Page 43 of Claim My Baby (Crescent Cove 2)

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I would return often to check on her. My threatened balls weren’t more important than her well-being.

“Oliver.”

Her voice was thick with fatigue and so low I could barely hear it. My gut lurched just the same.

I was never going to be able to leave now. I didn’t want to.

“Shh, get some sleep. I’ll be right next door—”

“No. Too far.” She flung out an arm and indicated the other half of the enormous King bed. She looked so tiny in the center of that enormous space. So vulnerable and sweet.

Fuck, my dick twitched. I couldn’t help it. She was so beautiful. I took in that spray of long blond hair over the pristine pillows, the heavy fringe of lashes that cast shadows on her cheeks, the pale pink bow of her lips.

Every fiber of my body strained toward her, and my brain threw up roadblock after roadblock.

“Oliver,” she said again, stronger now. She still hadn’t opened her eyes. “Your smell’s still too far away. Come to bed.”

It made me laugh. I wasn’t entirely sure if she wanted me for me or my musk.

Or the fact that you’re a convenient penis. Don’t forget that part. Thanks, brother.

Right then, I didn’t care. I’d never spooned with a woman before in my life, but I had a feeling tonight would be a first.

In a lot of ways.

I toed off my shoes, then shed my clothes down to my boxers and set them on a nearby chair. Bring the wallet or no? The debate lasted far longer than it should have.

In the end, I left it behind. No assumptions, remember? I stood at the foot of the bed, studying the steady rise and fall of her chest. Perhaps she’d fallen asleep again.

; “I’m awake. Ish.” It was as if she could read my thoughts. Disconcerting as hell. She wiggled her fingers. “Come on, big boy. I won’t bite.”

“So you keep saying.”

I got in on the opposite side, then hesitated, my back propped against the headboard. Now what? Just lie down? Roll toward her and seem available for possible snuggling?

Christ, why was this all so fucking hard?

Normally, I didn’t give any of this stuff a second thought. Second or third-date sex didn’t require such intense scrutiny. Now I was overanalyzing every step.

That damn virginity of hers was slowing my roll to a stop.

“Still too far,” she mumbled, rolling over and inching across the bed until her head was in my lap.

Nope, already played this scenario once tonight. It wasn’t occurring again until she got some of her own back. I wasn’t a saint, but I also wasn’t a selfish son of a bitch.

At least not with her.

Luckily, I didn’t have to shift her away because she did that all on her own. She didn’t go far, instead pressing her cheek into the side of my thigh. “Too far away up there.” Her voice was muffled by the bedding.

I slid down the bed and let out a startled oomph as she rolled half onto me, attaching herself as if I were her own personal body pillow. One leg went over both of mine, her arm draped over my waist and her mouth landed at the base of my throat.

She smelled so fresh and clean. That sunshine and fresh air scent clung especially strongly to her hair, and I tilted my head to take a long, leisurely sniff.

“Smelling me?” she muttered as heat singed my ears. “I do that too with you.” She buried her nose in the crook between my neck and shoulder. “So yummy.”