His hand moved under my shirt but stayed on my back. His fingers gently rubbed the dip in my back, never moving elsewhere. I knew he wouldn’t do something that would make me uncomfortable, so I let him be. Besides, it felt really good.
When my eyes started to droop, Scotty turned off the TV. “Someone’s falling asleep.”
“Not me,” I said with a yawn.
He chuckled then scooped me into his arms, standing up at the same time. He did it so quickly that it didn’t seem like he struggled.
“Wow, you’re strong,” I blurted.
He smirked. “I work out sometimes.” He carried me into his bedroom then lay me on the bed. When he closed the door behind him, I felt the slight rise of panic. I hadn’t been alone in a bedroom with a guy in forever. I avoided it at all costs.
Scotty pulled his shirt off then moved to the opposite side of the bed.
His carved chest looked as thick as stone. Every groove and line looked like it was highlighted with the tip of a paintbrush. He looked so perfect and unreal that he could only be conceived through someone’s fantasy. He had no chest hair, but a thin happy trail disappeared into his sweatpants. When he turned around to turn off the light, I got a view of his back muscles. They rippled and tightened with every move he made. Every inch of his body was chiseled and defined. He was a walking powerhouse. He was the last person I’d want to piss off.
When the light was off, he pulled the sheets back then got in beside me. He didn’t touch me, staying on his side of the bed. “Get under the covers.”
Oh. I was just laying on the surface. I knew he was giving me space so I wouldn’t freak out. I pulled the sheet back then tucked myself in. His bed really was the most comfortable thing in the world.
“Can I come over there?” he whispered in the dark.
The only light in the room came from the window. It slightly illuminated his face in the darkness. A small amount of stubble covered his jaw like he hadn’t shaved in a few days. I liked it. His head was turned to me, waiting for my response.
“Yeah.”
He scooted closer to me then wrapped his arm around my stomach. Like I was a teddy bear, he dragged me across the bed until I felt the hardness of his chest. He spooned me from behind then nuzzled his face into my neck. He lay still, not moving.
My arm moved over his and I rested my hand on his knuckles. His chest rose and fell, pressing against my small back. The heat surged into me, keeping me warm. His knees moved into the back of mine, making us into a single person. He released a deep sigh, heating my skin with his breath.
I’d never been more comfortable.
“Are you too cold or hot?” he whispered in my ear.
“No. I’m perfect.”
“Good. Because I don’t think I could move anyway.”
Silence stretched between us. I couldn’t believe I was here, lying in his arms. I never thought I would feel safe enough to do that. But he made me feel comfortable, like I was treasured and appreciated. That I had value.
What made me different from all the other girls in his life? How did I capture his attention so well? I wasn’t special and I wasn’t significant. “Scotty?”
“Babe?”
There was that nickname again. Every time he said it, I got chills. “Have you ever had a girlfriend before?”
“No.”
“So, I’m your first?”
“Yes.”
“Why have you never had a relationship before?” Did I really want to know the answer?
If he was annoyed by the question, he hid it. “Relationships actually mean something. You give your heart and soul to another person and grow with them. The most important thing in life is time. I don’t take it for granted and I only spend it with people I actually care about. There’s never been a girl that meant enough to me to commit to—until you.”
“Then why did you sleep around so much…?”
“I like sex.” He said it simply and without shame. “It’s nothing but a physical act that two people share. I’m not sure why it always has to be meaningful and profound. Two people should be able to enjoy each other without commitment or responsibility. Plus, I’ve carried a lot of sorrow since my parents died. It helps me release the pain.”
“So…if we were together…it would be a meaningless physical act?”
“No.” His clipped tone sliced through the air. He almost sounded angry. “If you and I were ever together, it wouldn’t be sex. Therefore, it wouldn’t be meaningless. Livia, I would make love to you, look you in the eye and see your soul. I would tell you I love you and want you forever. Every move I made would be to make you feel what I feel. I would kiss you, feel your lips with mine, and make you shake beneath me. It would be an act I only shared with you. And when we were through, I would lie beside you all night and still be there the next morning. And then I would be there the next night. And the next.” His hand found mine then held it. “Don’t compare yourself to my fuck buddies. They meant nothing to me. And you mean everything.”
I was glad he couldn’t see my face. Tears were coating in my eyes but I didn’t let them fall. I blinked them away and stopped them before it was too late. No one had ever said such beautiful things to me. He pampered me and took care of me, being sensitive toward my emotions without needing any explanation of why my behavior was so peculiar. He accepted me as I was, no strings attached.
It made me feel guilty.
How was this fair to him? If he knew what happened to me, he would want nothing to do with me. I was tarnished and used. I was broken and abused. I was a weathered chair that someone sold at a garage sale. Why would any guy want the leftovers? Scotty was such a wonderful person. He didn’t deserve that.
But I couldn’t let him go. I was selfish and wanted the affection he gave me. He was the first man to show me respect, to actually listen to me, to make me happy. For the first time, he made me relaxe. I wasn’t locked in my house sitting in the dark. Scotty brought me to the light, letting me soak the sun.
Scotty gently pressed his lips against the back of my neck. The touch caused me to inhale deeply, feeling the warmth leave his soft mouth and move into my body. It was such an intimate touch, something delicate. It left my heart racing and my lungs desperate for air.
He moved his lips to my ear. “Goodnight, babe.”
I couldn’t say it back. It was too hard. The emotions rushed through me and practically made me choke.
Because I was falling in love with him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Scotty
When I woke up the next morning, I was in the exact same position as the night before. Livia was pulled to my chest, looking tiny compared to me, and my arm was still secured around her stomach. I guess I was scared she would leave me in the middle of the night.
I wished she didn’t have a shirt on, but only so I could feel her naked back against my chest. I wanted to feel connected to her in that way, to feel our skin stick together. But seeing her wear my clothes was pleasing. Somehow I thought she looked sexier than she ever had before. I felt like I was claiming her in a very intimate way.
She was still asleep so I didn’t move. I just listened to her breathe. Her chest barely expanded when she breathed. The movement was so small it was insignificant. I wanted to move my hand to her chest just to feel it, but I wasn’t stupid enough to try that. She would assume the move was sexual when it was anything but that.
This was the first time I slept with a girl. My bed was only for fucking, not cuddling. Livia was my first overnight guest. I thought I would have trouble sleeping with another person after sleeping alone my entire life but that wasn’t the case. Actually, I slept better than I ever had.
When it was nine, I wondered when she would wake up. We went to bed pretty early, so I was surprised she was still asleep. She must be exhausted. I decided to slip out of bed and make breakfast. That way she would have something in her stomach the moment she woke up.
I gently pulled away from her, n
ot wanting to stir her.
She sighed deeply then turned over, facing me.
I stopped moving.
Still asleep, she reached for me then yanked me back to her. Then she wrapped her body around mine, cuddling with me like I was a teddy bear. Her face nuzzled my neck then she sighed again.
I guess I’m staying here.
I stared at her face, a smile on my lips. The neediness she showed made my heart flutter. She would never do that in real life. She was more attached to me than she let on. I gently ran my fingers up and down her arm while I watched her sleep, fascinated by the beautiful look on her face.
Half an hour later, she stirred. Her eyes fluttered open then she looked at me. Her arm loosened around my stomach and she blinked a few times. “How long have you been awake?”
“A few hours.”
She pulled the hair from her face. “Then why are you still in bed?”
I smirked. “Well, you were all over me. I couldn’t just leave.”
Her cheeks blushed. “Oh…”
“Not that I minded.”
A small smile formed on her lips then faded away.
My hand moved to her stomach and I felt the flatness. “Hungry?”
Like her stomach had a mind of its own, it growled loudly.
I laughed. “That answered my question.”
She blushed again. “Sorry…”
“No apologies.” I kissed her cheek then got out of bed. When I opened my drawer to pull on a clean shirt, I noticed her staring at my chest. Judging the approval in her eyes, she liked what she saw.
That was worth the expense of a personal trainer.
“You’re welcome to shower while I cook.”
“Can I help?”
“No, you’re my guest. I cook for you.”
“Do you even know how to cook?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I practically had to nurse Keira back to health. I know a thing or two.”
The softness moved into her eyes. “She told me what happened to her…”
“She did?” When did that happen?
“Yeah. And she told me you were the greatest guy she’s ever known—besides Liam.”
Sounded like my cousin was trying to chat me up.
“That was really sweet.”
“Well, she’s more than just a cousin. She’s my sister. And she would do the same for me—in a heartbeat.”
“Is that why you want to fight…because you’re angry about it?”
My body suddenly tensed. My eyes went dark. “Among other things…” I headed to the hallway. “Join me when you’re ready.”
When I was alone in the kitchen, I tried to forget about what happened to her. It wasn’t confirmed so there was a possibility I was totally wrong, but I had a feeling I was right. And that made me want to demolish my own home.
Holding her in my arms all night felt right. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that my feelings for her were genuine. While I thought she was a beautiful girl, I was far more attracted to her inner beauty. The person inside was unique and wonderful.
And she was mine.
I poured the pancake batter in the pan while I recalled my evening with her. She said I could look at her, which meant she knew my eyes were obsessed with her appearance. She was obviously comfortable with me, more comfortable than she’d ever been. When we initially got into bed, she stayed on the opposite side of the mattress. I wasn’t sure if our night would end prematurely. But she didn’t leave. She let me drag her across the bed and into my arms.
I finished breakfast then set the table. She came into the kitchen wearing the dress she wore the night before. Her hair was pulled over one shoulder, and I had to stop myself from grabbing her and kissing her exposed neck. My need didn’t come from sexual desire. I just wanted her, to feel her.
“Breakfast is served.” I pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit down.
She smiled. “It looks good. And it smells amazing.”
“I hope it’ll make you come over again.” When she sat down, I pushed her chair in then sat across from her.
She scarfed her food down like she was starving. “Compliments to the chef.”
“You know what they say. ‘Kiss the chef’.” I gave her a smile so she knew I was teasing.
She left her chair then kissed me on the cheek. “Keep cooking like that and more will come.”
“Oooh…come over for every meal.”
She smiled then nibbled on her toast.
I’m glad I could joke around with her. I never could do that before.
When we were finished with breakfast, she grabbed her purse. “I should probably go…”
No. Stay with me. I was hoping we’d spend the day together since it was Saturday. But I didn’t want to put any pressure on her. “Okay.” I changed then grabbed my keys. “I don’t have any plans today if you want to stick around.” Damn, why did I say that? I didn’t want to chase her away.
“Okay,” she said quickly. Her eyes lit up.
I smiled. “Cool. What did you want to do?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
I needed to come up with an activity. If not, we’d lay on the couch all day and I didn’t trust myself around her. My obsession was starting to reach new heights. “You like the zoo?”
Excitement buzzed in her eyes. “I haven’t been since I was a little girl.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
A giant gorilla was standing in the middle of the exhibit, staring back at us while it stood on its hind legs.
“God, I hate monkeys,” she whispered.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”
She kept starting at it, never taking her eyes away. “Because they are too smart. And they are dangerous. Look at him. He’s thinking about killing us as we speak.”
I tapped my knuckles on the glass. “I think we’re safe.”
“I’m sure he could figure out how to get out of there if he really wanted to.”
“Well, you got me here to protect you.”
She looked at me then back at him. “My money is on the hairy beast.”
I had a disgusting sexual joke to make but I held it back. Too bad Bran isn’t here. He would have loved it. “He’s got all his buddies to back him up, not exactly a fair fight.”
“Life isn’t supposed to be fair.” She drifted away from the window, keeping her eye on him. “Let’s go. I don’t trust him.”
“Trust him?” I laughed at her absurd comment. “I would hope not.”
She glanced at him one more time before we went to the reptile house. “Now, this is what I liked.”
We both stared at a boomslang snake.
“You aren’t scared of venomous snakes?” I asked incredulously. “Just monkeys?”
“They’re cute.” She smiled while she looked through the window. “I love how big he is.”
Another joke came to mind. “He’s impressive.”
“Look! A komodo dragon!”
“Now those things will kill you.”
“I know, but they are still cool.”
She was a paradox. She liked all dangerous, ferocious, venomous, and territorial creatures but monkeys.
We walked to the African exhibit then examined the giraffes. One had a broken neck. It was curves slightly but the animal didn’t seem to be affected by it.
“How sad…” She kept staring at it, pouting.
I read the information board. “I guess they found him in the wild like that then brought him here.”
“Well, that’s good. He probably wouldn’t have survived in the wild anyway.”
“Yeah.”
We walked to the hippo exhibit and I watched her face brighten in joy. “I love hippos!”
“You know these are the most dangerous creatures in the world, right? They kill more humans than any other animal.”
“But they are so cute.” She hooked her arm through mine. “Look! He’s dancing. The baby hippo is dancing.”
The smaller
hippo was swimming in circles in front of the glass. Children came up and pressed their faces close, laughing and pointing.
I smiled. It was pretty cute. “A water ballerina.”
“He wouldn’t hurt a soul…dangerous creature my ass.”
She hardly cursed so I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Thanks for taking me here. It’s amazing.”
“I didn’t know you liked the zoo so much.”
“I love animals.”
I put my arm around her waist and walked with her toward an ice cream stand. “You want a cone?”
“Duh. What kind of question is that?”
She was getting more vibrant with every passing day. She used to be so closed off from me, barely having a personality. Now she was happy and upbeat. She made jokes and allowed me to see her in a new light. It made me feel warm inside. “Let me rephrase that; chocolate or vanilla?”
“Both.”
“Oooh…you’re wild.”
“Very.” She put her hands on her hips and gave me some attitude.
“You’re adorable,” I blurted.
Her eyes softened. “Adorable?”
“Yeah.” I hooked my arm around her waist then pulled her into my chest. Then, for the first time, I kissed her on the lips. The kiss was quick and swift. I just pressed my mouth against hers briefly, just enough to feel how soft her lips were. It was enough to make me shiver. Then I pulled away and saw her reaction. There was no anger or violation. Her cheeks reddened and a small smile grew on her lips.
I paid for our cones then handed hers over.
“You got swirl too?”
“I wanted to be wild like you.”
Hand in hand, we walked through the zoo while we enjoyed our cones. We saw everything we could in just a few hours. But the San Diego Zoo was just too big to see everything, even in an entire day. It was like Disneyland but with animals.
“Ready to head home?”
“Yeah. I want breakfast again.”
Unstoppable (Forehead Kisses #4) Page 13
