“Jesus, Liv, we have been together every which way from Sunday. Sharing a bed shouldn’t be such a big deal. . . . Unless.”
“Unless what?” she huffs, a gorgeous array of a morning mess.
“Unless you can’t handle me lying next to you,” I insinuate. “It’s too tempting.”
Liv shoots me one deadly, deadpan look before cracking me with a pillow. “Go to sleep, Damon.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I laugh.
“Sleep, Damon.” Liv rolls over.
“Fine.” I get comfortable, and just to be a ball-buster, I snuggle up next to her and spoon her.
“Seriously?” she voices.
“Totally,” I confirm.
She doesn’t push me away, though.
I count that as a tiny victory.
With Liv comfortably in my arms, and Knuckles snoring a safe distance away, I crash hard. Dreaming of high aces, poker chips, and a pink-haired vixen who owns my heart but won’t give me the time of day.
* * *
When I wakeup this time around, it’s in a glorious bliss. Liv’s warm body is wrapped around mine. Her head is resting on my chest, and her limbs are entwined with mine. I don’t move a muscle as the light from midday floods the small room. If I don’t make it through this, if I don’t survive, I pray this is what my heaven will be like. An eternal rest cocooned in Liv’s arms.
I lie there peacefully, listening to Liv breathe. It’s a soft, soothing sound I could get lost in for hours.
When Liv finally stirs, so does my need for her. I would give anything to smother her with a kiss, touch her bare skin, sink between her thighs, and lose my mind in the sweet sensation of her body for days.
“Morning.” I grin when she lifts her head, realizing exactly where she woke up. “You were drooling on me.
“Shut up.” Liv hits me. “I was not.”
“Okay, you weren’t,” I concede.
“You’re a jerk.”
“I know. It’s a gift.”
Liv flutters her eyelashes, annoyed. “You would see it as a gift.”
When she tries to get up out of bed, I grab her and keep her close.
“I have to take what I can get.” I lock my arms around her. “This is a gift, too.”
“What is?”
“This.” I squeeze. “You letting me touch you.”
“Don’t get used to it.” She sinks her nails softly into my shoulder blades.
“I’m trying not to.” I turn my head, burying my nose into her hair. Just being like this is so much more than she can ever know. Than she can ever believe.
“We aren’t good for each other,” she whispers softly. I’m not sure who she’s trying to convince. Me or herself.
“I don’t believe that. I think we’re perfect for each other.”
