“Nothing’s funny.” He rolled over to his side and opened his eyes. “That was just … spectacular.” He grinned at her. “Who knew you were so bendy, Chuckles?”
She should take him to task for calling her Chuckles right now. And she would, except … well, she liked it. From him, anyway. “I’ve done a lot of yoga.”
“I hear it’s supposed to be good for stress.”
If he only knew.
She raised an eyebrow. “Anytime you want to try. Naked yoga is liberating.” His eyes widened and she laughed as she teased him. “Nothing like getting in touch with your spirituality when it’s just you and the mat.”
“Eeeew.”
Her lips twitched.
“You’re teasing.”
“I am.”
He reached over and grazed his fingers over her hip. “I like it.”
She did too. He was the most comfortable-in-his-own-skin man she’d ever met. It was more than the boneless bliss she was feeling after a thorough lovemaking. It was a freedom, a lightness that she suspected came from living in the moment rather than from an agenda.
She shivered and Dave reached toward the bottom of the bed, pulling up a blanket to cover them. Then he lay on his back and opened his arms wide. “Come here,” he said quietly. “We can huddle up to keep warm.”
She was still naked. She suspected she should be feeling if not bashful, at least a little self-conscious. But she wasn’t. She slid over next to him and rested her head along the curve of his shoulder, draped one arm over his ribs, and lifted her knee, settling it along the length of his leg.
“God, you’re a cuddler,” he murmured, squeezing her close.
She never used to be.
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah.” There was this texture to his voice that she would never tire of. A bit deep, a bit husky, 100 percent masculine and sexy. She closed her eyes and let out a breath.
“You know, I’m kind of sorry I stopped things that first morning. If I’d known this was waiting for me…”
He chuckled and the vibration rippled through her. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
Her hand ran up his back and encountered smooth scar tissue. It reminded her of what he’d been through … the parts she knew about and the parts she didn’t. She traced her finger along its path. “What is this from?”
He shrugged. “Oh, one of my many badges of honor. No big deal.”
“It doesn’t hurt?”
“Not anymore.” Then he smiled wickedly. “Wait. If I said it did, would you kiss it better?”
She swatted his shoulder.
“You want to talk about it?”
“I’ve just had mind-blowing sex and a gorgeous woman is naked in my arms. What do you think?”
She smiled in the darkness. “Obvious distraction, but I still have to ask. You think I’m gorgeous?”
“Are you kidding?” His wide palm curved over her hip. “Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
She relaxed further, sinking into his embrace, twining her legs with his and running her toes up one of his calves. “Hey, Dave?”
“Hmm?”
“I needed that.” After she said it she realized it was a bit ambiguous. She could have been talking about the sex or the compliment. Truthfully, she thought she rather needed them both.
He kissed her forehead. “I know.”
She wasn’t quite sure what he meant, but she was too mellow to ask. He felt so good. Warm and strong. The blanket was soft on her skin and he’d turned off the light, so the room was gray and dim. The woodstove in the next room had been stoked and the heat of it made her feel lazy. She was going to doze off and she was completely okay with it.
She curled into his embrace. “It’s so warm and toasty in here. I never realized how great wood heat was. So much nicer than a furnace or radiator.”
He nodded against her hair. “A stove can really crank it out. Plus, if the power goes out, I can stay warm. Cook. It’s a bit rudimentary, but convenient.”
She imagined being snowbound here with him and the idea held some merit. The stove meant he had to split wood, she thought. She took a moment to appreciate the image in her mind of him with an axe, his muscles bulging and shifting as he split logs. When had she started going for the physical labor kind of guy?
She snuggled in closer. She supposed that happened when she’d first seen him on the docks in the fall, all work boots and broad shoulders and a ball cap.
“Charlie?” His voice was soft in her ear, sending ripples of pleasure down her spine.
“Mmm?” She answered lazily.
“Stay a while?”
She turned in his arms so she could look up at him. His hair, just a touch on the shaggy side, was ruffled and mussed, and his jaw held a hint of stubble after the long day. He was so attractive. So … virile.
“I wish I could. But Daniel’s staying with Josh’s mom and I should get back soon.”
“Right. Damn.” His fingers slid along the soft skin of her arm. “Maybe just a little while longer?”
“A little while,” she agreed.