She rolls onto her back, her breasts coming into view. Her arm moves to cover them. "I'll get dressed. I need to go home."
I trail my lips along her forearm before I push it down with my chin. I suck her right nipple into my mouth, swirling my tongue around it, bringing it back to a stiff point. "I want you to stay. I wish I could too, but you should. Sleep here. Spend the night."
"I can't." She rests her hand on the back of my head; her eyes open now looking into mine under heavy lids. "I can't stay here."
"You can," I insist as I rest my chin on her arm. "I brought some bottled water and fruit. That's in the refrigerator. I stocked the main bathroom with some Matiz shower products. There are towels there for you as well. I want you to stay and rest. You're exhausted. You can go home tomorrow."
Her hand slides to my cheek. "You're a good guy. I knew it when I first met you in Vegas."
I study her face. I see less of Kip each time I look at Ellie. I might have thought Ellie bore a resemblance to the little redhead I used to know because they share the same spirit. They're generous and kind, but Ellie has a light within her that Kip didn't possess.
"Sometimes you look at me and I can't figure out what's going on in your mind." She traces my brow with the pad of her thumb. "Tell me what it is. What are you thinking about when you look at me that way?"
I can't tell her. The questions that follow will have the expectation of a truthful answer attached to them. I won't lie to her. I never want to skim over the truth with Ellie. If I tell her about Kip I'll need to explain what happened the last night I saw her. I'll have to confess what I've done.
The way she touches me will change. Her eyes won't widen the way they do now whenever she looks at me. She won't crave me anymore.
I risk losing her if I answer that question, so I don't.
"I need to go, Ellie." I kiss her cheek. "I want you to give some thought to meeting May."
Her eyebrows draw together. "You want me to meet her? It seems soon, Nolan. Isn't it too soon?"
It is soon. A few weeks ago I couldn't imagine wanting my daughter to meet any of the women I've slept with, now the idea of the two of them not meeting feels wrong. "It's soon, but I know you'll like her and May is going to be crazy about you."
She likes that. It brings a smile to her mouth. "Are you worried about what will happen when we aren't seeing each other anymore? Isn't it hard to explain to a child when someone just drops out of their life?"
Her words slice into me. She's convinced herself that this is short term. She doesn't see the potential because the asshole she used to be involved with stole all sense of certainty away from her. He also took his son away from her. I have no grasp on the extent of her relationship with Jayce Darling but I sense that's where her hesitation about meeting May stems from. "I want my daughter to know you. Regardless of what happens between us in the future, I know it will benefit May to know such a strong woman."
She sighs, her body visibly relaxing. "Can I think about it? It doesn't have to be tomorrow or the next day, does it?"
"It can be whenever you like." I smooth my fingertips over her cheek. "I'll call you in a few hours. Be as late as you want to be for work tomorrow."
"I work for Crew, not you. I'll be on time. I've never been late for work a day in my life."
Chapter 35
Ellie
"What the hell is that bed made of? The feathers from angel's wings and the sighs of babies?" I whisper to Nolan. "I fell fast asleep after you left. I was an hour late for work, Nolan. One whole hour."
"You like the bed?" A grin ghosts over his lips. "Do you like it enough to meet me in it tonight? Say at nine?"
That sounds like a pattern. The place we're meeting at may not be a hotel suite, but it's only a step up. I know he can't take me to his apartment, but I have a place. I also have a roommate but Adley's planning on pulling the evening shift starting tomorrow at the vet clinic. She says it's for extra money. I say it's because of the new vet who just started working there.
Dr. Donovan Hunt.
She showed me his Instagram page early this morning when I stopped at home to change clothes. The good doctor has more than a million followers and a smile that can light up a room. Adley's plan to work the late shift with him means an extra two dollars an hour in pay and a man who has at least one thing in common with her. Judging by all the pictures on his Instagram feed of him holding puppies, he loves animals as much as Adley.
"I'm meeting Wolf's brother tonight," I say casually because it's business. "We're going to talk about the NYPD."
I don't need to clarify it. Nolan knows that Sebastian Wolf may be a major career contact for me. Liam sent me a text message early this morning to ask if I was available tonight. If this is my only chance to talk to someone with some influence in the NYPD, I won't pass it up.
"What time is that?" He raises his hand to wave at a customer. "It's not going to take all night, is it?"