Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Foster: Fuck off, Montgomery.
Reid: I’m just saying…
Baker: I have no advice. I’m a single dad who is co-parenting with his baby momma and her long-time on-again, off-again boyfriend. I don’t feel qualified to offer anything other than I’m happy for you.
Me: You’re a damn good dad, Sinclair. Camden is going to grow up knowing that, seeing a man love his kid with everything he has.
Baker: Thanks, Reynolds.
Reid: Wait. Does Rowan know?
Me: Yep.
Reid: Damn, so this is more than just a maybe thing.
Me: More like a forever thing…
Knox: Wait until I tell my wife.
Me: Let me tell her.
Baker: I’m going back to bed.
Foster: Me too.
Reid: Two down. We’re falling fast, boys.
Me: Worth it.
Closing out of the message, I plug my phone in to charge on the nightstand just as the bathroom door opens. Rowan stands in the doorway. Her long blonde hair falls down her back, and from the looks of it, she’s in nothing but my T-shirt.
“Where should I put my things?”
My breath hitches in my lungs. She’s really here. “Wherever you want,” I tell her. She can have the keys to my house and change it all as long as she stays with me. “The chair?” I offer when neither one of us makes a move. I nod toward the corner of the room, where a single chair that never gets used is positioned.
She places her things down and turns to face me. I let my eyes rake over her, and my cock hardens. “You’re beautiful,” I rasp.
She blushes and tilts her head to the floor. Fuck Brown for what he did to her. “I’m going to change. I want you here, in my bed with me, but if you’re not comfortable with that, I can take you to a guest room after I’m done.” I give her time to decide as I grab some pajama bottoms, which I never sleep in, and slip into the bathroom, closing the door behind me to get ready for bed.
Ten minutes later, I open the door to find her sitting at the foot of the bed. “I didn’t know what side was yours.”
“I don’t have a side. I’ve never spent the night with someone in my bed.”
Her eyes widen as if she’s surprised. “I’ll take the side closest to the door.”
“Okay.”
She stands and goes to what will now forever be her side of the bed and slides beneath the covers. She pulls them up to her chin. All I can see is her face, and I can’t stop my smile because she’s fucking sexy and adorable all at the same time.
“Comfy?”
“Yes.” She nods.
Turning off the light, I take my side of the bed and slide beneath the covers as well. We lie in silence, and it’s killing me to have her so close, yet so far away.
“Roe?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I hold you?”
“Is that what you want?”
I turn to look at her. I can see that she’s still staring up at the ceiling, but I can’t make out her features. “Yes, but it’s not just about me. It’s what you want too.”
“I’d like that.” Her reply is so soft, I almost don’t hear it.
“Come here, baby,” I say, sliding over and opening my arms for her. She moves, meeting me halfway, and snuggles up against my chest. I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes. Now, I can go to sleep.
Silence surrounds us, but it’s the most comfortable I think I’ve ever been, lying here with her.
“Landry?”
“Hmm?” I ask, sleep already closing in.
“Never mind,” she says.
“Tell me,” I say, opening my eyes. If she wants to talk, I’m here to listen as long as she doesn’t move. “Open communication, remember?” I need her to understand that I value that she’s her own person. She can say how she feels and what she’s thinking, and I’ll never think less of her or look down on her. It’s going to take some time to prove to her that Chaz was in a category all on his own.
“Right,” she says. I can feel her nod against my chest. “I was kind of hoping that maybe I could kiss you goodnight.”
Sleep? What’s sleep? I’m wide awake. “Come closer,” I tell her. I can hear the husky rasp to my voice.
She wiggles and moves next to me so that we’re face-to-face, her head no longer against my chest. I don’t hesitate to reach for her, my palm finding her cheek. “When you want to stop, you say the word, and we stop.”
“It’s just a kiss,” she says.
“It’s never just anything where you’re concerned.” Leaning in close, I brush my nose against hers. “I might get carried away, but if it’s too much, just push me away. I’ll stop.”
“What if I don’t want you to stop?”
“Fucking perfect,” I mumble as I close the distance and press my lips to hers. I start slow, just a tentative and tender press of our lips. However, my world narrows to this moment. Nothing else matters. She opens for me, and our shared breath is filled with a quiet yet unspoken promise.