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7

RHODES

W aking up with Larkin was like realizing you were in a dream that didn’t end. It was amazing and surreal.

But Larkin was definitely a bed hog.

We had started in the middle of her double bed – she definitely needed a bigger bed – but now my ass was practically hanging off the edge and she was all but completely on top of me, her head resting against my chest, her hand splayed dangerously low on my stomach.

I was glad I had taken off my shirt before we slipped into her bed since my girl was a miniature furnace.

I wasn’t as glad she opted to put on a shirt before going to bed.

I stroked the back of her hand, marveling at the soft skin, how much smaller her fingers were than mine.

I had screwed plenty of girls in my life, but I hadn’t ever slept with one. Larkin was my first.

I wasn’t an asshole. Not completely. I had never kicked a girl out of my bed, but if she crashed there, I just crashed... elsewhere. Sleeping with someone felt too intimate, too intense.

Looking down at Larkin, watching the way her dark lashes fanned out across the soft swell of her cheek, the way her heart shaped mouth was softly parted as she breathed, I knew I wasn’t wrong.

There was something sacred in this moment.

“Oh, God,” she muttered, turning her face into my shoulder with a groan. “It’s so freaking early. Turn the damn sun down.”

Like I said, sacred.

Chuckling, I kissed the top of her head.

Her body went stiff on top of mine and she slowly lifted her head from my chest, her eyes round and wide.

“Hey,” I said softly, tucking a lock of tangled dark hair behind her ear.

“I didn’t dream this?” she whispered, her eyes searching mine.

“You didn’t dream this,” I assured her.

She didn’t look convinced. “Are you sure? Because this is a lot like the dream I had last week. And the week before that. And basically multiple times every week for the last five years.”

I rolled her onto her back, pressing her into the mattress, my lips kissing the delicate skin of her neck.

“Not.”

I kissed her jaw.

“A.”

Her cheek.

“Dream.”

Her lips.

Her mouth immediately opened for me, welcoming me, her arms looping around my shoulders and pulling me closer.

“Still feels like a dream,” she murmured against my mouth, smiling.

“A good dream?”

Her eyes opened. “The best dream.”

I tried not to grind against her, but it was morning and she was radiating serious heat from where her hips cradled me between her legs. I could definitely get used to waking up like this.

She made a sudden face, her nose wrinkling. “I have to pee.”

Dropping my head to her shoulder, I laughed loudly, my shoulders shaking.

She pushed me off, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Watching her walk away from the bed, her ass in a tiny pair of shorts, I could no longer blame my rock hard dick on it being morning.

Minutes later she was coming out of the bathroom, hesitating in the doorway, her expression worried.

“What’s up?” I propped myself up on my elbows, waiting for her to come to me.

She meandered to the edge of the bed, climbing up and sitting on her knees facing me.

“It’s morning.”

“I’m aware,” I remarked, not sure where she was going.

She twisted her hands in the fluffy pink comforter we had been wrapped in. “Do you still want to talk? About... us?”

I sat up, making sure I had her eyes before speaking. “Absolutely.”

Her shoulders dropped with relief, a smile breaking across her face. “Good.”

I reached for her, tangling my fingers in hers. “We definitely need to talk. And we’re definitely going to talk. Why don’t I run back to my house and take a shower?”

She nodded, her smile tight. “Yeah. Shower definitely sounds... good.”

Something in her tone made me pause. “You okay?”

A soft flush started at her neck, working its way up her cheeks. “I’m a little... sore.”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to smirk or slap myself.

But it helped me remember that I definitely needed to take things at Larkin’s speed.

“But that’s normal, right?” she asked quickly. She waved it off. “Ignore me.”

I snorted. Ignoring Larkin wasn’t an option.

I tugged on her hand until she fell forward, crashing into my chest. I kissed her quickly. “What happened last night? We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”

She reared back, her eyebrows flying towards her hairline. “Who said I wasn’t ready?”

I frowned. “You said—”

“That I was a little sore, yeah,” she muttered, ducking her head. “But we’re definitely doing that again... right?”

I chuckled, unable to keep my hands off of her. “Whatever you want, Lark.”

She lifted her eyes to mine. “And if I want... more?”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, trying to remind myself which head was in charge here as all blood rushed south. “We can talk about that, too.”

“Okay,” she agreed with an easy smile. She kissed me quickly, pulling away just as fast. “I’ll meet you at your house? After you shower? That way you can work on the motorcycle this afternoon if you want?”

I tried not to smirk. That wasn’t the engine I was hoping to have purring in my hands this afternoon, but sure.