I tried lifting my head an inch or so off the pillow. Never opening my eyes.
“Hmm?”
He laughed softly, and the beam of light let in by the door grew wider as he made his way over and perched on the side of the mattress. A gentle hand stroked back my hair, and I opened my eyes to see him staring down with a tender smile.
“It’s only ten o’clock, sweetie. Is everything okay?”
Sweetie. I loved it when he called me sweetie.
My lips curved up in a sleepy smile.
“I’m full of mashed potatoes and chocolate ice cream. That, and I’ve been sexed into oblivion. I couldn’t possibly stay awake.”
He laughed again, twirling a stray lock of hair between his fingers.
“So you met Marina, then.”
I gazed up curiously.
“Who?”
“The woman who brought the food.”
An image of Mrs. Claus flashed through my head, and I nodded.
“Oh yeah—her.” I stretched up my arms with a sleepy yawn. “I was in the hot tub when she came in. I’m pretty sure she saw my breasts.”
His eyes twinkled with mischief.
“Abby, I fucked you against a skyscraper window. I’m pretty sure all of Manhattan has seen your breasts.”
I smacked him half-heartedly in the arm.
“That’s not funny. You know, I’m pretty sure there was a guy down there with binoculars. I see him...” I trailed off with another yawn. “I see him all the time...”
He grinned and pulled up the comforter higher up around me.
“Okay, back to dreamland for you.”
I nodded with a sleepy smile and nestled back into the pillows. The tips of his hair brushed against my cheek as he leaned down to kiss my forehead. A kiss both sweet and chaste.
But instead of straightening back up, he paused. Hovering a few inches above me.
“Abby,” he spoke softly, “do you mind if I sleep in here tonight?”
My eyes fluttered opened again, and fixed on him curiously. The next second, they widened in self-defense.
“Nick, I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I’m really not up for any more—”
“No sex,” he said quickly, “just...sleep.”
There was a deep uncertainty to the way he was asking, and as I gazed up at him in the darkness, I could swear he looked almost shy.
“Of course you can.”
Without another word, I scooted over on the mattress to make room. He turned off the light in the hall, undressed quickly, then slid under the covers beside me. For a moment, we both just lay there. Then, ever so tentatively, he slid his arm around my shoulders.
It was a good thing it was dark. He couldn’t see the giant grin that spread across my face.