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“Oh, I wholeheartedly agree,” I say on an exhale. “Long dayis an understatement.”
“Thank you again for being here with me.”
I lift a shoulder. “I’m glad you asked.”
She stands and offers a hand. “Walk you out?”
I take her hand in mine, and my head begins buzzing immediately. So I instinctively tug her back toward me instead. “Loren, would it be okay if I crashed here?”
“What?” Her eyes widen.
“I thought maybe you’d want the company tonight,” I mumble, suddenly feeling shy. And I’m never shy in front of women. “I could sleep on the couch,” I add quickly.
She purses her lips while she thinks. “I’d really like that. But I’m afraid you won’t fit on my couch.”
“Oh.” At just over six feet in height, I find most sofas too short for comfortable overnight stays. Regardless, if there’s a chance that Loren’s inviting me to share a bed with her, I amhere for it.
“No funny business?”
I grin at her. “It’s a little late for that, isn’t it?”
“I mean it,” she says sternly, but she’s smiling back at me.
“Just sleep, I promise.” I hold up my right hand and make a show of crossing my fingers behind my back with my left.
“I’m going to change,” she declares, rolling her eyes. “Make yourself comfortable.”
I watch as she finds her pajamas in the dresser before she disappears into the bathroom. “Do you need to shower?” she calls from behind the closed door.
“I’ll get one at home in the morning,” I answer as I unbutton my shirt. I unbuckle my belt, lingering for a second to consider how Loren might feel about me sleeping in my underwear.
Wait, since when do I worry about this kind of stuff? I’ve always considered my body to be my greatest asset, but now I’m second guessing whether I’d be offending her by stripping down. I dismiss the thought and bend over to remove my pants, just as Loren returns.
“You’re not going to try and convince me that you’re a bedtime nudist, are you?”
I shrug apologetically. “Sorry. I didn’t think to pack my Ninja Turtle jammies.”
She shoves me playfully on her way to the bed, and I take it she’s okay with my boxers. Then I take my turn in the bathroom before joining her beneath the covers.
“Blake,” she begins meekly. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but could you please hold me for a while?”
I stretch out my arm, inviting her in, and she curls up beside me before we drift off to sleep.
CHAPTER 8
Blake
“Blake?”I hear a hint of panic in Loren’s voice, though I can’t quite bring myself to wake up fully.
“Mm,” I hum. I can feel her warmth against my bare chest as I finally come to, and I take in a deep breath of her signature scent—roses. “You smell really nice,” I mutter, pulling her in closer and burying my nose in her hair.
I get the sense that we’ve done this before, though, and my eyes pop open when her body stiffens uncomfortably against mine.
What the hell am I even doing? I’ve definitely crossed over into creepy territory with the hair sniffing. I’m not a sniffer—I’m not even a morning cuddler, unless it’s foreplay.
But this feels so damnedgood. I sigh contentedly.
“I know I’m small and everything, but I’m not a teddy bear.”
