Page 36 of Wintering with George

“I know why you’re a bit testy right now,” I teased him when I broke the kiss so I could breathe. “You expected to roll over and find me in bed this morning.”

The slight whimper sent sparks of electricity straight to my dick. He may have missed me, but it went both ways.

“You were asleep when I got out of the shower last night,” he whispered, kissing the side of my neck. “And you were right there with all your beautiful muscles and your gorgeous ass and quite a few bruises and—speaking of those bruises, you have stitches that⁠—”

“No, no, no,” I rushed out, kissing him, parting his lips, tangling my tongue with his until I had to pull free. “Focus”—I barely got out, still panting—“on what you were saying about me in bed.”

“I was going to roll you over and just attack you, but you needed to sleep.”

“You can always attack me,” I assured him, leering, hands on his thighs, loving the feel of the hard muscles there. Kurt had great legs, strong and powerful from all the running and swimming he did. And having them wrapped around me in bed was something I dreamed about when I was away from him. “You know that.”

He took my face in his hands. “Yesterday was different.”

I chuckled. “I will take you riding me in bed over sleep anytime. Keep that in mind.”

His breath caught suddenly.

“What’re you doing?” I said when he let me go and couldn’t meet my gaze. “Why’re you—stop with this already.”

He lifted his eyes to mine.

“I’m fine, Kurt, you’re fine, everybody’s good.”

“You had to kill people to save my family and⁠—”

“You’re my family,” I told him. “And I would—what’s with the face?”

His eyebrows had lifted, and he appeared to be waiting.

“What?” I snapped at him.

“I don’t know. You’re the one throwing words around, like family.”

“You’re annoying,” I assured him, turning to move.

Those legs of his wrapped quickly around me, and his right hand slipped around the side of my neck, his thumb sliding over my jaw. “I want the words.”

I was suddenly panicked. “I—sorry?”

“No,” he husked, and took a quick breath, his other hand on my nape, easing me closer. “I say it, and you know what’s in my heart, and it’s time, George Hunt, for me to hear what’s in yours.”

“So you’re just gonna browbeat me into⁠—”

“Now,” he rasped, his thumb siding across my lips, his eyes riveted there. “Tell me now, because if anything had happened to you yesterday and I didn’t hear the words… I could die from that. Do you understand? Every time you leave me and you haven’t said what’s in your heart, even though I know, it’s not enough, and that makes me ridiculous because you’re the strong, silent type, but⁠—”

“I love you,” I nearly snarled at him. “You know I love you, you ass.”

Instant radiant smile.

“Maybe that could have been more romantic if you’d just let me say things in my own time.”

“We’ll be having our twentieth wedding anniversary by the time you get around to it,” he said, chuckling, kissing my jaw. “God, I love you.”

“Wedding anniversary?” I growled.

He was laughing now, leaning into me, arms around my neck.

“I am so not getting married.”