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“Oh, come on. I wouldn't sleep with him, nor would he want to sleep with me. He's your friend, and he’s married.”
“Would you like a shovel?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at me. “Or are you okay digging that hole by yourself?”
“No, no,” I giggled. “I'm doing fine on my own.”
He stood up and took off his t-shirt but left his jeans on, then got into bed beside me.
“Radleigh, seriously. You know there’s nobody other than you who I-”
“Want to show your underwear to?” he finished with a grin.
“Right.”
His face became serious again and after a second or two, he said, “Come here.”
I flicked the switch to turn the lamp off and shuffled across the bed, closing the gap between us. His arms encircled me and my heart began to beat more quickly as I felt his muscular form pressed up against me.
I was tired, but not so tired that I didn't realise how perfect the moment was.
His lips brushed against mine, making me shiver. He'd never kissed me that way before. It had always been frantic, or teasing or urgent. The urgency was different now though. It wasn't a desperate need to be ripping each other's clothes off, although I was positive we were. It was simply the need to be close. It was better than any kiss I’d experienced before.
“I love you, Leah.”
I closed my eyes, letting the words hang in the air, letting them play in my mind before allowing myself to believe them.
“I love you too.”
With one final kiss, I snuggled closer to him and, almost immediately, fell asleep with a smile on my face.
Chapter 25: Return Of The Ego
The next morning, I awoke to the tantalising smell of bacon and coffee. It seemed to fill my senses while I slept, and gently coaxed me into opening my eyes.
The first sight that greeted me was Radleigh, sitting in the chair at the table by the window. As my eyes regained focus, I noticed that a little to the side of him was a tray with two enormous full English breakfasts on it, and two cups of coffee.
“Am I still asleep?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.
“No,” Radleigh answered, turning to look at me. “If this was a dream your breakfast wouldn't be cold.”
“It's cold?”
“I'm kidding. It hasn't been here for long. I was deciding on the best way to wake you up.”
Pushing a rogue dirty comment out of my head, I said, “Nothing short of an earthquake can wake me when I'm sleeping. I-”
I stopped abruptly, having seen the clock out of the corner of my eye.
“What's wrong?”
“I was meant to meet Josh and Jamie for breakfast fifteen minutes ago!”
I scrambled to free my arms from the warmth of the duvet and reached out for my mobile phone to send Josh an apologetic text message telling them to go on without me.
“Did you tell him you're with me?” Radleigh asked.
“Not yet. Some things are best done face to face. Besides, I don't want him storming up here before I’ve properly woken up.”
“I guess I shouldn't expect to be welcomed into your family then?”
