“But there needs to be one.”
“Why?”
“Because this is all new and we don’t know what it means yet, but I want it to mean something, Books.”
My heart pounds faster at his admission. Not in a way that scares me either. In a way that gives me hope.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeats.
I nod and then smile. “Okay. What if we don’t think about what happens next and just do what feels natural when we are together?”
If he wants to kiss me, I’ll kiss him back.
If he wants to hold my hand, I’ll hold his back.
If he wants to strip me down every single night, I’ll undo the first button.
“I think I can do that,” he replies, and then his lips are on mine and he’s rolling me to my back. My legs open for him, allowing him to settle between them and press himself against my panties.
He cut me off last night, but today, I want to show him how much last night meant to me.
I skim a hand down his chest, and the moment I have the tips of my fingers inside his briefs, my alarm goes off again.
He groans.
“Two mornings now that damn alarm has cockblocked me,” he says.
I laugh.
“It’s a hard life being a baker,” I tell him.
He rolls away from me, and I sit up, bringing my knees to my chest and hugging them.
“Daisy said she’ll open for me, but honestly, I just want this day to be like any other day.”
Dutton nods. “I get that.”
“But I need to go to my house to get some clean clothes first.”
“I don't want you to go alone, so I’ll drive you.”
His gaze meets mine, and he gives me a small smile. His offer brings us right back to the reality of life.
“Do you think he’s still here?” I ask, resting my cheek on my knees as I study him and wait for an answer.
“I don’t know, but that's a chance I’m not willing to take. Not when it comes to you.”
I press my lips together to keep from smiling.
This really isn’t a smiling kind of situation, but I’ve never had someone be so protective of me.
Sure, my dad is a cop, but that’s his nature and role as a father.
Dutton is this way out of his own free will.
It’s sweet and sexy all in one.
