I shake my head and sift my fingers through her hair. At first I didn’t know why Layla twirled her hair so much, but now I get it. The shit’s as soft as anything I’ve ever felt. “I don’t know how I feel. Not sure what she’s planning on dropping on me, but I’m not exactly pissin’ myself with excitement to find out.”
Her eyes dart to the side, and then she turns her head to rest her cheek back on my chest. “Crap. I mean I think it’s a really good idea to go, but I can’t travel so close to my due date.”
“Not you, babe, they’re requesting me and me alone.”
Her stunned gaze swings back to mine, and I can’t help but groan against the disappointment I see.
“Don’t take it personally. It’s only a day trip, and it could get ugly. I wouldn’t want you there for that anyway.” I continue to run my fingers through her hair and down to massage her neck. “Think of it like this. Maybe if I can work things out with them and if they agree to be on their best behavior, I’ll see if they want to come down for a few days after the baby comes.”
“Okay.” She seems to relax a little, but I can still feel the slight tensing of her muscles. “I’d like that. I mean . . . the more family the better. My parents don’t travel well, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable having them too far from the nursing home.”
“We’ll take the baby to visit them in Florida as soon as we get the okay to do so.” I speak the words into the top of her head between kisses.
“Thank you.” She sighs softly into my chest, and the breathy sound has me hardening instantly.
Sooner I get this conversation over, the sooner I can get inside my woman. “So tomorrow I’m going to have Brae spend the day with you while I take a quick trip back home.”
Her body tenses. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I know.”
“Then why have Braeden come?”
“Because I’ll be dealing with enough in Orange County, and knowing he’s here with you’ll buy me a little peace of mind.”
“Blake—”
“Please, Mouse. It’s for a day. I’ll be back by dinner.”
She huffs out a breath that sounds a lot like the one Axelle did earlier when we threw down the dorm rule. “Fine.”
I press my lips to the top of her head and whisper there. “Thank you.”
“What time do you leave?”
I flex my hips and roll her over, settling myself to her side, but sliding my thigh up along hers to lock her in place. “Flight leaves at nine a.m.” My fingers dance up her bare arm with a light touch that raises goose bumps against her flesh. “Which means it’s time for you to get naked.”
She squirms as much as she can with my leg thrown over hers, her eyelids drooping with every barely there touch against her skin. A low moan falls from her lips before she bites the bottom one and arches her back. I trace the delicate line of her jaw and run my thumb along her lower lip to free it from her teeth. Her legs continue to press against mine, as if she’s trying to put out a fire or open them for me.
Burying myself inside Layla is the only therapy I need before I face whatever’s going on back home. And that’s exactly what I plan to do.
Eleven
Blake
My fingertips tingle as I glide them along every bit of Layla’s exposed skin. It’s as if every part of her is an erogenous zone when we’re together. No matter where I touch, she responds immediately.
I dip my head, running my lips along her shoulder, allowing my tongue to dart out as I follow the line of her collarbone with my forefinger. “Damn, Mouse. You smell and taste so fucking good.”
She tries to push me over, get me on my back, and have her wicked way with me, but she’s not the one in control tonight. I need this more than I need air, need to feel her warmth wrapped around me before I return to face my past. I hope that she can send me off with enough of that warmth to beat back the old demons that’ll threaten to get inside.
“Blake . . .” Her words dissolve with a shaky plea that I’m all too familiar with.
I don’t plan on making her suffer, but first . . . “Mouse?” I speak the name against her skin, allowing my tongue another taste of her sweet neck.
“Mmm?” Her hands grip my hair, holding me to her.
“I wanna fuck you in The Room.”
Her breath hitches, and her body melts deeper into the bed as if my words have just turned her into pure liquid.
I smile against her pulse point. “Can I assume that’s a yes?”
“Yes, please.”
I can’t help the tiny chuckle that bubbles up from my throat and hits her neck in a hot burst. “So polite, my Mouse.” I continue to bathe her chest and neck in soft kisses, my hand moving to the hardened pink tips of her breasts, which I can see through her thin tank top. “I wanna hear you ask me, baby. I want to know that you want that bad enough you’d ask me for it.”
Her body freezes, and I pull back to see the flare of rebellion in her eyes. I run my thumb over her nipple in long but firm passes until a haze of desire washes away the urge to fight me.