Page 170 of Cautious Love

I sigh and he pecks my nose before throwing himself on the bed next to me.

“That was…” I trail off. There are no words for that.

He turns his head, and I look him in the eye. He laughs, which makes me laugh. Curling up to his side, he chuckles and kisses my head.

“That good, huh?” he asks.

I slap his chest playfully. “Hey,” he mumbles.

“You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he rasps.

“Happen is an interesting choice,” I say into his chest and kiss his heart.

He chuckles.

“I’m going to have to start working out more if that’s always how it’s going to be,” I mumble.

“More? You don’t work out at all,” he says, tapping my butt.

“I’m sorry, have you carried a tray of food and drinks with one arm and speed-walked to the table? No, I don’t think you have.”

He hums. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen you speed-walk to any table, ever.”

“Then why do I get good tips?” I ask him.

He chuckles. “Baby, you’re hot. That’s why.”

I humph. “I’d like to think it’s because I’m great at what I do.”

He smiles and turns his head into mine, nuzzling my neck. “You are.”

“Yeah, now you’re blowing smoke up my ass,” I mumble.

“Oh, is that what we’re onto next?” he grins, and wiggles his eyebrows.

I give him a deadpan stare.

He looks at me with wide eyes, laughs, and kisses me briefly before rolling out of bed.

Smiling at the ceiling, sated, muscles loose, and the only feeling in this very second is happiness.

He comes back to clean me up, and I let him.

My chest warms like honey, and he crawls back into bed with me, pulling me to his side.

He sighs, and I tip my head back, looking at him, trying to take in every detail. I love his mustache far too much to be healthy. The furrow in his brow because that’s his usual face. The tiny scar on the tip of his nose I’ve never noticed before. The way his hands hold me tightly, as if he never wants to let me go.

I close my eyes, knowing he needs to get some kind of rest, and instead of letting myself start to think of all the what-ifs, I focus on the man who loves me, who wants me, who I belong with.

Chapter 42

Ledger

Myphonebuzzes,wakingme up. Shiloh is sound asleep, curled up next to me. I’d give anything to stay here. To make love to her again, to sleep with her because I’m exhausted. But this isn’t something we can postpone.

As quietly as I can, I slip out of bed and into the bathroom, grabbing my phone and bag.

Agent Beckett texted me that they are en route, which means I need to be too.