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“Really?” I hated the little flutter of pride that shot through me.
“Usually people get the asshole version of me, or the fuck around and find out one. You… I don’t know. I guess I feel safe with you because you bring out a side of me I’ve spent my entire life trying to suppress.”
“Why do you suppress it?”
“Not sure. Maybe because I don’t trust anyone to not use it against me. It’s hard for me to be vulnerable around people.”
“But you trust me?”
“I do.” He huffed out a breath. “Even when I hated you, I trusted you.”
“I trust you too,” I said softly.
“Don’t move.” He kissed my hair again. “I’ll grab a cloth.”
“I can do it when I get up.” My eyes fell closed. I blinked them open.
“Don’t be a dumbass.” He untangled himself from me. “Relax, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
The bed dipped as Graham got up. I rolled over to his spot to soak up the lingering body heat. His pillow smelled nice, like that intoxicating mix of him and the apple shampoo he used.
“Fuck.” I could barely keep my eyes open. I needed to get up before I fell asleep.
“I’ve got you,” a soft voice said.
Something warm and damp moved over my skin. Was he cleaning me?
I cracked one eye open. Graham knelt beside the bed, a soft smile on his lips as he wiped my stomach and groin.
“Roll onto your stomach,” he coaxed.
I did, but closed my eyes as he gently wiped my ass. His touch was tender and sweet. My chest tightened with affection and a little sadness. When was the last time someone took care of me after sex? Maybe never.
He finished cleaning me and dropped a kiss on my shoulder. The move was casual, like an afterthought. I hated how it made my eyes burn. It had been a long-ass time since I’d had this kind of easy intimacy in my life. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it.
The mattress dipped. I opened my eyes, my vision focusing just enough to see Graham had climbed back into the bed and lay on the other side. He’d also turned off the main light. The pale glow of the bedside lamp softened his features and made his blond hair shine like spun gold.
“I have to get up,” I said reluctantly. “I’m going to pass out if I don’t get moving.”
“Or you can stay.”
“Huh?” I blinked blearily at him.
“Stay.” His voice cracked.
“Yeah. Okay. Thanks.”
“Do you need to get up at a certain time tomorrow?”
“No. I’m off for three days, so I can sleep in. Do you have to get up for something?”
“Nope. I just finished a job. I don’t work again until the weekend.” He lifted his hand, looking unsure of himself. “How do you feel?” He brushed his fingers through my hair and pushed it back from my forehead. “Other than tired?”
“Good. Relaxed.” I pressed into his touch as he continued to stroke my hair.
“Did I hurt you?”
