“Sure.” I watch him stand. “I should take Merida out,” I whisper as he scoops Maddi into his arms.
“I’ll take her. Just get ready for bed,” he whispers back before carrying Maddi to her room. Merida follows at his heels.
I get up off the couch and head for his room, where he dropped my overnight bag. I grab it and take it with me to the bathroom, then change out of my clothes and into a pair of cotton sleep pants and a matching cotton tank. I tie my hair up into a ponytail and take off my makeup. My stomach is still in knots at the idea of sleeping in a bed with Lucas again. I look at myself in the mirror and frown. I’m not ugly, but I’m also not beautiful like Eva—or skinny like she is, either. When I met her, I felt like I had crawled out from under the rock she used as a throne. I had guessed she was beautiful because Maddi is beautiful, but I didn’t know just how gorgeous she was. Her face is model perfect, and I look like the girl next door’s stepsister. Her body is toned, and mine is soft. We’re complete opposites. Keeping my eyes on my reflection, I suck in my slightly round stomach and stand a little taller, pulling my shoulders back. It changes nothing—I look the same, only uncomfortable.
Putting my extra weight out of my head—since I can’t exactly lose twenty pounds before bed anyway—I brush my teeth, apply night cream, and leave the bathroom. When I enter the bedroom, I hear Lucas back come through the front door and then tell Merida to go to Maddi. Unsure what to do with myself, I’m still standing next to the bed when he comes into the room. His eyes sweep over me, then soften before he moves past me to the lamp on the side table. He flips it on, then moves back to the door to shut off the overhead light.
After brushing his lips over my forehead, he whispers, “Get in, baby. I’ll be just a few minutes.”
I pull back the blankets and slide into bed. I hear the shower start and shiver from the image that pops into my head. I close my eyes and think about puppies and kittens—anything to get my mind off Lucas naked in the shower and the water running over his body. I must do a good job of distracting myself, because I fall asleep.
I slowly wake up, feeling warm and safe. My body is half on top of Lucas. My head is on his shoulder, and his arm curves around me to rest on my hip. My torso is pressed to his, and my thigh is between his legs. I’ve always loved to cuddle. Tom never did. He would for a while after sex, but eventually he would force me away so that he could sleep. This is only the second time I’ve spent the night with Lucas, but both times I’ve woken with him holding me. I open my eyes and notice that the room is barely lit; a small ray of light is coming in through the closed blinds. We agreed to meet Lisa and David for breakfast, with Fawn and Levi, this morning at eight. I don’t know what time it is, but I need to shower and get ready, then take Merida out. Plus I don’t really feel comfortable with Maddi finding me in her dad’s bed—even if she does know I slept here last night.
I start to move away from Lucas, but before I can get anywhere he rolls over, forcing me to my back. His big, warm body comes to rest partly on top of mine, with his knee between my legs. His face goes to the space between my neck and shoulder, and his lips brush against my sensitive skin.
“Good morning,” he whispers in a deep voice.
I shiver and slide my hands up his sides, under his arms. “Morning.” My voice comes out sultry as his fingers wrap around my side and his thumb brushes across my nipple.
He looks down at me, his face still soft with sleep, his hair mussed. He is always handsome, but looking up at him with my hands on his bare skin, his knee pressed to my core, his weight on me, I’ve never been more attracted to him.
“You fell asleep on me last night.” He moves his thumb across my nipple again, making me squirm.
“Sorry,” I breathe.
He grins. “It’s all right. I know now you’ll be well rested for later on today.” He kisses me, pulling my bottom lip between his. I feel his hardness pressed against my side, and I lift my leg, wrapping it around his hip and bringing him closer. I gasp into his mouth when he nudges my core with his knee and at the same time gives another thumb slide across my nipple.
“Lucas . . .” My nails dig into his back. I want him to touch me. My body is throbbing, begging for it. Like he’s reading my mind, his fingers slip under the waistband of my sleep pants. He zeroes in on my clit with amazing accuracy, and my hips lift off the bed at the first touch.
His chest rumbles as he groans, “So damn wet.” He slides two fingers inside me, making me moan. “I can’t wait to feel all of you around me. I can’t fucking wait to feel you as you come.” His dirty words heat me from the inside out while his thumb circles my clit and his fingers send me spiraling toward the edge. “I want my mouth on you, Courtney. For the next few days, you’ll be my breakfast and my dessert.”
He speeds up the thrusting of his fingers, and I tuck my head against his shoulder and bite down to keep from screaming out his name as I come. My mind is obliterated, just like the last time he gave me an orgasm. I’m launched into space among the stars. I try to suck in oxygen, but it’s almost impossible because his fingers are still gently working me over, causing me to tremble and gasp. I eventually go limp, my legs fall to the sides, and my head falls back to the pillow. When my eyes meet his, he’s smiling.
“What?” I ask as I take a deep breath.
“You bit me.” He looks down at his shoulder.
I follow his eyes with my own, feeling them widen. Not only did I bite him, I did it hard enough to leave an imprint of all my teeth in his flesh. Around the front edge, it’s a deep purple.
“Oh my god. I . . . I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did that to you.” I touch the teeth marks softly with the tips of my fingers.
“Baby, this is like a badge of honor.” My eyes fly to his. “Knowing I made you come so hard with just my fingers”—he shakes his head—“I can’t wait to see how you react when you finally get my cock.”
“You did not just say that.”
“Why not? It’s the truth. Have you ever come that hard before?”
“Yes.” I leave out that the last time he made me come with his fingers I came just as hard—maybe even harder—only then I wasn’t worried about Maddi hearing me, so I didn’t bite him.
“Yeah, with me,” he says smugly.
I narrow my eyes, wondering if he really can read my mind.
“I need to shower.” I pull my hips back, but his fingers don’t leave me. Instead he presses them deeper inside me, making me gasp.
“You can’t be pissed that you got an orgasm.”
“I’m not. I’m pissed that you’re smug about giving me an orgasm.”
“I’ve got you under me. There’s a lot to be smug about.”
“Are you always this annoying in the morning?” I snap.
He grins. “I don’t know, but I guess you’ll find out.”
“Maybe I won’t. Maybe you’ll be waking up alone from now on,” I say.
He buries his face in my neck and laughs. I want to think he’s annoying, but really I love the sound of his laughter—and I really love the way it feels against my skin.
“I won’t be waking up alone. If I have my way, I won’t be waking up alone ever again.” He kisses my neck, then rolls us over.
I blink, realizing we are both somehow now standing next to the bed.
“Go shower.” He kisses my nose, then taps my bottom before walking out of the room without a shirt. I watch his muscular back and smile to myself before heading into the bathroom.
“Have so much fun! Send lots of pictures to your dad’s cell so that I can see them,” I tell Maddi, whose arms are wrapped around my waist.
She looks up at me, smiling. “I will.” She gives her dad another hug, then heads to the door.
Lisa and David are waiting for her in the hall, talking to Levi and Fawn—whom we had breakfast with this morning. Once she’s there, David lifts her up and asks if she’s ready to go. She nods at him.
I feel Lucas close by. I lean into him when his arm wraps around my shoulder. I wrap my arms around his middle and rest my head on his chest.