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Why am I nervous?
Making my way toward the bed, I watch Emma’s face as her eyes run down the length of me in just my boxer briefs. Should I put more clothes on? Maybe. Really though, what does it matter? It’s not like she hasn’t seen me before, and what are a pair of shorts going to do differently? Nothing.
“You have a tattoo,” she blurts out. “That’s new.”
My hand runs across my heart where I had the three words permanently scripted. “I do. I got it last year.”
“What does it say?”
“Before all else.”
I slide under the covers next to her and lie on my side with my head propped on my hand.
“What does it mean?” She lies down next to me, faces me, and scoots closer.
I don’t answer her. Instead I run the back of my fingers down her cheek and tuck away a loose piece of hair. The quietness of the night settles around us as we stare at each other, and, needing to kiss her one more time, I wrap my hand around the side of her face, drag my thumb over her bottom lip, and then seal my mouth to hers.
Does she realize I’m avoiding the answer? Maybe, but as her hand finds its way to my hip and then runs over my waist to my back to pull me closer, I don’t think she cares.
Time passes as I take this moment and make it better, make it lasting. At least it will be for me. There’s no rushing and no urgency, just a savoring of how this girl tastes and feels in my bed and half under me.
Eventually, I lean back, press a kiss to her lips one more time, and then pull her so her back is against my chest. She’s so small she just tucks right in, and I make sure the covers are over us. Sliding her feet in my direction, she giggles as she buries them under my leg. I jerk a little at the sensation, but my heart flares at the sound of her being happy.
“Your feet are freezing. Why?”
She snuggles closer to me, and I squeeze her tighter. “I don’t know, they just always are.”
“You’re going to need to wear socks from now on,” I tell her as I slide my top leg forward to make sure both of her feet are covered.
From now on . . . I didn’t mean to say that, but she doesn’t miss a beat.
“Okay, I’ll wear socks,” she says softly.
As we settle, Moose jumps up onto the bed. He finds his spot open at the end of the mattress and curls up. I feel Emma looking at him, and I don’t even so much as twitch. I have no idea if she’s used to an animal being in the bed or if she even cares. Then through the silence, I hear her say, “Lucky dog,” and deep down I know that statement means more than just Moose on the bed.
19
EMMA
From somewhere in his house, I hear my ringtone. It’s pulled me from the best night’s sleep I think I’ve ever had, and I’m not even going to get up and get it. I don’t know what time it is, not that it matters. It’s the first of January, a brand-new year, and I’m starting it off snuggled in Clay’s arms, his very large and warm arms. One is under my head, and the other is draped over my hip.
Peeking my eyes open, I see there’s enough light coming through the curtains that I can stare at his handsome face. It’s so close to mine, and I marvel at the fact that I am finally back here. His eyelashes are fanned down and resting on his cheeks, his lips are slightly parted and puffy, and the hair on his face is a smidge thicker. Sage, citrus, and Clay engulf me, the faint sound of his fireplace crackles, and I’m so happy I could cry.
I’m also afraid to move, because what if last night was a one-time deal and today this Cinderella’s fairy tale is over.
“I can feel you staring at me,” he grumbles. His voice is rough after a late night and then hours of no use.
“I like looking at you,” I whisper, and I mean it.
His eyes open, and I’m met with a light brown so clear and so beautiful it’s instantly become my new favorite color.
He blinks at me but doesn’t say anything as the two of us just look at each other. Eventually, the hand on my hip slides under my shirt, wraps around my lower back, and pulls me closer to him. My head tucks under his chin, and our legs tangle together.
He lets out a deep sigh.
It’s so easy to be like this with him. Contentment spreads through my veins.
Eventually, Moose stands up, stretches, and walks over to the two of us where he sticks his face right next to mine and starts sniffing. It tickles, so I giggle, and Clay rolls to his back, taking me with him. I unselfconsciously drape myself half over him, and his hand finds my thigh where he rubs up and down from knee to butt.
