I opened my eyes. Shit. My dad was Nolan’s boss, and I could only imagine what had been said.
I was sure Dad and Brynn had been blowing up my phone, but since it was likely still sitting on the counter in my apartment, Nolan had let me use his phone last night to check in with them.
I’d promised that I was alive and in one piece. Brynn was an uncharacteristic emotional mess and wanted to fly down to Texas and see me with her own eyes, but midterms were coming up and I wouldn’t let her do that.
There was no stopping my dad, however; he’d be arriving tomorrow. I was curious how he’d respond to Nolan in my life. It would be interesting, to say the least . . . two alpha males, both protective and unwavering in their worry for me.
“Fine, I’m up. Now tell me.”
Nolan smiled. “He actually seemed okay with us dating. Said you could do worse.”
“Of course I could. You’re quite a catch.” I grinned at him.
“As are you, sweetheart.”
We were quiet for several moments. Nolan continued stroking his fingers through my hair while he watched me. I sensed he wasn’t going to let me out of his sight for a while, which was fine with me. I had the next two days off from work, and wouldn’t mind staying right here in his warm bed the entire time. Realizing how quickly things had changed between us, I suddenly thought of Daniella.
“Is she going to be okay?”
I didn’t have to say her name. There was an unspoken awareness that she was still a piece of our puzzle. At least for now.
He nodded. “She and her sister are getting a place together. She’ll be fine. She’s stronger than I gave her credit for. I just want to focus on you, though. You’ve been through a lot, baby.”
“I know. And I’ve never felt safer. Being here with you, knowing that you’ll protect me at all costs . . .”
“Damn right I will. You’re my woman now.”
I couldn’t help the smirk tugging on my lips. The man who was so deathly afraid of commitment was now openly professing his love. Well, almost anyway; we hadn’t quite gotten to those three little words yet. But I knew he was aware how I felt about him after what I’d said last night. God, last night already seemed so far away.
“So, what are we going to do today?” I asked. Lord knew I didn’t particularly want to be up at this ungodly hour.
“We have a lot of lost ground to make up for. Real dates. I want to take you to dinner, to meet my mom. Maybe we can visit the ranch where I grew up . . .”
“Whoa. Slow down there.” I patted his chest. “I was thinking more like sex, a shower, and coffee. In that order.”
A slow smile uncurled on his mouth. And then he pounced. Bringing his hands to my jaw, Nolan pulled me in for a tender kiss, his body moving over mine. He lay down beside me and drew me into his arms. The warm expanse of his bare chest against mine felt like perfection.
I pushed my hands inside his shorts and found him already hot, hard, and ready in my palm.
“You’re mine now. You understand that, right?” he grunted.
“As long as you understand you’re mine.” I gave him a little squeeze.
A masculine purr rumbled in his throat. “Damn straight, baby.” He kissed me passionately, as if his lips and tongue were communicating what words could not. His hot mouth dominated mine, possessive and hungry. “God, if anything had happened to you . . .”
“I’m here. I’m yours.”
“Mine.”
He grunted again as my hand continued leisurely stroking up and down his generous length. One hand gripped my hip as the other curled between my thighs, lightly teasing, rubbing. Before I could get totally lost in the sensation, I heard a slight wheeze.
I shot a glance over to Sutton, who sat perched at the end of the bed. “Is he going to watch us?”
“Is that a problem?” Nolan smirked.
An elbow to his ribs said yes, it is. I was an animal lover too, but sheesh, this was ridiculous.
With a sigh, Nolan got up and shooed Sutton out of the room. “Out you go, buddy.” Then he shut the door and returned to where I was waiting, naked, on the bed.
His body was mine to explore now, and I cupped his smooth balls with one hand and stroked his heavy cock with the other, loving his little grunts of pleasure, those male sounds of appreciation rising in Nolan’s throat.
“Damn, sweetheart, your hands feel really fucking good,” he said on a groan.
I was so happy we’d waited to make love until all the secrets between us had been aired and Daniella was out of his life. It felt bigger, more important, more special now than if we’d given in to our desires before. Now, we weren’t just surrendering to our bodies, but making a conscious effort to choose each other, to be together.
Easing one finger into me, Nolan began pushing me toward orgasm almost immediately.
“Make love to me,” I murmured.
With a final kiss on my lips, he reached over to his nightstand for a condom.