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‘That’s one-hundred-percent your fault.’ Tate wraps his arms around her. ‘Thank you.’
‘For what?’
‘Giving me another chance. I thought I’d fucked things up for good.’ He runs his hand over her hair, smoothing the post-sex tangles. ‘I’ve got a problem though.’
She freezes in his arms. ‘What?’
He shuffles down so he’s looking at her face. ‘My problem is that I want you, Chloe. I want you in my life. As messed up and weird as my life is right now, I want you to be part of it.’ He wasn’t expecting to have this conversation with her so soon. Hell, he’s never had this conversation with anyone, but it feels right.
She releases a breath then smiles. ‘You mean like see more of each other?’
‘A hell of a lot more. And I don’t just mean like this, although more of this is part of the deal. I’m talking about dates that involve wearing clothes. Going out in public together as a couple. You on for that?’
‘I like you, Tate. I really do, but are you sure it’s the right time for you to be seen with someone?’
‘I couldn’t give a fuck about any of that. I don’t want to be without you. Have I mentioned I’m a selfish prick?’
She laughs and kisses him. ‘Guess that makes two of us. I don’t want to be without you either.’
‘I was hoping you’d say that. Would have been a bit awkward otherwise.’
∞
Tate slips on a pair of boxers before he heads back downstairs again. It’s got nothing to do with being modest. Maybe with a barrier between them, his damn cock would behave and settle down for a bit. He’s always had a healthy appetite when it came to sex, but this is fucking ridiculous. There’s just something about Chloe that turns him into a horny teenager. He can’t get enough of her.
He stops at the top of the stairs and his chest tightens when he sees her. Chloe is asleep, sprawled on her back on the rug, her deep brown hair splayed out behind her. So much for telling his body to behave. Then again, how could he possibly expect it to when he had her. It’s a lost cause.
He quietly crouches down beside her and carefully slips his arms under her. As he stands up Chloe curls against his body. ‘Tate?’
‘I got you.’
He brings her upstairs and lies her on his bed, then shuffles in beside her, tucking the duvet around them. He carefully slips his arm under her head so he can spoon her to his chest, smiling when she wraps her arms around his to hold him close. It feels so right having her here with him. He could absolutely get used to sharing his bed with her every night.
But there’s no way he’s going to fall asleep with her here. If he has one of his nightmares he could hurt her and that doesn’t bear thinking about. He’ll stay with her for a few hours then go upstairs and do some work. He’s due in the studio first thing so he’ll have to get up early anyway.
Avoiding sleep is bringing its own set of issues to the party. Like right now. There’s no way he can lie beside her like this in a warm bed and stay awake. As much as he really doesn’t want to leave her or the bed, he slides his arm out from under her and throws on a t-shirt and gym shorts. He grabs a glass of water from the kitchen then goes into the small gym next to the garage.
A few hours working out, a shower, and then to the studio. He curses himself and turns on the light. Probably not the best plan he’s ever come up with but it’s all he’s got.
