"I amnottaking your bed." Damn, I love when she’s determined about something. "Do you mind sharing?" she asks softly. "That way we'll both sleep well."
I doubt I'll be sleeping well if I’m so close to her all night. I'll be listening to her breathing, holding her in my arms, craving much more.
"If that's your idea of anappropriate dalliance, then sure."
She laughs, squeezing my arm harder. "Good."
We get settled in bed, and she looks around before fluffing the pillow and snuggling down. "Your house is very comfy," she says softly.
"Good. I'm glad you think so."
She fluffs the pillow again, then lies flat on her back. Then she rolls onto her side to face me, shifting her legs several times.
"You’re tense," I murmur softly, facing her, perfectly still. "Is this the first time you've shared a bed with a man?"
"Well…yeah…but that's not it."
I reach out and find her hand where it's lying tense on the sheet. Taking her palm in mine, I smile. "I read something about journaling before bed to clear your mind. Instead of writing it down, why don't you just tell me? Make a list. Fire out every single thing that’s making you stressed."
"You mean like a brain dump?" I nod.
Bailey takes a slow breath. "Okay."
Her eyes close, and she exhales. "I'm worried about the weather tomorrow. Last I checked, there might be some storms, and the sound of heavy wind sometimes makes me jumpy. I also don't know whether that will knock out the Wi-Fi signal. I need that for my test tomorrow. If it goes out here, I could maybe hotspot off my phone, but that's probably the same cell signal anyway. I don't know what the rules are, if I would get an extension if the signal cut out."
I squeeze her hand, encouraging her to keep going.
"I really like this house, and I'm glad to be here with you. But it's totally unnerving that it's not my choice, you know? I feel like I was dumped here after my family's trip like a forgotten pair of sunglasses they didn't need anymore."
She pauses briefly. “I don't feel trapped. But maybe I should. I feel totally safe with you, and yet I'm making myself nervous because these feelings are really intense and I can't stop thinking about what it would feel like to touch you and?—"
Her eyes snap open, meeting mine. "Oh. Oh God… Please pretend I didn't say that."
I lift her hand, kissing the back of it. "To touch me and…what?" Her eyes fall shut. "Bailey? Tell me now."
When her eyes open again, I wink. "Please tell me that you were thinking about some kind of…” My eyebrow arches. “Adult relations."
She bursts into laughter.
"Fine. If you don't say it, I'm just going to assume." I stare up at the ceiling. "Beautiful Bailey is wondering what it would feel like to slide closer and curl up in my arms."
Her body begins to move, and I reach for her, our bodies slowly entwining.
"Let's see… Bailey isalsowondering what it would feel like to kiss me while we're horizontal." Before she can move, I add, "With her hand over my heart, and my hand on her hot, curvy ass."
She stares at me. Blinks. Then leans in, her fingers splaying over my chest as our lips meet. My hand glides slowly down her back, then lower, as I remain alert for any sign of tension. Her ass is spectacular – toned yet soft, a round, perfect handful that sends my cock to full attention in seconds.
The way she sinks against me nearly takes my breath away. Our kiss is all-consuming as our bodies shift, trying to get closer. Searching for every single way we can touch.
I love the way her hands move across my skin. Love how delicate she is. Love feeling her softness against the firm tension of my body.
I didn’t realize that my entire life was only set up to deal with harsh things – emergencies, bad weather, my boredom.
Now that Bailey is here, so beautiful and interesting, bringing balance to everything she touches, I feel complete.
8
BAILEY
