Lace (Just This Once 4)

He raises his chin until our eyes meet. “You want me to stay?”

I want to comfort him. “Yes.”

He pushes to his feet, yanking his phone from his jacket pocket. “I told Phoebe to call if she needs anything. I’ll need to leave the ringer on high.”

“You can put it on the nightstand next to your pillow.”

A ghost of a grin floats over his lips. “Thank you for this, Olivia.”

“Let’s sleep.” I stand and reach for his hand. “Come with me.”

***

I’ve been watching him sleep for almost an hour. I woke shortly before six. I’m not used to sleeping next to someone else.

I found comfort in every movement he made. He tossed and turned until he finally settled on his back with his arm over his head.

He looks masculine and sexy with my blanket resting just below his stomach.

I can see the trail of dark hair that disappears out of view.

He’s nude. He dropped all of his clothes on the floor before he climbed into my bed.

I tossed my robe onto a chair in the corner before I joined him.

He talked about Alvin and the teenage babysitter who cooked for him. She had gotten sick too, but she was released soon after she arrived at the ER. Alvin ate more of the fish she prepared for the two of them than she did.

When he laughed about Alvin never wanting to eat fish again, I joined in.

It was easy and fun and when he kissed me goodnight I felt the promise of more, but he put his head back on the pillow and drifted to sleep.

I reach to turn off the alarm on my phone. I know it’s set to buzz in five minutes.

“You’re not going to leave me here alone, are you?” Alexander’s voice in the morning is pure sinfulness.

It’s gravelly and thick.

I turn back toward it. “I was just about to wake you.”

His eyes are barely open, his hair a mess. He’s sporting a shadow over his jaw and a smile on his lips.

“Thank you, Olivia.”

“For?” I ask so there’s no confusion.

He motions me closer with his arm. I move quickly, resting my head against his chest.

I settle in, smelling the scent of his skin, feeling the roughness of his trimmed chest hair against my skin.

He circles his arm around me. “You let me stay with you.”

I press a kiss to his chest. “You were exhausted.”

“You were kind.” He returns the favor by kissing my forehead. “I wouldn’t have slept at home. I would have stayed up all night replaying the image of Alvin on that hospital stretcher in my mind over and over again.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

“Help me now.” His voice drifts into a seductive tone.