Page 6 of Too Sweet
Neither of us says anything for a beat. He bends forward, kissing my forehead and brushing a few stray hairs away from my face. I revel in the contentment settling around us. His steadiness and comfort are as grounding as the cabin itself.
After the full minute passes, I murmur, “Thank you for loving me so well.”
He grasps my face in his hands, then kisses me deeply and reverently, but pulls back before it can build to anything more.
“Always, Siren. Through every storm. I live and breathe for you, Josephine.”
My breath catches, and my heart does riotous somersaults in my chest. I’m so affected by his words and proximity. I’m also desperate for more.
I pull him back down to me, feeling all sorts of needy. Growly and grouchy or surly and serious are Decker’s go-to modes. But soft and sweet Decker gets me every time.
“Come here,” I urge, trying to pull him onto the couch—or, more accurately, ontome.
Groaning, he shakes his head. He pecks me on the lips once more, then rises to stand. “I have to get dinner started. Otherwise it won’t be ready until midnight. That’s why I asked about what you’ve eaten today.” He scratches the back of his neck, gazing down. “Dinner won’t be ready for several hours… I just wanted to make sure you eat something now if you’re hungry.”
I hold my hands out, and Decker takes them, pulling me off the couch.
“I love you.” I push up on tiptoes, but he still has to bend to kiss me once more. “I’ll grab a snack, then I think I’m going to take a nap.”
Stifling a yawn with the back of one hand, I keep hold of Decker as he guides me toward the kitchen.
I can hear the others joking around, probably getting things unloaded from the car and unpacked in the kitchen.
It feels like my heart is floating in my chest as the sounds of their banter, joy, and laughter follow me through the cabin.
Chapter 3
Joey
The deep sedation of sleep has me so drowsy I can barely open my eyes. I have no idea how long I’ve been napping. I suspect a few hours, given how sated I feel. I’m relaxed from my scalp to my toes.
I let myself roll around the enormous bed—an upgrade to the primary suite we made over the holidays—stretching out all my limbs and savoring the delicious chill of the sheets.
The crisp coolness won’t last, so I’ll enjoy it now while I can. Tonight, with any luck, I’ll have multiple men warming this bed.
When I finally crack my eyelids open, I’m startled to see a glowing blue light from the corner of the room.
It only takes my brain a few seconds to catch up. Kylian. Sitting in the dark. Scrolling on his phone. And now that I’m awake, staring right back at me.
“It’s creepy to watch people sleep.” I sit up against the headboard and pull the blankets with me so they’re tucked under my chin.
Kylian sets the device down, but keeps the screen pointed up, presumably so we can still see each other.
“I’ve watched you sleep almost every night since we’ve been together,” he states.
“What?” I laugh. “No way.”
“Yes way,” he counters. “Every night we’ve been apart since we got together. Except for last weekend. I tried to convince K to stay on the phone after we were done with virtual phone sex, but he refused. He claimed the light would bother you while you slept.”
My cheeks heat at the memories of last weekend. Kendrick and I were at the NFL Scouting Combine. After we celebrated his amazing performance in the hotel shower, we FaceTimed the other guys and let them celebrate with us, too.
“Why?” I ask. My voice is soft and breathy.
He rises from the chair and stalks toward me, backlit by the illumination from his phone. He’s exquisite in the blue light, his handsome face and high cheekbones accentuated by the glow and sharp angles of his glasses.
When he’s beside the bed, he grips my chin and tips my head back slightly.
“I watch you because I’m obsessed with you. Every breath you take, I want to witness. Each little sigh in your sleep, I want to hear. Every smile. Every grimace. I want to see them all. I need to remember them. Commit them to memory.”