***
"I have to go to work." I nestle my head on his chest. "I'm sorry I can't stay with you all day again."
I want to more than anything, but I heard him telling Nolan on the phone last night that he'd be in the office today. I have a job to do too.
We made love in the living room before we had a long, hot bath together. I took him in my mouth as he stood up to towel dry and with the steam enveloping us, he shot his release on my lips before I licked it as he watched.
He was desperate for more, but we were exhausted. Our bodies sated, our hearts connected and when we got in his bed together, sleep found us quickly.
"Have lunch with me." He doesn't open his eyes. "There's no fucking way I'm going to get through an entire day without kissing you or copping a feel of your tits."
I laugh. "You're feeling better today."
He reaches down to stroke his fingertips over his semi-hard cock as he cracks open one eyelid. "See for yourself how good I feel."
I lick my bottom lip. "You're insatiable."
"Get used to it, woman." His fingers tap dance on my shoulder. "I need to make up for all the years I wasn't fucking you."
"I need to go." I sigh as I stare at him. "You make it hard to walk away."
"You make it hard, period." He strokes the length of his cock. "Tell me the clinic changed its hours and you're clocking in at five a.m."
I let out a tiny laugh. "It's almost nine."
"For fuck's sake," he says in a rough voice. "What are you doing to me? That's twice now that I've overslept by four hours."
"Maybe your body is telling you that sleep is more important than work." I brush my lips over his. "The world won't crumble if you sleep in once in a while."
"You're more important than anything." He holds me in place. "I'll see you at noon outside t
he clinic."
"I can't today. There's a staff meeting for all the vet assistants at noon." I kiss him once more before I hop out of bed. "I'll see you tonight back here. I love you, Crew."
His hands fist together on his chest. "My heart is yours, Ad. I love you. I always will."
Chapter 47
Crew
"How are you doing?" Nolan waltzes into my office. I've been here for a total of ten minutes. I knew he'd make an appearance within the first thirty. "I'm sorry about Eli."
He's not sorry Eli's dead. He's sorry that my chance to have a father died in the hospital bed with him. "I'm all right."
I'm not. How the fuck could I be?
Damaris, my dad's death and then a confessional to Adley.
I have no idea how the hell I'm still upright.
"Ellie sent flowers to Pauline." He sits in one of the chairs in front of my desk. "She doesn't know the whole story since it's never been mine to tell."
I nod in appreciation. I can count on Nolan to be loyal. He knows I would never betray him either.
Since we met, he's always been my brother. We don't speak of our bond often, but we both understand and value it.
"I told Ad I love her."