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“You know, my dad always says, tell her she’s beautiful even at her worst.”
I pinch his stomach, and he laughs. He cradles my face in the palm of his hands. “You’re beautiful, Palmer. Inside and out. I don’t care if you’re in my T-shirt or dressed for a fucking ball. No makeup, face full of makeup, messy hair, or primped to perfection. You. Are. Beautiful.”
“I’m a sure thing, Kincaid.”
“Just for that, no sex tonight.”
“But I’m staying over.”
“And that means we have to have sex? I remember telling you that I’d hold you all night and make you breakfast in the morning. Never once in that conversation did we talk about my cock and your pussy.”
I blush, and he smirks. “I just assumed.”
“Well, you know what they say about people who assume…” He grins, lifts me from the counter, and smacks my ass. “Finish getting ready for bed. We have snuggling to get to.”
“Pass me the toothpaste,” I say, tearing open the pack on the new toothbrush. He’s standing in front of one of the two sinks. I watch as he places some toothpaste on his brush before passing it to me. Together, we stand in his bathroom brushing our teeth, it’s very couple-ish, and I don’t hate it. Not even a little. My heart, however, hurts just a little. I want so bad for this to be my reality. What am I doing? I can’t keep this up, or there will be nothing left of me.
When we finish, Brooks turns out the light and, with his hand on the small of my back, leads me back to his bed. “What side do you want?”
“Um, yours?” I say, making him laugh. “I mean, I just want to be curled up next to you.” I feel my face heat. “I don’t care what side I’m on.”
He kisses my temple and pulls back the covers. “Get in, baby.” He waits for me to slide under the covers before turning off the bedside lamp and joining me. He instantly pulls me into his arms and keeps them locked around me tightly. “Why haven’t we done this before now?” he asks.
“I didn’t want to blur the lines.”
“Yeah,” he says over a yawn. “Night, beautiful.”
“Night.”
* * *
I’m warm. So incredibly warm, and I can’t move. My eyes pop open to find bright blue ones smiling at me. “Hi,” I croak.
“Morning, beautiful.” Brooks leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did.” I bury my face in his chest. I’m suddenly too overwhelmed with emotions. This is more than I ever expected and everything I ever wanted. Staying over was a bad idea. A very bad idea. I’m going to crave his arms around me every night moving forward. I let my guard down and made this worse for myself.
“I know I promised you breakfast, but I wanted you right here in my arms when you woke up. Just like I promised.”
Oh, Brooks.He’s such a good guy. His words have my heart soaring, but I have to keep reminding myself that’s just who he is. He’s one of the good ones, and he doesn’t know any other way to be. It’s not me. There is nothing special about me. He’s just an all-around nice guy.
“You hungry?” he asks.
“Yes. What time is it?”
“Just after eight.”
“I never sleep this late.”
“You were tired.”
“Yeah,” I agree half-heartedly. I can’t tell him it was the comfort and safety of his arms that had me sleeping this morning.
“You stay here and wake up. I’m going to go make us breakfast.” He kisses my forehead before climbing out of bed and making his way to the bathroom. I hear the toilet flush and the water in the sink turn on. He peeks his head out, his toothbrush in his mouth. “Bacon and eggs?” he asks, removing the brush just long enough to ask before popping it back in his mouth.
“That’s perfect.” I nod. He gives me a toothpaste smile before disappearing back into the bathroom, only to appear a few seconds later. “Breakfast coming right up.” He winks as he strolls out of his bedroom wearing nothing but his black boxer briefs.
Closing my eyes, I will my tears not to fall. I know what I have to do, and it’s killing me inside. I need to distance myself from him. I’m already hurting, and we’re still together. I love him. He owns my entire heart, and it’s time I realize that I’m not as strong as I thought I was.
