Page 43 of Spell Ya Later

“Will you stay?”

Sleepy Hazel is even more loose lipped than Normal Hazel. Considering that wasn’t a very high bar to begin with...this is not a good development.

He hesitates, arms tensing before he places me on the floral bedspread. I’ve seen him embarrassed, nervous, but I’ve never seen him uncomfortable. Not until now.

“I want to.” He sits, hand reaching for mine and wrapping around it. “Does this feel a little too...”

“A little too what?” I prompt after a second, sitting up.

He shrugs, obviously struggling for the right word. “Easy? I’ve never connected with someone so quickly.”

I have no frame of reference. The only real relationship I’ve gotten a look at was my parents and they were—God, they weredevoted. Devoted isn’t a good enough word. Words can’t encapsulate the way my father would look at my mother. It was as if she hung the moon, the stars, and resided among them.

“My dating history isn’t necessarily what I would call extensive.” Or existent.

He chuckles. “I find that hard to believe. You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met.”

Warmth blooms in my chest, filling my body with a lightness. He thinks I’m amazing?

“I like you a lot, Noah.” And it’s true. Despite his hesitance, and his worry that things are too easy, I enjoy being with Noah. It’s calm, reliable, and I may or may not want to rip off his clothes and attack him.

He leans his forehead against mine with a sigh. “I like you, too. I should just shut up, shouldn’t I?”

I shrug. “A woman you think is amazing is inviting you to spend the night with no expectations. Unless...unless you want to talk about it. I want to be there for you.” I don’t have any experience with being someone’s partner.

His shoulders drop, a sheepish smile on his face. “I honestly think I’m just nervous as fuck. Do you still want me to stay, or have I successfully put my foot in my mouth?”

“I’d watch you do that,” I reply before I can stop myself.

His bushy eyebrow quirks. “Do what?”

“Put your foot in your mouth.” I break off with an embarrassed grin. It’s not my fault that the thought of him contorting his body in weird ways is attractive to me. He could eat a piece of cheese and I’d find it attractive.

“What the fuck, Hazel?” he wheezes in between uncontrollable laughter. “You’re such a fucking goofball.”

“Guess that foot is in my mouth, too.”

Oh. Oh God. I said that. That thought went through my brain and got cleared for take-off.

“For the record, I’m not into feet. Just in case you were trying to, I don’t know, work it into conversation,” he says with a wink.

I bury my face in my hands. “You can go and never speak to me again. I completely understand. This has been lovely.”

One minute I’m safe in my little finger cocoon, and the next I’m being attacked by tickling. My hands fly from my face to protect other vulnerable places as Noah descends. The room is filled with giggling and laughter as he breaks down every single defense I have.

“I concede!” I whine, ribs aching. Too much laughing.

It’s only when he stops that I realize how close we are. He’s fully on top of me, legs tangled together. I can feel every single inch of him pressed against me.

And a bunch more inches that have made an appearance.

Whatever fatigue was clinging to me is thoroughly shaken off, replaced by a warm ache low in my belly.

I’m a woman possessed as I pull him down and seal our mouths together. Despite his earlier reservations, he seems to have no problem responding. His big hands wrap around my waist, and hedragsour hips together in a move that is completely unexpected from a guy who spends his free time in a bookshop.

I’m not complaining, though, because along with that he’smoving. It’s a slow pulse in exactly the right spot to make my eyes roll back in my head.

His mouth is harsh, demanding, and taking all that I can give to him. The friction sends little waves of electricity along my arms, making me more and more sensitive to every touch.