22. Colder

Naomi hookedher arm around my neck and toppled us against the bed. Her perfect breasts swayed in front of me, and I took the opportunity to flick open the catch on her bra. Then I got a face full of softness and I couldn't resist a taste.

She gripped my shoulders and pinned me to the mattress. "My turn."

I laughed and then groaned as she straddled me. She made quick work of my buttons and peeled my shirt off. Fuck, she was still wet as hell against my skin. I couldn't resist trying to roll her over, but she was having none of it.

She was tiny, but she was stronger than she looked.

She inched down to get my jeans out of the way, but required a little help. We were both giggling like idiots by the time she'd stripped me as naked as she was.

Naomi was exactly what I'd always wanted in my life.

Intelligent, a sex drive that was only equaled by her curiosity, and she got me like no other person in my life. I'd never been with a woman who was more interested in the moment than not messing up her hair or makeup. Instead, she was honest with her reactions and even her frustrations.

I'd watched her bloom in just a few days.

What would it be like to have forever with her?

My heart tripped, and I dropped onto my back as the reality of it smashed into me.

"Colder?"

I cupped the back of her head and dragged her mouth to mine. "Sorry, just a little clumsy." I gripped her ass and lined us up so I could finally get inside of her. I almost forgot the condom. I was stupidly distracted and that would have been hella stupid.

Fuck.

I reached over to the drawer and fumbled with a packet. Once I was suited up, I drove up into her. She splayed her hands over my chest and threw her head back as she took me deep. She was all golden perfection over me in the candlelight.

It flickered over her, throwing her in relief and shadow at the same time. Like one of the fantasy warriors in the books we both loved. Her hair was redder in this lighting, almost a flame flickering around her head as she rode me.

I rolled up to hold her tight to my chest as we became one unit of pleasure. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders as we slowed from the manic pace. Sweat pooled between us as we both glistened from exertion.

Then her fingers tunneled through my hair as she sighed into my mouth.

I wrapped my arms around her to hold her tighter, almost as if I couldn't let her go.

It wasn't a game for me anymore.

It didn't make sense to want more so fast, but I held on to her. Hoping that my feelings showed in each touch, each thrust inside of her, each moment we stole together.

Suddenly, she buried her face in my shoulder, and she dug her nails into me. I knew the signs for her now. Knew when to increase my pace. My thighs and abs burned, but I kept up each stroke until she shook around me. Her quiet sighs became a litany of jumbled words I couldn't understand.

All except one.

My name.

Only then did I let myself go. Even if I wanted the moment to stretch forever, she broke over me and dragged me along until we both crashed back to the mattress. We were a tangle of arms and legs and laughter.

I needed the laughter to lighten the mood in my own mind or she'd probably run screaming down the hallway.

"Holy shit."

She giggled and rolled into my side, resting her cheek on my sweaty chest. "I couldn't say it any better." She peered up at me. "I'm starving though."

"Me too. I'll get up in a second. I think."

She pushed herself up and grabbed my shirt off the edge of the bed where she'd tossed it. "I've never had spaghetti by candlelight."

"Me neither." I laughed and tugged on my boxers. "Let me go finish up the last of it. Do you want to eat on the couch or bed?"

"Bed, if you're okay with it."

"You and a bed, I'm always good with."

Her cheeks pinked up and I couldn't resist leaning over for a kiss. "I'm just going to put in the garlic bread."

She groaned and pulled a pillow in front of her chest. "I'm ready for all of it. Do you want help?"

"Nope. Stay right there."

"Okay."

I was loathe to put on lights to bring any reality into our romantic little world, but I didn't want to make a bigger mess than I already had in the kitchen. Quickly, I put the bread in to warm as I finished the pasta and made us up some bowls.

"Tell me how the writing went today."

"It went really well, actually. I must have written fifteen pages today."

I turned with the spoon in my hand. "Really? That's awesome."

She was kneeling in the middle of my bed, my shirt huge on her, a huge smile on her face.

I couldn't resist the urge to cross to her and dragged her close for a kiss. "Amazing."

She grinned into the kiss and chased me to the end of the bed for another. "I'll write that every day if that's the reaction I will get."

"Good. I'll be more than happy to reward you." I went back into the kitchen and finished filling our bowls with pasta, sauce, and a generous helping of meatballs for both of us. I set a fat slice of bread over each of our bowls and returned to her. "Hope you're hungry."

"Beyond starving."

I handed her a bowl, changed the music to a lighter playlist, then sat beside her. It took a little urging to get her to talk about her book, but once she got going, we talked about it for a good hour.

I had another bowl of pasta and she opted for just another piece of garlic bread. Once we were full of carbs, we were more than ready to settle down with a movie. Since I didn't have much room in my studio, I'd opted for a small projector that worked with my iPad.

Neither one of us made it very long with the movie. I woke to find her curled into my side and the projector had timed out when the movie ended. I got up and blew out the live candles but left the rest before climbing back in with her.

I stayed awake for a while, just listening to her breathe. For the first time in my life, I was looking to the future, and I wasn't really sure how it was going to work.

I just knew I needed to figure it out.

When morning came, she was a warm rumple of softness in my arms. I sunk my fingers into her tangle of hair while she used my arm for a pillow. I wasn't used to sleeping with someone, but she didn't wrap around me like a vine. Instead, she seemed to need space but also wanted to be touching me at the same time.

A light rain drummed on the skylight, the day calling for another rainy April morning. I reached for my iPad and groaned at the time. Too early to think about getting my ass up for anything other than a run.

I didn't work on Mondays unless Cal called me in for help with inventory.

Restlessly, I eased out from under Naomi, who rolled over and curled around one of my pillows with a sigh.

My kitchen was a disaster from cooking for her, but at least I could make coffee without waking her up. A studio apartment wasn't made for anyone other than a single person. Another glaring thing that showed I didn't have a damn plan.

I wanted to be annoyed that getting involved with her had showed the cracks in my life, but I wouldn't give her up for anything.

Least of all my own shortcomings.

If she wanted to keep me around—which wasn't a guarantee.

Drink your damn coffee and get over yourself.

I gulped down one full mug and made another before I heard her stirring. I stepped out of the kitchen to find her sitting in the middle of my wrecked bed, looking adorably confused.

"Want some coffee?"

"God, yes." She pushed her hair out of her face. "I didn't mean to sleep over."

"Why not?"

She blinked at me. "Are we at the sleepover stage?"

"Not sure we've followed any rules."

"That's true." She slipped out of my bed and padded over to me. She peered into my mug. "Sugar in there?"

"No."

She wrinkled her nose, but she took it from me and sipped just the same. "Might have to go get my own creamer."

"What kind is it? I'll make sure to stick it on my shopping list."

She tipped her face up to me and I couldn't resist brushing my lips over hers. When I pulled back, she was still smiling.

"What?"

"Nothing." She tucked her hair around her ear in that way she did when she was embarrassed or unsure.

"We haven't exactly had the ex-talk. But Trent didn't ever have my creamer and we were together for years."

"Trent sounds like a fucking turd."

She laughed. "I think you're right."

"And creamer shouldn't be a high bar."

She tipped her head and frowned at me. "Everything all right?"

I sighed. "Yeah." I cupped her face and kissed her again. "Just annoyed with myself this morning."

"Was it something I did?"

"Not at all."

"Then what is it?"

Class wasn't in session. I didn't owe her an explanation. And the fact that it was my first thought was even more annoying. Nor did she deserve the weight of my own issues. Especially since I didn't even know what to do with this newfound realization that I was shit boyfriend material.

"I need to talk to Cal and I'm not looking forward to it." That was innocuous enough.

"Oh. Is something wrong at work?"

"I'm feeling restless. Not sure what that means for me at Lonegan's."

"I know how that feels. Why don't I get out of your hair, so you can talk to him? I want to get back to work, anyway. Two months are going to go by in a blink."

I took the mug from her and brought it back to the kitchen. "So you're going to work on the book instead of job hunting?"

She gathered her dress and underclothes. "Not sure it's the right plan of action, but yes."

"Good. I'm glad."

She nibbled her lower lip. "Can we still…"

"Have our lessons?" I asked as I pulled her in against me.

"Yeah." She went onto her toes. "I still need some pointers."

"Is that right?"

She nodded sagely. "I wrote my first…intimate scene."

I arched a brow. "Is that right? Do I get to read it?"

"Absolutely not." She laughed and lowered herself to her regular height, then looked around for her shoes. "Iona did though, and she gave me some very good feedback."

"Next to the bed."

"Thanks." She skirted around me and stepped into them. "Mind if I steal your shirt again?"

"Nope. Maybe you can bring a change of clothes and come back tonight. I have today off."

"That sounds like a very good plan. How about you show me your favorite lunch spot later? Gives me time to get some work done, and then I can get away from my screen for a little while."

"Now that sounds like a good day."

And it would give me some time to talk to Cal. Not that I even knew what I was going to say to him.

Hopefully, I would figure it out before we met.