Page 30

K enzie is still asleep when I wake up.

For a long moment, I just lie there, watching the slow, steady rise and fall of her breath, the way her hair spills across my pillow, the way her body bends slightly toward mine, like even in sleep, she’s drawn to me.

Something in my chest tightens.

Because this feels too good.

Too easy.

Too much like something I shouldn’t let myself have.

She shifts slightly, murmuring something incoherent before stretching her legs beneath the sheets. My body reacts instantly to the soft brush of her skin against mine, but I force myself to stay still. To just absorb the moment.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that moments like this don’t last.

And the last thing I want to do is ruin it.

I glance at the clock. For once, I don’t have to be anywhere early. There’s no rush. No need to move.

So I stay.

I let myself enjoy the rare quiet, the rare feeling of waking up next to someone who doesn’t make me feel like I need to be anything other than this—just a man in bed with a woman he doesn’t want to let go of.

Kenzie exhales slowly, her body stretching again before she finally stirs awake.

Her lashes flutter against her cheeks, her nose scrunching slightly before she finally blinks up at me, her green eyes still heavy with sleep.

For a second, she just stares.

Then, slowly, a lazy, satisfied smile pulls at her lips.

“Morning,” she murmurs, her voice still rough with sleep.

God help me, I love that sound.

“Morning,” I say, letting my knuckles brush lightly down her arm.

She watches me, something unreadable flickering behind her gaze. Then she shifts closer, her bare legs tangling with mine beneath the sheets. “Do you always wake up this early?”

“Habit.”

Kenzie hums, her fingers sliding lazily up my chest. “That’s unfortunate. You could’ve let me sleep on you a little longer.”

A low chuckle rumbles in my chest. “Didn’t stop you last night.”

Her smile curves, her fingers still making aimless circles against my skin. “I sleep better when I’m wrapped around something warm.”

My grip tightens slightly at her waist. “You going to stay, then?”

I don’t mean it as a loaded question.

But it is.

Her fingers still for half a second—barely noticeable, but I catch it. Then she lifts her head, pressing a soft, unhurried kiss to the center of my chest.

“Yeah,” she whispers. “I think I am.”

Kenzie doesn’t move right away. She just lies there, tucked against my chest, her fingertips still brushing across my skin. It’s distracting. Dangerous. Because if she keeps touching me like this, I’m not going to let her out of this bed anytime soon.

She exhales slowly, her breath warm against my collarbone. “So… what’s the plan for today?”

I slide my hand up her spine, letting my fingers brush the back of her neck. “Depends. You in a rush to leave?”

Her lips press against my chest, right over my heart. That tiny, unspoken reassurance that she’s not going anywhere.

“No rush,” she murmurs.

My stomach tightens.

This is new. This feeling. This not knowing what happens next but not needing to either.

I’ve had women in my bed before. Casual things. Simple. Fleeting. And none of them ever stuck around after the sun came up.

But Kenzie? She’s still here.

And fuck if I don’t want her to stay.

She stretches slightly, her bare legs tangling with mine beneath the sheets as she lets out a slow, sleepy sigh. “Are you always this quiet in the morning?”

I smirk, running my palm down the curve of her spine. “I like to let my coffee kick in before I start entertaining you.”

Kenzie huffs a soft laugh, propping herself up on one elbow so she can look at me. The way the morning light filters through the curtains, catching the green in her eyes, nearly knocks the breath out of me.

A low growl rumbles in my chest as I tighten my grip, flipping her onto her back before she can react. A surprised gasp escapes her lips as I pin her beneath me, my forearms bracketing her in.

Her smile doesn’t fade.

If anything, it deepens.

Her hands slide up my arms, her nails digging in just enough to send a shiver through me. “Little aggressive for a guy who hasn’t had his coffee yet,” she murmurs, eyes dancing with amusement.

I lean down, brushing my lips against her jaw, enjoying the way her breath catches. “Keep teasing me, Flight, and I’ll show you exactly how much energy I’ve got left.”

Her laugh is soft, but there’s a challenge in her gaze as she tilts her chin up, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Tempting. But I was promised breakfast.”

I groan, dropping my forehead against hers. This woman is going to kill me.

She smirks. “What’s the matter, Coach? Need a minute to recover?”

“Keep testing me and you’re going to miss breakfast entirely.”

Kenzie giggles, shoving at my chest until I roll off her. She sits up, stretching her arms over her head before shooting me a teasing grin. “Fine. But only because I’m starving. And I want to see if you’re as good in the kitchen in the morning as you were last night.”

I smirk, sitting up beside her. “Guess you’ll just have to come find out.”

And just like that, I know—this is how I want my mornings to start from now on.

Kenzie follows me into the kitchen, still wrapped in one of my t-shirts, her bare legs making it really damn hard to focus on anything but how good she looks in my clothes.

I grab the coffee pot and start pouring, trying to keep my thoughts from drifting into dangerous territory. But when I turn around and catch her perched on the counter, swinging her legs, eyes bright with mischief—I’m officially screwed.

She tilts her head, watching me. “So, are you actually making breakfast, or was that just a stalling tactic so you didn’t have to admit I was right?”

I smirk, setting her mug in front of her. “Right about what?”

She grins. “That you’re obsessed with me.”

I chuckle, stepping between her legs, my hands settling on her thighs. “I don’t remember saying that.”

She hums, sipping her coffee, her lips smiling over the rim of the mug. “You don’t have to. It’s obvious.”

I arch a brow. “Yeah? How’s that?”

Kenzie sets the mug down and leans in, her lips hovering just over mine. “Because you let me steal your favorite hoodie last night,” she whispers. “And you made me coffee before yourself this morning.”

I exhale slowly, my fingers tightening on her legs. “That all it takes?”

She bites her lower lip, trying—and failing—to hold back a smile.

God, she’s so damn beautiful.

I don’t think. I just react. My hand slides up her spine, tangling in her hair, pulling her closer. Her breath catches, her fingers gripping the front of my shirt.

“Careful, Flight,” I murmur. “Keep talking like that, and you’re going to end up back in bed before you get breakfast.”

She exhales a laugh, tilting her head. “That a threat or a promise?”

“Both.”

Her smile deepens. “Noted.”

For a long moment, neither of us moves.

Then, just when I think she’s about to give in, Kenzie pulls back with a smirk, nudging my chest.

“Food first,” she says, all faux innocence. “Then whatever comes next.”

I groan, dragging a hand down my face. This woman is going to kill me.

She laughs, slipping off the counter, brushing against me as she moves toward the fridge. Like she didn’t just ruin me in five seconds flat.

I shake my head, watching her. Falling for her was the easiest mistake I’ve ever made.

Kenzie leans into my fridge like she owns the place.

She’s barely been awake for an hour, and already, she’s taking up space in my home like she belongs here.

She pops her head up from behind the fridge door, holding a carton of eggs, her messy, sleep-tousled hair making her look way too damn good, and my brain short-circuits.

She eyes me. “You good over there?”

I blink, my mouth curving. “You always this comfortable raiding a man’s kitchen?”

She grins. “Only when he promises me breakfast and then gets distracted.”

I chuckle, reaching for the pan on the stove. “Alright, alright. Sit your ass down and let me work.”

Kenzie drops onto a stool at the island, propping her chin in her hand. “You sure you know what you’re doing, Coach?”

I smirk, cracking an egg into the pan. “You doubting my skills?”

She sighs dramatically. “Guess I’ll find out soon enough.”

The next few minutes pass in comfortable silence, the sound of sizzling eggs filling the kitchen. I can feel her watching me, can practically hear the smirk in her gaze.

Finally, she says, “You’re full of surprises, you know that?”

I glance over my shoulder. “How so?”

She shrugs, stealing a piece of toast from the plate beside me. “Just… I didn’t expect this.”

I raise a brow. “Didn’t expect what?”

Her lips curve around her bite of toast. “You.”

I turn back to the stove, gripping the handle of the pan a little too tightly. Because that? That’s too real.

I wasn’t expecting this either.

But now that I have her here, now that she’s in my kitchen, stealing my toast, making me feel things I shouldn’t be feeling…

I don’t want to let her go.

I clear my throat, flipping the eggs onto plates. “You saying I’m exceeding expectations?”

Kenzie hums. “Jury’s still out.”

I slide her plate in front of her and arch a brow. “Let me know after breakfast.”

She grins, taking a forkful. Then, after a slow, exaggerated chew, she sighs.

“Okay, Silver Fox,” she says, setting her fork down. “You win this round.”

I smirk, nudging my knee against hers under the counter. “Damn right I do.”

She laughs, shaking her head, and just like that, I know I’m in deep.

Too deep.

I don’t want this morning to end.