Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Flip pushes my hair over my shoulders, eyes searching mine. “What can I do for you, kitten? What do you need?”
I could ask him for anything, and I’m pretty sure he would give it to me. But I don’t want the first time we have sex to be about him feeling guilty and me wanting an escape from the stress. I want to do something normal with him. Domestic. Comforting for both of us. “Can we make mac and cheese and cuddle on the couch?”
“Absolutely.” He kisses me softly. “You want to get comfy?”
I finger the buttons on his shirt. “Can we make it together?”
“Rix actually sent over her leveled-up mac and cheese.” He waggles his eyebrows. “I can put it in the oven, and we’ll get down to cuddling right away while we wait for it to heat up.”
“That sounds perfect.”
I pour us glasses of Tang while Flip puts the food in the oven. Then he guides me to the couch, and I curl up in his lap. It’s exactly what we both need—closeness, connection, and some distance from the stress of everything else. When it’s just the two of us, I can believe it will all be okay.
Eventually, the timer goes off, and together we plate dinner. Turns out “leveled up” means homemade white cheddar mac and cheese with peas, tarragon, and baked chicken breasts. We load our bowls and take it back to the couch.
“This is so good,” I note a few minutes later as I pop another piece of tender chicken into my mouth. “Rix is a food magician.”
“She is excellent at putting together balanced, healthy meals that taste amazing,” he agrees.
I spear a spiral noodle. “I’m so glad she went back to school and pursued her dream.”
“I should have realized she needed more support.”
“You helped her. She lived with you.”
“I could’ve done more, though. I was too busy battling my own demons to see outside myself.” His jaw ticks.
I run my nails gently down the back of his neck. “Do you want to talk about that?”
He looks over. “Not tonight. I’d rather focus on you, if that’s okay.”
Sometimes I wonder if focusing on me is a default. But we’ve had enough stress today, I don’t want to add more by poking at his wounds.
The adrenaline gradually seeps out of my body, leaving me exhausted. I have assignments that need my attention, but I’m too tired to manage them. My eyes keep drooping, and eventually I must fall asleep, because the next time I open them, I’m tucked against Flip in his bed, his arm curved around my waist.
I wish it could always be this easy.
I pray the world won’t always feel like it owns a piece of him.
CHAPTER 34
FLIP
Tally throws her leg over mine and nuzzles into me, her nose against my neck. I hated that I couldn’t protect her yesterday but waking up with her in my arms is bliss. I haven’t slept beside her since Montreal, and I’ve missed the way she feels tucked against me. I could get used to this. Even though it scares the shit out of me, I don’t want to run.
I kiss her forehead, filtering through breakfast options. I can make her pancakes, or bacon and eggs, she alternates between them when we go for breakfast with friends. What would it be like to wake up with her every morning? To start my day with her? To come home to her after away games?
Unfortunately, her alarm goes off, breaking my reverie. It’s my song of choice for home hockey games.
She groans and sits up in a rush. Her hair is a wild, untamed, beautiful mess. She glances around, processing her surroundings, eyes bouncing to my bare chest and then the clock on my nightstand.
A slight furrow forms in her brow. “Is that the real time?”
“It’s seven thirty,” I confirm.
“I have to be at the studio in half an hour for group rehearsal!” She tosses the covers off and scrambles out of bed. She looks adorable in my T-shirt. She spins around gracefully, then runs from one side of the room to the other. “I won’t make it on time from here!”
I slide out of bed. “I’ll drive you.”
“We needed to leave five minutes ago!”
I cross to her and curve my hands over her shoulders. “Take a breath, kitten.”
She sucks in a deep one, but it’s wheezy. Her gaze drops to my bare chest, and lower, to where my morning wood salutes her from behind my boxer briefs.
Disappointment pulls the corners of her mouth down. “I don’t even get to enjoy your morning wood.”
“It happens every day. You’ll have plenty of future opportunities.” I kiss her forehead. “Get dressed, message your troupe that you’re a little behind, and I’ll make us coffees to go.”
“Okay. Yes. That’s a good plan. Thank you.” She wraps her arms briefly around my waist, her warm cheek pressing against my chest. When she pulls back, she pats my erection through my underwear. “Sorry, big guy, we’ll play another day.”