“Fuck!” Reed’s nails dug into my upper back. “Right there.”
He whimpered and held on to my neck, burying his face against my jaw. My orgasm hit shortly after his, and my thrusts faltered as it did.
“Just what I needed.” He kissed my neck and sighed happily. “Thanks, big guy.”
“You’re welcome,” I said with a raspy chuckle and rolled off him. I inhaled a shaky breath as my heart hammered against my ribs.
“Did you work out this morning?” he asked, turning to his side and facing me. “Your hair has that sexy, windblown look.”
“I went for a run.”
“That’s so damn hot.” He nipped at my shoulder. “Almost hot enough to make me wanna go for another round.”
“You’re going to kill me.”
“There are worse ways to die,” he said before trailing kisses along my collarbone and up to my mouth. He kissed me once, twice, and then sighed and slumped back down. “I’m hungry.”
“I’ll make you breakfast,” I said, unwinding from his arms and getting out of bed. “Eggs and bacon okay?”
“If there’s bacon involved, it’s always okay.” Reed sat up and ran his fingers through the messy strands of his hair, trying to tame it. “What time are you going to your mom’s today?”
“Not until four thirty,” I said, pulling on my sweats and throwing on a long-sleeved shirt. I smiled at him over my shoulder. “You have me for most of the day.”
“I wonder how we can pass the time.” Reed wiggled his eyebrows. “But first, I need to eat. I think I’m dying.”
“Are sex and food all you care about?”
“I like cuddles too.” Reed hopped out of bed, and I checked out his naked ass as he gathered his clothes from the floor. He had long legs, a lean torso, and delicate shoulders I loved to kiss.
His looks had first reeled me in, but it was his personality and sense of humor that had kept me hooked. Reed was beautiful, inside and out.
After I cooked breakfast, we sat at the kitchen table and ate. As he talked about a time when he and Quinn attended a jousting tournament at the renaissance festival, I felt so damn happy. Where I used to hate being at home because of the oppressing loneliness, I now loved being here.
Reed had brought light into my life, chasing away the shadows and cobwebs. It was hard to believe that a month ago, we’d been nothing more than business associates.
Around four that afternoon, I got ready to leave for my mom’s house.
“Will you be okay for dinner?” I asked, putting on my coat.
“Yep. I’ll order something for delivery.” Reed adjusted my collar before rising up on his tiptoes to kiss me. “Don’t worry about me, big guy.”
“Try not to get into trouble while I’m gone.” I grabbed my keys off the counter.
“Damn,” he said. “Guess I have to cancel the male strippers I ordered.”
I arched a brow before grabbing him by the nape and crushing our lips together.
We hadn’t given a name to what we were, and not knowing if we were exclusive or not weighed heavily on me. I didn’t want anyone else, but Reed had said in the past that he liked to sleep around. We’d spent nearly every night together over the past week and half, but there’d been a few nights when we’d been apart.
Was he still talking to other men? Hooking up with them?
I was too much of a coward to ask.
So, like I did with every other topic that made me uncomfortable, I shoved it to the back of my mind. For now.
“Will you be here when I get back?” I asked, opening the door that led into the garage. I’d parked in there because another snowstorm had come through the night before. I couldn’t wait for spring.
“Maybe,” Reed answered. “You’ll have to wait and find out.”
“Tease.”
“Oh, I’ll show you tease.” He leaned against the doorframe as I got into my car, propping one leg up behind him. We’d fucked again shortly after lunch, and after we’d showered, he had changed into a silky red robe. It was tied at his waist and fell open up top, showing his softly toned chest and cutting off midthigh to show his long, smooth legs.
Goddammit, I did not need to be sporting a damn boner before going over to my mom’s house.
“Behave,” I said, before closing the door and clicking the button to open the garage.
He wiggled his fingers in a sexy little wave before going back inside.
When I arrived at my mom’s place, Regina’s car was already in the driveway. I parked beside it and walked to the front porch, smelling something amazing wafting from inside the house.
“About time you got here,” Regina said as I walked through the door. She then looked around me. “Why didn’t you bring him?”
“Because it’s too soon,” I answered. I’d told her about Reed a week ago but made her swear not to tell our mom. Mainly because I didn’t want to get Mom’s hopes up if things went south like all my other relationships. “We’re just dating right now. Seeing where it goes.”
“But it’s serious, right?” she asked. “It’s obvious you’re crazy about him.”
“Crazy about who?” Mom walked into the living room, wiping her hands on a small towel before draping it over her shoulder.
“No one,” I said before going over to kiss her on the cheek. “You look beautiful today.”
“Uh-huh. You’re just like your daddy.” She put a hand on her hip. “He’d always compliment me to change the subject. Then he’d flash that dimple in his cheek to get out of trouble when he knew I’d caught on.” She sighed and looked over at a framed picture of him on the mantel above the fireplace. “I miss that man.”
It had taken Mom years to be able to talk about Dad without breaking down into hysterical sobs. They had loved each other so much. Being around them had shown me what true love looked like, and I wanted to find someone who would complete me the way they had completed each other.
“Me too, Mom,” Regina said, putting an arm around her. A knock sounded on the front door, and my sister beamed. “There’s my girl.”
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Meg said, once Regina answered the door. They hugged before she came into the house. “We had a last-minute emergency. A stray dog was hit by a car, and the person who hit her brought her in.”
“Oh god,” Regina said. “Don’t tell me the dog died or I’ll cry.”
“The dog’s fine.” Meg touched my sister’s cheek. “The person said they wanted to keep her when she’s better, so it was a good day. Just hectic.”
“You’re right on time, dear,” Mom said before turning to go back into the kitchen. “Food’s almost ready.”
She had made hamburger casserole, which had beef, pasta, tomatoes, onions, and layers upon layers of cheese and seasoned with oregano, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. It had been one of Dad’s favorite meals. He was on Mom’s mind a lot today it seemed. Even after twenty years apart, her love for him was stronger than ever.
It was dark by the time I got home.
Reed’s car was still in my driveaway, and I released a breath, the nerves unwinding in my gut. I had hoped he’d stay. A light shone through the living room window, like a beacon welcoming me home.