Page 312 of A Matter of Time

“You cook on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I cook on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.”

“What?” The kiss had muddled my brain.

“And Sunday my mom cooks.” He went on like I was following him.

“Sam…what?”

“Yep. It’s perfect. We can’t afford to eat out every night, so… I’ll be home between six and seven. I’ll call if I’ll be any later.”

“Sure.”

“So your ass needs to be here.”

“What?”

“Since you need to cook.” He grinned at me.

“I’ll be here.”

He was silent a minute.

“What?”

“Just happy,” he said, trailing his hand down my chest, then lower under the blanket, gently rubbing circles on my stomach.

“Me too.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

The growl that came out of him, pure contentment, made me smile. I understood at that moment how much he loved me, needed me, and truly wanted me around.

“So feed me,” he said before kissing me again, his tongue instantly deep inside my mouth, tasting me, moving lazily because he knew I belonged to him.

I whimpered at the loss when he pulled back. I wanted him to stay.

He rose over me, his hand in my hair before he leaned back down and kissed my forehead. “Stay outta trouble, J. I’ll see you tonight.”

I could only nod. I had no voice.

“You know, moving in would be so much more convenient.”

My smile came on its own. The man was determined to drive his point home.

“Or I can move in with you.”

“Give it a rest.”

“What? I’m just thinking of you.”

“Like hell you are.”

The bed lifted as he stood up, and I watched him go. I stayed awake for a while even after I heard the front door close.

EIGHT

My phone woke me at seven.