Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 48446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
“Just stay. Please.”
I grabbed him and hugged him, burying my face in the side of his neck, pressing a kiss there as his hands fisted in my T-shirt.
“Okay,” he said, sucking in his breath. “Now come eat already before you pass out.”
I followed him back to the kitchen and ate standing up, the boys chattering at me as their mother looked on. Afterward, I had them help me wash the dishes, and they all formed a little assembly line. Lyn told me I was an angel straight from heaven, and when I explained that I was actually from somewhere else, she laughed really hard.
I was tired, and it was getting late, at least for me, who normally was up before dawn, and I also wanted to give Cy and Lyn time to talk. She kept glancing at him, so I knew she could use some alone time.
Returning to Cy’s bedroom, I stretched out on the bed, and a moment later Pip scrambled up beside me. It was really nice that he liked me so much already.
“You wanna get the TV remote?” I asked him, pointing at it maybe four feet away.
“Nope. You wanna get it?”
“Nope.” I yawned.
“Call Micah.”
Such good ideas he had. I yelled for Micah, and he was there seconds later. We both pointed at the remote, and he grabbed it and then got on Cy’s enormous California king with us. Tristan joined us soon after, his Nintendo Switch with him, playing something as he lay down beside Micah.
“What’re your mom and Uncle Cy doin’?” I asked Tristan.
“Drinking tea and talking.”
I made a noise of disgust, and Tristan nodded. “I know, talking…ugh.”
When I smiled, he smiled back, and then I turned on the TV. It was on ESPN, and before I could hear the complaints, I changed it. I flipped channels until I got to Animal Planet and River Monsters was on. Tristan said it was good, so we all gave it our attention.
At first, I was leaning my cheek on my closed fist, and then my head was on my folded arms. Once Pip climbed on my back and put his head down on my shoulder, I started to fade. Tristan moved so he was leaning on my right side, and Micah was on the left, tucked in tight. They were all keeping me warm, and I was a goner.
I woke up what felt like minutes later and realized the TV was off, as were all the lights but one. The boys were gone, and instead there were lips kissing slowly up my spine. I made a noise of appreciation, feeling the T-shirt pushed up between my shoulder blades.
“Lyn took the boys home—after much protesting, I might add. They all wanted to stay and sleep with you, but I explained I had first dibs.”
I grunted. “How long was I asleep?”
“Couple of hours.”
Rolling onto my back, I looked up at him in the low light.
“You should get under the covers and go to sleep, Web. You’re exhausted.”
When I lifted my hands to his face, he turned his head and kissed my palm. “Thank you for asking your sister to take pity on me.”
“I didn’t, you know I didn’t. She decided all on her own that you were to be trusted.”
“You’re mad.”
“Of course I’m mad. Because you won’t just stay with me and let me take care of you.” He squinted down at me.
“Nope,” I agreed.
He moved to pull away, but I held him tight, our eyes locked together.
“Let go, Web.”
I shook my head and eased him down slowly until our foreheads were pressed together, the two of us now with closed eyes, just quietly breathing. When I lifted toward him, his lips slanted over mine, and I let everything fall away as I kissed him. Really, if I had anything to offer the man at all, I would lay claim, and no one but me would ever have him ever again. But as it was, all I could be was a diversion until he realized he could do so much better. He was a neurosurgeon, I was a homeless drifter, and this wasn’t a fairy tale.
“Weber,” he gasped, parting our lips. “Stop.”
But this was what I had to offer, all I was good for. “Doc,” I growled, tugging at his clothes. “Take these off.”
“No!” he yelled at me, yanking away, pointing toward the pillows. “Get under the damn covers so I can hold you while you sleep.”
I looked at him and was surprised to find no desire there at all, no lust riding him, simply furrowed brows and dark, flashing golden-brown eyes. I got under the covers as the light was turned off and the room plunged into semidarkness. “Come here, Cy.”
He was tangled around me in seconds, and as I tucked his head under my chin and held him tight, I felt him tremble.