed. “This is nice.”
It was more than nice. If life was nothing but this moment stretched out forever—Cash, a warm bed, a new day, and Dog—it would be perfect.
I leaned over and brushed a kiss to Cash’s lips, and he blinked his eyes open as a slow, lazy smile appeared. I could get addicted to those. I could get addicted to everything about Cash; I was halfway there already.
He squirmed, and a moment later Dog’s claws skittered on the floor as he was deposited off Cash’s side of the bed. Cash huffed out a silent laugh at Dog’s protesting whine, then linked his hands around the back of my neck and drew me in for another kiss. He pulled me down over him, opening his legs to make space, and lifted his chin to deepen the kiss. Heat built slowly but inexorably between us, and Cash began to rock his hips.
“You want to take this further?” I asked against his mouth.
He nipped at my bottom lip. “Yes.”
I kissed him one more time and then rolled to the side and shoved my sleep pants down, kicking them to one side while Cash did the same. Once we were both naked, I lay on my side and pressed my lips against Cash’s as I reached between us. Iwas hard and so was he, as into this as I was. I wrapped a hand around both of our cocks and started stroking, spreading the precum that had gathered there. Cash buried his head in the curve of my neck and panted as he thrust up desperately into my grip. I loved how eager he was, and the added friction had my cock throbbing. Heat bloomed under my skin, and I knew I wasn’t going to last long, not with Cash’s breath hot against my skin and his body pressed against mine. But Cash got there first, his body shuddering as he came, hot cum spurting over my fingers. I couldn’t hold back and followed him seconds later, adding to the mess.
We lay there for a minute, both breathing heavily, before Cash tilted his head back and gazed up at me, wide-eyed. “That was?—”
“Yeah,” I said, grinning. “It really was.” I wiped my hand on a corner of the sheet and then I leaned in and kissed him, soft and slow.
He kissed me back, and I could feel the curve of his smile against my mouth.
Yeah, I could definitely get addicted to this. I ignored the tiny voice in my brain that reminded me that I wasn’t here forever and let myself enjoy the moment.
It lasted until I traced a hand down Cash’s side toward his hip. When I touched a long scar, Cash’s breath hitched. I pretended not to notice, kept moving my hand until it was resting on his hip and kept kissing him until he relaxed against me. When we broke apart, though, Cash gave me a rueful smile and said, “I need a shower,” and I knew our peaceful bubble had burst, for now at least.
I just wished it had lasted a little longer.
I plastered a smile on my face and said, “Sure thing.”
Cash got out of bed and started in the direction of the bathroom. His movements were cautious and I wondered if lastnight had been too much for him, but before I could ask, he caught my gaze and said, “I’m fine.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said. And before I could ask if he was sure, he gave me a crooked grin and said, “You’re not that big.”
And then he disappeared out the door laughing, reminding me that underneath his shy exterior, Cash was kind of a smart-ass.
I liked it.
Cashand I were busy trying to get the kittens to take some solid food when my phone started to ring. I set the kitten I was holding down and pulled it out of my pocket just in case it was a callout, but when I saw my mom’s name flash across the screen, I ignored the call. It eventually stopped ringing, only to start again moments later. Cash shot me a curious look, and I shrugged. “She’ll call back.”
But when it started to ring a third time, I groaned and gave in. Might as well get this over with. I debated taking the call outside, but we needed all hands on deck for the feeding, so I hit the speaker button. “Hey, Mom. You’re on speaker.”
“Are you back from Goose Hole yet?”
Fine, thanks. Miss you too.
“It’s Goose Run. And I’m here until Uncle Jim gets back from his vacation, you know that.”
My mom gave an annoyed huff, as if this was the first she’d heard of it. “Well, I need you here to help me with something. Can’t you just close the shop for a few days?”
The warm sense of contentment I’d been carrying around inside me since this morning drained away, and I counted tothree and prayed for patience before I answered. “It’s a vet practice, Mom, and no. I can’t. It doesn’t work like that.” Then, already knowing I’d regret it, I asked, “What did you need me for?”
