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It hadn’t quite worked out that way.
He knew her body well, but that didn’t satisfy him. He wanted to know it even better. To become acquainted with every fine inch of it. To etch every curve and dip and weak spot into his memory. If he could only convince her to let him tie her to the bed so he could indulge himself that way, he would set about doing exactly that.
He’d pinned her wrists to the bed occasionally when he’d fucked her. She’d liked it, so he didn’t doubt that she’d like being bound to the bed. The problem was that Bailey didn’t trust easy. He believed she trusted him to an extent, but not enough to make herself that vulnerable to him.
Deke figured he’d have time to bypass those issues of hers, since he wasn’t feeling a need to end their fling once the touch-hunger left him. He hadn’t run that by her yet, though he would soon. He doubted she’d have an issue with it, considering she was more relaxed around him these days and wasn’t showing any signs of wanting out.
She broke the kiss with a sharp nip to his lower lip. “Stop that,” she said, the words a little breathy.
He arched a brow. “Stop what?”
“You’re only supposed to kiss me when we’re having sex or leading up to it.”
He felt his mouth curve. “That so? Hmm. Does that mean I can’t do this either?” He closed his hand around her breast.
She batted said hand away. “Yes, it does.”
Even as his cat cast her an unhappy look, Deke smiled. He liked seeing her worked up. “Really? Anything else I shouldn’t be doing?”
Her mouth firmed. “You think this is funny?”
“Yeah. It’s not often I see you getting wound up about nothing.” He frowned, pensive. “You know, I thought you just struggled with people being nice to you. But it’s not simply that, is it? You struggle with any signs—physical or otherwise—of affection.”
“So?” she snarked, defensive.
“So it makes me wonder why.”
“Who needs affection? It’s blah.”
“Blah?”
“Yes.”
His chest tightened. In other words, she hadn’t gotten a lot of affection growing up, so at some point she’d told herself she didn’t need it, and she’d eventually come to believe it.
Knowing she’d bristle if he showed her any sympathy or tried pushing her further, he went for playing the matter down. “Is it really affection, though, when what I’m mostly doing is groping you?”
She pursed her lips, thoughtful. “I guess not.”
“Then it’s not something you need to be bothered by, is it?”
“I guess not.”
“Good. Then relax. Eat.” He took the seat across from her, watching as she picked up her spoon. When she started to eat, his cat’s tension eased and he settled down.
In spite of how withdrawn he’d become, the cat had grown to tolerate Bailey. Mostly, it was because the feline was a creature of habit. He got used to things. Didn’t like change. Preferred routine. And the cat had become accustomed to Bailey’s nightly presence, so now he didn’t growl at her so much.
Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, Deke shot her a look. “You need to deal with that situation.” He tipped his chin toward the garter snake slithering on his kitchen floor.
She shrugged. “I told you Clive likes to visit me.”
“And I told you I don’t want him here.”
“Relax. He’s just a snake.”
Relax? Seriously? “He hissed at me yesterday.”
“You were being rude.”
“Rude?”
“You told him to get out. That’s hurtful.”
Deke frowned. “How can it have hurt him? He can’t understand a word I say.”
“How do you know? Because it’s written in science books that animals can’t understand humans? Pfft. Humans get stuff wrong all the time.”
“I think, in this, they’re correct.”
“Then I can’t help you.”
“With what? I wasn’t asking for help.”
“But you need it.” She wagged her finger. “You’re too easily swayed.”
“Because I believe scientific claims hold merit?”
“Yes.”
Deke sighed. “Whatever.” He dug into his cereal.
As they ate, she kept on scowling. Not at him. No, he suspected she was annoyed with herself for agreeing to stay for breakfast. He hadn’t been so sure that she would.
Last night, he’d been awake when she drifted off. He’d sensed her body go heavy, heard her breathing change. He could have woken her, but he’d wanted her to stay. Wanted her to be there when he woke.
She didn’t know, but he usually didn’t sleep beside others either. Before now, he’d only ever made an exception with Dayna, because he’d known her so long and there had been a comfortable familiarity there.
One that was now gone.
His mother was delighted that he’d distanced himself from Dayna. Deke had thought she’d then cease trying to push him toward Bailey, but Livy was no less invested in her plan.
Once they were finished eating, he followed Bailey to her apartment so she could pull on fresh clothes. Since it was his new habit to walk her to her vehicle each morning, he usually came knocking on her door around this time to escort her outside. After the acid attack, he was taking no chances.
