I leaned on the doorframe, taking in the sight of Avery in the morning. She stood, feet crossed, fingers drumming on the counter as she watched the coffee drip into the glass container. I shook my head in amusement at her impatience. She had told me about her addiction to caffeine and her deep love of coffee. She was still in my socks, wearing an old jersey of my dad’s I had given her to change into last night, SPENCER in large letters across her back. It was worn and thin, and I loved seeing her in it. She looked adorable and very sexy. I liked having my name on her. My dick twitched a little in my pants in agreement.
I cleared my throat, and her head snapped up, a heartfelt smile lighting up her face. I sucked in a fast breath. If I thought she looked right last night, this morning she was perfect in my kitchen. Her hair was long and messy, like a burst of sunshine around her shoulders. Her eyes were sleepy but they held such warmth, my chest constricted.
“Hi.” She appeared wary. “I, ah, made coffee. I hope that’s okay.”
“More than okay.”
“I woke up earlier and you were gone. I had thought you went to the clinic, but Lucy was still here, so I assumed you were, as well.”
“I was downstairs. I have a small gym and I work out every morning.” With a sly grin, I flexed my arms. “I do a lot of lifting in my line of work. Gotta keep up my strength.”
Her gaze roamed my torso, her stare open and frank.
I met her gaze with one of my own.
“It’s working,” she praised. “Whatever you’re doing. Keep it up.”
I almost told her I would have no problem keeping it up for her, then decided action was a better plan.
I strode across the kitchen and had her on the counter in about two seconds flat.
She let out a little squeak when her legs hit the cold stone, but it turned into a whimper as soon as I tucked her against me and kissed her. Long, slow, and deep, my tongue explored her mouth, and I lost myself to the sensation of holding her close.
“You look so right here, Avery.” I kissed her again. “In my kitchen.” Kiss. “In my clothes.” Kiss. “I want to see that every morning.” Kiss. “Every.” Kiss. “Morning.” Kiss.
She held me closer, her arms tightening around my neck. “It feels right, Daniel.”
I liked starting my morning this way.
“What’s in the container?”
“Oh, I made your lunch. It’s just the leftover spaghetti. I didn’t know if you took it with you or came home . . . So yeah, I, ah, just got it ready.”
“Thank you. I’ll take it with me. It’s another busy day.”
“Okay.” She took a sip of coffee. “There’s enough left for dinner for you tonight, as well.”
“Great. Wait . . . Are you not having dinner with me tonight?” I frowned. “I called dibs yesterday.” A thought hit me and I stared at her, as my stomach clenched. “Unless you already have plans?”
“No! I, um, just didn’t want to assume anything. I didn’t want you to think you had to . . .”
I reached out and took her coffee cup from her hand, hunching down so our eyes were level. “Dibs. Tonight, tomorrow, the weekend. Any time you want to give me, I want. As long as it’s what you want, as well. Understand?”
“Really?”
“Oh, Avery.” I smirked and ran my fingers through her messy hair. “I don’t even know how I’m going to let you go this morning. I kinda wish you were a woodland Sprite.” I kissed the end of her nose. “Then I could put you in my pocket and keep you all day.” I chuckled wickedly. “God knows the havoc you’d wreak in my pocket though. I might scare people.”
“How do you do that?” she whispered, her eyes wide.
“Do what?”
“Make me feel so . . . wanted.”
I wrapped her up in my arms. “You are wanted. So very much.”
Avery
I was in a daze all morning. More than once I had to recheck figures in reports I was working on, and twice in our morning meeting, my thoughts had wandered.