Blessed

"I do not snore!" she protests, laughing up at me. "I have never snored a day in my life."

"You snored yourself awake," I say with a mischievous grin, nuzzling the side of her neck to make her laugh. "You and lumberjacks have a lot in common. I’ve never heard anyone snore so loudly in all my life, and that includes my Grandpa Jack."

"No way!" she says through her laughter. "You’re so full of shit, your eyes have turned brown."

"Well that explains so much about my appearance." I nuzzle the side of her neck, and whisper, "I’d rather make you full of something else." I know that’s such a cheesy pick-up line, but I can’t help myself. Being around Brittney is fun and freeing at a level I’ve never experienced before. I’m free to be cheesy, dammit.

"Oh fuck, what time is it?" She rolls over – out of my arms – and grabs her phone.

My arms miss her already.

As does my dick.

"Dammit, I gotta go!" she says, springing out of bed. "I’d love to take you up on your offer later though. After work? Or later this week?"

She’s shoving her clothes back on as she talks, and I slowly watch her beautiful body be covered up by layers of clothes – first a bra, then a camisole, then a silk blouse.

It’s painful to watch her skin disappear like that, but a part of me knows that I can’t just kidnap her and force her to stay in my bed for the next year.

Or two.

"Yeah, why don’t you text me a time and place. We can meet up tonight. Wherever is good for you."

"Thanks, babe," she says, leaning over and kissing me quickly on the mouth. I ache for more, but she’s heading out the door and so I have to content myself with the knowledge that I get to see her tonight.

I can’t wait.

Brittney

I’m sitting in the Emporio Armani with Erica and Ashley, sipping demurely at my bitch beer. I don’t want to get drunk tonight – I want to remember it. Like all nights with Kaden.

He’s going to be late, but I forgive him. I know he has a lot on his plate right now, and just being able to see him is worth all the waiting in the world.

"You sure seem happy tonight," Ashley says with a wicked grin.

"If you’d been in Kaden’s bed last night, you would be happy today too," I say with a matching wicked grin. All day today, I couldn’t stop smiling. Floating on air is such a perfect description for me today. I don’t think my feet have touched the ground.

"Hey ladies!" A guy shows up at my elbow, leaning in over the table top towards me. His cologne is overwhelming and I instinctively lean away.

"Hi," Erica says drily. She’s not impressed either.

"Can I buy you another one?" he asks me, nodding towards my raspberry Smirnoff.

"Oh no, I’m fine," I say with a cheerful grin. Even Mr. Overbearing with Too Much Cologne On can’t ruin my happy mood. "I’m waiting for my boyfriend to show up. You might know him – Kaden Charles?"

I shouldn’t have said that to a complete stranger, I know that, but I also know that almost everyone around knows of the Boy Wonder, and I can’t help but imply that I’m way above this guy’s paygrade.

"Hold on, you actually fell for that?!" He throws his head back and laughs. "I thought you were too smart for that bullshit. That’s why I came over tonight – I figured you were still single."

"Fell for…fell for what?"

"He stalked you, sister. He called all of his research team in, and had them pull every bit of information out of your past so he could use it to get into your panties. Let me guess – did he ask you to go out onto his yacht?"

Mortified, I can only jerk my head yes.

"Hansen figured that one out. I’m the one who dug deep enough to know that you have 3 weeks and 5 days of vacation time piled up at Carter Jeffries, and if you don’t take at least a week’s vacation by the 30th, they’ll have to pay you for a week of it, which apparently they’re not happy about."

I’m just gaping, my mouth is gaping open, no words, because they’re all in my head.