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My hands work their way under his shirt and onto his shoulders. His muscles flex and ripple under my touch as he grinds on me.
I suck his tongue, and he melts into me, moaning. It takes my lust-drunk brain more than a minute to catch up and realize he’s tugging at my shirt to remove it.
“Not yet.” I flip him so he’s under me.
“Seriously?” he asks indignantly.
“As a heart attack.” I let my weight pin him in place and trace my tongue along his jaw. “I’m so hard for you, but”—I pull away to see his fathomless brown eyes—“I want to start at the beginning, getting to know you as Lark before we fuck. Earn your trust. Hey, I’m not turning you down,” I say because he eyes me suspiciously. “But you’re too tempting, and if you take your clothes off, my eyes will pop out, and my heart will explode right after my dick. It’s a health hazard.” I bask in the glow of his grin.
Sky bites his lower lip. “I thought you’d want…” His face flushes.
“There’s nothing I want more than you, not even my name on The Cup, but let’s do this right and take it slow. Okay?” I press my lips to each of his eyelids, unsure if he’s disappointed or relieved. Sky was an open book, but Lark holds his emotions in check.
“Okay,” he whispers, and grips my neck to bring our mouths together.
Kissing him after all these years is surreal. Dreamy. Like I’ll wake up alone in my apartment after an epic dream from a high fever. Or if I stop, he’ll change his mind. I lose track of time, then Sky nudges me.
“Should I be insulted you’re falling asleep with your tongue in my mouth? Not enough to keep you awake?”
“So sassy.” I pry my eyes open. “Where should I sleep tonight?” I won’t make it upstairs if I wait much longer.
“With me?” he asks in a small voice.
“I didn’t want to assume.” I pepper kisses along his jaw and by his ear. “Do you have ice packs?”
Sky’s eyes widen, and he scrambles to get out from under me. “Are you hurt?”
“The usual.” I lift my shirt, twisting to see my back and ribs.
“Holy shit.” Sky’s touch is featherlight. “This is usual?” His face pinches.
“All part of the fun,” I deadpan. “If I sleep on a gel pack, it should look better in the morning.”
“If you say so.” He throws a skeptical glance over his shoulder and heads over to the freezer. “Will this work?” He has two blue cubes of cooler ice.
“Of course,” I lie, as if sleeping on those could ever be comfortable. “I told you I wouldn’t be much fun tonight.” I push a curl behind his ear.
“Don’t use my sympathy against me.” Sky spins on his heel and walks toward the entryway and the stairs. “Should I carry your bag?”
“I’ll manage,” I say, but he gets to my bag first and picks it up.
“This one’s free, but you’ll owe for the next time.” He keys in a code to the stairway. I must look confused because he says, “Since my business is downstairs, I keep this locked so no one can get into my personal space.”
“Makes sense,” I agree, but I don’t like the idea of someone being able to get into his place.
My feet drag up the stairs, and I fight to stay awake. As we enter his room, I’m ready to collapse. “Which side of the bed?” I ask, as I remove my clothes.
“It doesn’t matter.” He goes into the bathroom to brush his teeth, and I sit on the end of his bed. When he finishes, he asks, “What are you doing?”
“Waiting for you to pick a side.” Brushing my teeth isn’t happening tonight.
“You’re impossible,” he chirps, but he gets in the side of the bed closest to the door, which surprises me.
I scoot up the bed and arrange the ice so I can snuggle him. “Thanks for tonight.” I close my eyes and kiss the top of his head. Sky laughs, but when I’m almost asleep, he tucks into my side and drapes my arm over himself with a satisfied sigh. I could get used to this.
I’m pulled awake by fingertips tracing the lines of my abs and Sky’s cedarwood honey scent surrounding me. It’s heaven.
“What kind of psychopath wakes up with a smile on his face?” Sky grumbles but presses his lips to my chest. He lifts his head, and I slap my hand over my mouth when he tries to kiss me.
