Fat Cat Liar

Her heartbeat picks up, the vein in her neck pulsing faster against my mouth, telling me she’s waking up.

“Good morning.” I nip on her earlobe then kiss the skin underneath, feeling her shudder slightly.

“Morning,” she whispers, her voice low and raspy. “What time is it?”

“Barely past dawn.”

“Do you ever sleep?”

“My body is programmed to wake early. Comes with working in construction.”

“Even on Sundays?”

“Even on Sundays,” I confirm.

She unlatches her legs and turns to me, resting her face inches from mine. Her eyes scan my face, and she raises a hand to cup my cheek. “You stayed.”

“I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“I thought it all might have been a dream.”

“Depends on what you dream about.”

“You. I dreamed about you.” Her honesty guts me, and I drop my forehead to hers, unable to face the trust in her eyes.

“Jesus, Greer,” is all I can say.

She scrubs her hand up my cheek and into my hair, holding my head to hers. “Where are your glasses?”

“On your nightstand.”

The pad of her thumb sweeps across one eyelash delicately. “I love your glasses, but I love this, too. You have beautiful eyes.”

“That’s my line.”

Her face softens. “Sorry I fell asleep. Twice. I fel

l asleep on you twice last night.”

“Don’t be sorry.”

“Maybe we can make it a habit.”

“After waking up with you in my arms, that’s a given.”

She adjusts her knee, rubbing it against me, and her eyes crinkle in confusion. “Is that… Is that a towel?”

“Yeah, once I got you in bed, I took a shower and didn’t have any clean clothes.”

“You took a shower?”

“Yes.”

“You were naked in my house, in my shower, and I slept through the whole thing?” Her squeal causes me to flinch.

“Baby, I’m right here.”

“But I missed it!”