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My fingers seek him out, crawling across his chest, reaching for his nipple. It hardens as my forefinger keeps circling it. Goose bumps rise around it.
He sighs, absorbing the sensation. After a moment, he kisses the top of my shoulder—taking his time, like I’ll miss it if he does it too quickly.
Still feeling I might hurt his bruise, I strain to keep from falling completely on him. Over a long inhale, Rob presses on my temple—a cue for me to let loose. I look up at him—open those blue eyes, Rob.He doesn’t, but his lips form a smile. I let go of my tension as my huffs turn into serene breaths. Even gravity feels gentle when I’m with him, turning weight into relief, hurt into comfort.
Following the up-and-down movement of his strokes on my arm, I fall asleep. No nightmare on the horizon—this is warmth and fuzziness as its best, better than I’m capable of dreaming.
Moments later, he moves. “I think it’s time for dinner soon.”
“Huh?” A mellow, well-intended offer, but I’m still out of it. Why is he talking about dinner?
“What would you like, my lady? I’ve got California clams and some beef, if you feel like some meat.”
“I’ve had a healthy dose of your meat,” I murmur. “Why don’t we just order pizza? Save yourself the trouble.”
“I’d feel like a bad host.”
“Rob, if you want to be with me, you’ll have to get used to pizza nights every now and then.”
He pinches my nose. “I have pizzas too, you know. I’m not that stuck up. I just thought you were expecting a three-course dinner.”
I give him a kiss of appreciation. While my lips are still hovering on his, I rasp, “Go and order that pizza.”
Rob makes a call and orders two large—one pepperoni, one Margherita.
We wait for our dinner in Rob’s favorite living room (the one he called the junior lounge). I’m wearing his fluffy robe while he’s wearing a tight t-shirt and pair of jogging pants—sex is still all over him.
“Mr. Hartley?” I hear Joe at the front door.
“Come in.” Rob gets up to meet his driver.
“I’m just returning Miss Cannizzaro’s phone, handbag and keys. I managed to get her car back from the garage.”
“The garage?” Rob turns to me, my things in his hands.
“My car got towed. Thanks, Joe,” I say.
After Joe leaves, Rob puts my things on the table and plonks himself back down next to me.
“What were you up to, Amber-Rose? What happened to your car?”
I sigh. But I can’t keep the secret now. “Someone was following me. I chased him, but I lost him. He was the guy who sent the package to me, and probably screwed with your car. Then there was this guy on a Harley, and he pushed me so I couldn’t get to that asshole. The guy I was running after couldn’t have been Aidan, but the one on the Harley might’ve been.”
He hugs me. “Amber-Rose, your chasing days are over. Promise me you’ll never do that again. Letmedo the chasing.”
“Okay,” I say, not wanting him to worry.
“You’re one in eight billion. Don’t make me lose you.” He presses my nape so I come even closer. “I love you.”
The words that I’ve been longing for. And how I’m glad they’ve come from him. They sound like a song of the angels—divine, sacred and heavenly.
“I love you, too, Rob.” I breathe into him, absorbing his protection.
25
ROB
Last night was long, and sleep eluded me. But I welcomed it. The silence, the alone moments, and the surrealness of our closeness gave me time to appreciate Amber-Rose amid the madness that’s happening around us. I stared at her sleeping face for hours, admiring the way her hair fanned across my shoulder. I watched her lips move and wondered what she was seeing behind her closed lids. She was smiling, so I’m sure she was either dreaming of the three bears at the Bern Bear Park, or me—and I hope it was the latter.
