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Eventually, I drag my eyes back up to find Elias smirking at me, one eyebrow raised. “Are you enjoying this, darling?”
I bury my face into the covers as if I could hide from him. I’ve already been caught. “Maybe,” I admit, voice muffled.
He walks around to the other side of the bed and slides in behind me, kissing the back of my neck. I turn around in his arms to face him, resting my hands on his chest and caressing small, meaningless patterns with my fingertips.
“So. What exactly were you doing just staring like that?” I ask.
“I apologize. I got lost in thought.” Elias pauses. “You look peaceful when you sleep.”
I hum an acknowledgment, declining to comment on the second part of Elias’ answer. Even though some part of me is more flattered than I ought to be, all things considered. “Well, you can get lost in thought while cuddling instead,” I say, and Elias gives a low chuckle.
“You’re getting demanding.” Something wickedly amused stirs in his eyes. “You don’t need disciplining, do you now, dear?”
“I’m not sure aboutneed, but I certainly wouldn’t mind it. Should I keep misbehaving?”
“Little minx,” he says, lightly pinching my thigh. “I understand why you get along so well with Caelan. Neither of you can resist being… was ‘sassy little shits’ the term he used?”
I laugh, then kiss Elias with genuine tenderness. “Sometimes that. But you know I’d obey you in a heartbeat if you were serious.”
“I hope so, love,” he murmurs. He kisses my forehead in return. “Go back to sleep. It’s not time for you to wake yet.”
I’m tempted to protest. I have an almost-naked Elias in bed with me, his legs tangling with mine, and I can’t deny that I’m interested.
But Elias is right. I only woke up momentarily, and my body wants to return to slumber. And of all the ways I could fall asleep, in Elias’ arms has got to be one of the best options I could imagine. His lips brush against mine, and I sigh as I let myself drift off again.
In the morning, Elias is gone.
It’s no surprise as they told me upfront that even if they came to visit more often, they couldn’t always stay very long. And I have things to do in the morning—classes or work, depending on what day it is.
There is certainly no guarantee I’d be able to get ready in any semblance of a decent time if I woke up to Elias or Caelan in bed with me. As pleasant as such a morning would be, all parties involved would end up flustered, rushed, and very late.
We’d tried it. Once.
So, it’s by mutual agreement, and I’m not hurt by Elias leaving.
Still, it’s a pleasant daydream to imagine a life where I’d get to wake up to both in bed with me. One where it’s an ordinary enough occurrence that we don’t feel the need to make the most of the situation by letting the sleepy morning kisses escalate into sleepy morning sex. Though, that would be nice, too, sometimes.
I spend the morning with my heart feeling fluttery and warm, grinning at nothing just because I got to spend time with Elias.
ChapterEighteen
Several days later, I get home from a late studying shift in the library, sighing and letting my bag drop from my shoulder, only to be accosted by a widely grinning electric demon.
Elias is conscientious enough to let me know a day or so in advance if he has free time and asks if I’m available before coming over. Caelan, not so much. Sometimes he’ll send a text in the morning, checking if I’m up for Netflix and chill that night, in either the literal sense or with the unspoken implication of the evening ending in sex. Both options are very much fine by me. While other times, I’ll walk into my apartment and find Caelan simply waiting for me.
“Caelan!” I protest, mostly from the surprise. I don’t mind him being here,but…“Warn someone when you’re gonna jump out at them like that, jeez.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he laughs, then greets me properly. “Heya, doll.”
“Hey,” I reply, then Caelan’s arms slide around my shoulders, pulling me into a firm kiss, and I melt against him. I relax physically into his embrace, but my mind takes a moment to finally allow all the little worries and stresses of the day to fade away.
I’ve already studied tonight. I don’t need to do any more. I can just let Caelan kiss me and let his hands slide down my sides to my waist, fingers slipping beneath my shirt.
“Mmm…”
Caelan smiles. I can feel it in the way his lips press against mine. He curls his fingers into the fabric of my top and tugs on it. “Get changed,” he says.
I blink, breathless and off balance, needing a moment to catch up after his abrupt arrival and the sudden affection. “How come?”
