Page 34 of Blood Sugar

“I think he likes you a hell of a lot more than he likes me,” Rowen said, an easy smile on his face. “And just to be clear, he isn’t allowed downstairs.”

“Isn’t Rowen mean?” I said, my voice pitched high. “Keeping you out of the bakery kitchen.”

Ralph—-Sprinkles—rubbed his cheek against my arm again.

“You’re ridiculous,” Rowen said as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back to lie against him.

Ralph climbed over Rowen’s legs to curl up between us, half on my stomach and half on Rowen’s.

“So do you want me to kick the opossum out and we can return to what we were doing?” Rowen asked, his voice low enough to make the hair on my arms stand up.

It was damn appealing. Nibbling my lip, I stroked down Ralph’s back and he let out another trill. The warm opossum on my stomach and the hot witch wrapped around me was too cozy to resist.

“You wouldn’t dare kick Ralph out. He deserves cuddles. We can also do that stuff later,” I said, nestling closer against his side.

Rowen chuckled, shaking his head. “Did I just get cockblocked by my own damn opossum?”

“I’ll make it up to you,” I promised, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

“Stay with me today,” he said without hesitation, his expression serious.

My lips parted and I blinked at him, my hand freezing halfway down Ralph’s furry back.

“Um, can I? I mean, is your apartment safe for me, with the windows and all?”

Inside, I winced, frustrated I had to worry about things like sunlight instead of enthusiastically agreeing like I wanted to.

Rowen reached over, brushing my hair behind my ear, his fingers trailing over my cheek. “I installed UV filters to all the windows here and in the bakery. I wouldn’t go downstairs if you can help it, since the door can still let in light, but the apartment is totally safe for you.”

“You what?”

“I ordered UV-blocking film, the good stuff, and installed it on all the windows.”

“When did you do that?”

“A week ago, right after you started at the bakery.”

My mouth hung open. Those UV films were expensive. I planned to get some for my future apartment someday, and he’d installed them on the off-chance I ended up here.

“You were hoping I’d be here with you at some point?”

One shoulder rose and dropped, but he still didn’t look sheepish. His confidence unnerved me.

“I’d rather be safe than sorry. But yes, part of me was hoping we’d end up here like this.”

“And the other part of you?”

“Tries to be a rule follower.” Magenta hair fell over his brow as he bowed his head, a grimace lining his face.

Unsure what to say, I reached over and cupped his jaw, turning his face to me. My kiss was soft and thankful, and when we broke away, I let out a long sigh.

“Come here,” he said, setting an arm around my shoulders.

My eyes closed on instinct as I nestled into the crook of his neck. One leg draped over his, under the blanket, the steady warmth of him relaxed me from head to toe.

Ralph let out a snuffly snore, and I smiled against Rowen’s chest.

Normally, I’d be finishing up work and preparing for the long drive back to the motel, but staying right here in his apartment seemed like a much better use of my time.