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“For what? If you decided you really liked it, I’d give you more. You can have as much honey as you want.” I realized the double meaning just as Bren started laughing.

“I can, can I?” she asked, putting her arms around me from behind and resting her chin on my shoulder.

“Yes. You can.”

She could have everything.

Brenand I had our snacks on the couch as we snuggled together with the cat. It was sweet and domestic and what I’d always imagined with her. And with Bibliofile, to an extent, even if I hadn’t known what she looked like. I did now and I could insert Bren in all those fantasies I’d had.

I fed Bren a cracker topped with prosciutto, cheese, and a drizzle of the hot honey.

“It’s really good. The honey, I mean,” she said.

“Thanks. The jalapeños were an experiment and I had no idea if they were going to grow or if they were going to work with the honey, but it all turned out well.”

“It was a good idea,” she said, and I smiled at the praise.

“Thanks.”

“Did you do your logo?” she asked.

“Yeah, I did. I also painted the bee.”

She sat up, surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. Watercolors are one of my hobbies. I’ve been doing them since I was a teenager. Partially inspired by Beatrix Potter.” I’d wanted to feel closer to my namesake and wound up loving the medium. Water was unpredictable. You could have all the skills and control in the world, but it would do what it was going to do. I liked that. There was also a softness to watercolors that made me happy.

“You’re talented,” she said.

“Wow, you’re full of praise tonight. My ego is going to start swelling.”

Bren looked at my chest.

“That’s not my ego, Bren,” I said, laughing.

She licked her lips. “No, but they’re spectacular.”

My chest had always been large, and when I was younger I’d hated it but over the years I’d grown to accept my body the way it was, and I liked the way Bren looked at me.

“You’re pretty spectacular yourself, Bren.” Everything about her was incredible.

Her cheeks went pink. “Thank you.”

God, her blush was so cute. Bren was incredibly sexy, but she also had these adorable moments and all of it mixed together was dangerous for my heart and my libido.

If she wasn’t careful, I was going to throw caution to the wind and press her back on the couch so I could show her just how much I appreciated her body.

“You’re welcome,” I said, holding myself still so I didn’t attack her.

Bren yawned.

We both had a full day at the marketplace tomorrow, and it was going to be rough when my alarm went off, but I’d miss some sleep in exchange for time with Bren like this.

Just the act of being able to touch her felt indulgent. Almost like I was getting away with something.

“I should go,” I said, but didn’t move at all.

Bren nodded. “Yeah. If we’re not careful I’m going to fall asleep like this. I don’t think I’ve ever been this comfortable.”