Page 77 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

Katie

My comforter’s bunched up under my chin, and I’m pressed into Michael’s side. The AC is blasting, brushing cool air over my skin, but I’m warm anyway. I’m sleepy and a little dazed from the way he has me pulled in to him. I glance up at him. He’s still asleep, completely unaware of me staring at him.

He’s so fucking beautiful. It almost pisses me off a little, how unfair that is, how someone gets to look like that just existing, sleeping next to me. I drag my eyes over his face anyway, taking what I want from it, because I can. Because he’s here.

I’m taking him to meet my mom today. I already know what I’m walking into. I know the look on her face before she says anything. That split second where she doesn’t know who I am, and she’s trying to cover it. I know the way it feels when it hits, even when I tell myself I’m ready for it. I’m not.

I take in a breath and stare at him instead because this is easier. This is something I get to keep. I never had a dad, never had anyone to fill that space, and now the one person who’s supposed to know me better than anyone barely does half the time.

It’s bullshit.

I shift closer, pressing into him, trying to store it up for later when I need it. Because I will. He groans under his breath, shifting slightly before his eyes open. He inhales, then exhales, and when he looks down at me, his smile is immediate.

“Morning, Doll,” he says.

“Morning.”

“You sleep okay?”

I nod, my fingers brushing lightly against his chest. “Yeah. You’re like a bear. You were wrapped around me all night like I’m yours or something.”

He chuckles at that. “We’ve already established that you are mine.”

“You’re right,” I say.

I sit up, and he moves with me, both of us settling against the headboard. His hand finds my thigh, fingers curling slightly as he looks over at me.

“What’s the plan for today?” he asks.

I swallow, my gaze dropping before I bring it back to him. “I was thinking we could go see my mom earlier. Spend more of the day with her.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” he says, squeezing my thigh gently.

“Yeah?”

“Of course,” he says.

“Okay.”

I slide out of the bed, the comforter falling back as I stand, and he’s right behind me a second later. I don’t even look at him at first. Instead, I move around the room, grabbing what I need, and trying to act normal.

“What do you want me to wear?” he asks, already pulling the covers up, straightening everything as if this is just something he does.

I pause. He’s making my bed. God. Can he stay here? Like, permanently? Is that a thing I can ask for yet, or do I need to pretend I have self-control for a little longer?

“Katie?”

“Huh?”

“I said, what do you want me to wear?”

I blink at him, my brain catching up. “Oh. Right. What about those jeans I picked out for you, and that button up?”

“Whatever you want.”

He finishes with the bed and walks over to me, closing the space between us.

“I want today to be as stress free for you as possible.”