“I have to move,” he rumbled into my ear.
“I know.”
“I’d stay in here for days if I could.” He nipped my earlobe then slid out of me and off the bed.
I rolled onto my back, my skin sweaty and my body sore in all the right spots. The energy that usually infused me was oddly missing. Instead, an undercurrent of calm flowed over me like water.
Was this contentment?
I could get used to this.
He came back a washcloth in his hand.
I slitted my eyes and watched his face as he gently smoothed the warm cloth over me, taking special care between my legs.
He pressed a kiss on my thigh. “You might have a few bruises.”
“Badges,” I corrected. “Worth it for the trip to orgasm town.”
He snorted and stretched out beside me, propping himself on his elbow. “I can go if you want.”
I turned to him, lightly tugging on his beard. “Do you need to work?”
“Better question is do you need to work?”
I drew spirals around the whorls under his beard along his neck and Adam’s apple, the rasp of his stubble buzzing along my fingertips. “Just my usual stuff. Nothing pressing this week.”
“I have to go into town tomorrow. I want to look up some things at the library that weren’t digitized.”
I danced my fingers along the back of his neck and drew him down to meet my lips. “Then stay.”
His stomach rumbled.
I laughed. “You probably worked up an appetite.”
“I did.”
I crawled over him, dragging my breasts along his chest. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
He groaned, draping his arm over his face.
I laughed and grabbed a pair of sleep pants and T-shirt on my way into the bathroom. I gasped at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a tangled mess and I had beard burn all over my neck, but my eyes were all soft and sappy.
I pointed at myself. “Don’t fall in love with him.”
I wasn’t entirely sure my heart was going to listen. With a sigh, I took care of business and tamed my hair into a pair of braids, and got dressed. When I returned, he was already in the kitchen talking to Mouse.
I quickly pulled the bed together, contemplating if I should change the sheets.
Figuring we’d just mess them up again, I tucked the lone condom in the drawer for safe keeping. I’d definitely have to pick up a box when I went into town.
I was on birth control, but I wasn’t a stupid woman. While I was enamored as hell with him, I really didn’t know Dutch all that well. Fun had its limits.
The scent of bacon hit me when I reached the end of the hall. Dutch was at the stove, a towel over his shoulder and my cast iron pan full of potatoes, onions, and the mouthwatering scent of garlic.
Leaving him to it, I put some music on and added some food to Mouse’s bowl along with fresh water.
We had an easy meal of fried eggs, bacon, and perfect home fries as Dutch practically interviewed me about the ins and outs of Haven.
