Elowen glances up, catching me watching her, and the pink in her cheeks deepens.
"Sorry," she says quickly. "I'm not trying to take over your whole bed. I just?—"
"You're fine." I can’t help but smile.
She’s so beautiful sitting in my bed.
"I like having something at my back when I sleep." Shesmooths her hand over the pillow she repositioned, like she's second-guessing it. "It's a weird habit. I've done it forever.”
"It's not weird,” I say.
She smiles at that. Small and genuine, her eyes dropping to the pillow in her arms. When she looks back up, her gaze slips over me.
She looks down my chest, lingering on the tattoos across my stomach before stopping at the front of my briefs. The cotton stretches tight over my dick, and her eyes stay there long enough that I feel a pull deep in my groin. My cock twitches, a heavy throb against the fabric, and I know she sees it.
Her breath catches softly, before she blinks.
And that gorgeous flush in her cheeks crawls down her neck, disappearing under her collar. I track it down, wishing like hell I could see where it went.
The curve of her full breasts are hidden behind the oversized fabric, full and soft. I want to know everything that shirt is hiding. Are her areolas pink or brown? Are her nipples tiny or puffy? Will her tits fit perfectly in my mouth or overflow?
My fingers curl inward, itching to find out.
“Um.” Elowen clears her throat like she's trying to collect herself. "You can get in bed." She looks away from me, and it’s all I can do not to growl.
Moving slowly, I round the bed, lift the edge of the comforter and slide in. The mattress dips as I settle next to her. I can finally smell her fully.
Sweet pear and warm vanilla.
The scent of her makes my mouth water.
Elowen keeps working, sitting carefully on her side, her legs folding under her, as she places the last pillow. Shetucks it behind the small of her back with a small, satisfied exhale.
"This nest is amazing,” I say, letting my voice slip into a gentle rumble. “It’s already so soft and warm.”
Elowen looks up at me with those big brown eyes, obviously very flustered. "Oh. I'm—I’m not making a nest," she says with a nervous laugh. "I'm only arranging the pillows."
"It’s okay." I angle my head down, bringing myself to her level. “You’re allowed to have a nest.”
She smiles again, then licks her lips. "I know. But I’d never steal your bed for a nest. I’ll find somewhere else. I’m not….um…” She trails off before looking down at her lap.
And I can’t help but stare at her, at the damp hair already curling at the ends and the pillows tucked carefully at her side and the way she's pulled the comforter up to her chest with both hands like she's scared it all will be ripped away from her.
"Elowen," I say.
"What?" She tilts her chin up, dark lashes sweeping upward, and the look on her face is so open and unguarded that something in my chest pulls tight.
"Make a nest wherever the hell you want, sweetheart."
She blinks at me.
"In my bed. On the floor. In my fucking arms if that's what you need." I lean toward her, closing the small distance between us. "Every corner of this house belongs to you too.”
Her lips part slightly, but she doesn't say anything.
"You belong to us." I hold her gaze. "And that means you get to do whatever the hell you want to feel safe. Take up space, baby. Rearrange every blanket in this house. Sleep sideways across the whole bed if that's what your body needs." I reach out and cup her cheek in my palm, mythumb tracing the line of her cheekbone. "Nobody is going to tell you that you're too much.”
Her eyes go glassy almost immediately.
