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I’ve tried to convince myself numerous times to get out of bed since the storm woke me, but I don’t mentally feel ready to face the day. And with Clay still asleep behind me with his big warm body curled around mine I have even less motivation to move.
When I was little, I would crawl into bed between my parents and cuddle up between the two of them, and sleep my best sleep because I was warm and safe. And over the years when I’ve had relationships with men where I’d sleep over at their house or where they’ve slept at mine, I’ve hoped I’d feel that same sense of security and warmth, but I never have, not until Clay.
“How long have you been awake?” Clay’s deep sleepy voice asks in my ear and my eyes slide closed.
“A while.” I say then feel the bed move and his lips brush the shell of my ear.
“You should have woken me up.”
“Why? So, we can both stare out the window?”
“Yes.” His hand moves to my jaw, and he puts pressure there until I look at him. “I don’t want you keeping shit bottled up if you need to talk.”
“I’m okay.”
“You’re not, but I’ll make sure you are,” he says quietly.
His words make my chest feel heavy because I know that he will. There is something about him that makes everything okay which is terrifying.
“What time can you call into work and let them know you won’t be in?”
“I’m not calling in.” I shake my head.
“You’re not going to work today,” he denies in a tone that states he’s the boss and I shouldn’t argue.
“I am. I need to be there.”
“Mouse.”
“No,” I cut him off and turn toward him, resting my hands on his bare tattoo-covered chest. “I don’t want to tell Katy what happened to Carly over the phone, and I don’t want Miles or Tucker telling her either. I need to do that.”
“Fuck.” His jaw shifts and his eyes scan over my face. “Fine,” he gives in, “but I’m dropping you off then picking you up.”
“Okay.”
“And you’ll cut out early if being there is too much.”
“I can do that.” I agree softly but he doesn’t look any happier, even getting his way.
“And Skye isn’t allowed on the bed.”
“She was just keeping me company, it won’t happen again.” I move my hands up his chest to his shoulders.
“Right,” he grunts, and I barely keep from smiling.
“Are you always this grumpy when you wake up in the morning?”
“I’ve have you in my bed more than once, Mouse.” His hand smooth’s up my stomach to just under my breast causing my breath to catch. “And I still haven’t been inside you, so until that happens, you’re gonna have to deal.”
“Oh.” My heart does a summersault inside my chest and the muscles in my core clench tight.
“Yeah,” he mutters.
I start to lift my head wanting more than my next breath to kiss him, and to have him kiss me back, but just when his lips touch mine Skye stands and bounds over to us as she starts to bark.
Then in a blink Clay is up off the bed growling, “Stay here.”
As he prowls through the bedroom door with Skye and shuts it behind himself, I toss the blanket back and roll out of bed. I don’t even bother looking for pants to put on, his t-shirt that I wore last night is longer than some of the nightgowns I normally wear. When I reach the door, I swing it open and instantly relax when I spot his brother Dayton who was here the first morning I woke up in Clay’s bed.
“I see you don’t listen,” Clay says, and I turn my head his way.
“I’m not good at following orders.” I shrug one shoulder then watch his lips press into a thin line.
“You remember my brother Dayton.”
“I do,” I look over at Dayton then lift my hand. “Hey.”
“Hey.” His eyes scan over hair and face then down my torso and my bare legs as he grins, then he moves his gaze to Clay. “She’s back.”
“She is and I’d appreciate you not checking her out again.”
“Just taking it all in.” He lifts a hand out toward his brother.
“Well don’t,” Clay grumbles then he looks at me. “You want coffee, baby?”
“Yeah.” I shift on my feet then motion with my thumb over my shoulder. “I’m going to go get dressed.”
“You want me to bring you a cup in there or you wanna wait until you’re done?”
“I’ll wait,” I tell him, then look at Dayton. “I’ll be back.”
“All right, sweetheart.” He smiles and I spin on my heel and head back into the room hearing him say, “If I knew she was staying here I would have crashed with Miles.”
Closing the door, I cut off whatever Clay’s reply is, then grab my overnight bag and take it with me into the bathroom.
