I arched my eyebrow at her and tapped her foot with mine. “I think you’re being a little sentimental. I mean, everyone?” I asked pointedly. I knew I had no perfection within me, and I knew, without a doubt, her ex didn’t either.
She glanced out the window, wistful and pensive. “I like to think the man I fell in love with, the one who was still young enough to believe, and promised to love me forever, was real. That deep inside, he was good. That his aspirations to do good were his bit of perfection.”
“What do you think happened?”
“He grew up. He listened to the wrong people and he became the very thing he wanted to fight against. And somewhere along the way, he lost the goodness. And his love for me, I suppose.”
The words were out before I could stop them. “Then he lost everything.”
She tapped my foot and grinned. “Now who’s being sentimental?”
“Quiet. You tell anyone, I’ll deny it ever happened. I’m good at that, you know.”
She lifted her tablet, trying to hide her amusement. “Duly noted, counselor.”
Fee spent the rest of the afternoon on the sofa, reading, sipping tea, and at times, staring out the window. I worked on some notes, went through my schedule, and finally kicked back with a book and a glass of wine, enjoying her silent company. I couldn’t recall ever spending this much time with a woman before, simply being. It felt strange, yet I liked it.
I noticed her eyes drifting shut, and I rearranged myself on the sofa, patting my chest. “Got a spot for you, Fee.”
She slid next to me, burrowing close. She liked to be held as she slept. It was her trigger, the way the feel of her against me was mine. I tried to concentrate on my book but gave up and ran my hand through her hair in a repetitive motion, knowing the moment she was asleep. I set aside my book and studied her briefly, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, listening to her odd clicking-purring noises. Once again, they reminded me of something, but I couldn’t place it. I shut my eyes and enjoyed the warmth of her, the mysteriously comforting sounds of her noises, and I slept.
After our nap, Fee made sandwiches, while I grabbed some cold beer and found the chips I had in the cupboard.
“There’s a Jurassic Park marathon on tonight,” I informed her.
“Um, yay?” she mumbled, adding another sandwich to the pile.
“We need more than those,” I informed her.
“How on earth do you consume the amount of food you do and still look like—” she indicated my form with a wave of her fingers “—that?”
I sidled up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and nipping her neck. “You like how I look, Fee?” I slid my hands under the loose shirt she wore, skimming my fingers along the supple skin of her stomach. She shivered, making me grin. I enjoyed her reactions. I tugged on her earlobe. “Do you?”
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Good. The feeling is mutual. I think you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.”
She stilled. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t feed me lines. I prefer your honesty.”
Frowning, I spun her around and gripped her chin. “I am telling the truth, Fee. You are the whole package. Sweet, sexy, and smart. All of it. That’s exactly what I think. You want to challenge me on that?”
She pursed her lips in disbelief, and I shook my head. “Well, I have no choice but to prove it.” She gasped as I lifted her to the counter, pushing away the sandwiches she was making.
“What are you doing?”
I yanked down her yoga pants. “Proving my case.”
“Oh.” She inhaled hard as I dipped my fingers between her legs. “Oh.”
I pulled her toward the edge, pushing her legs open wider. I crouched in front of her. “I have quite the closing argument. You ready to hear it?”
“Oh God, yes.”
I kissed her thigh, tracing my tongue up her leg. “Hold tight, Fee. It’s a long one.”
“That’s it!” I yelled, grabbing the remote.
Fee looked at me, startled. “What’s it?”
I backed up the movie. “Listen.”
She frowned. “What am I listening to?”
“The odd clicking-purring noise thing the velociraptor is making. I knew I had heard it before.” I grinned at her. “It’s you.”
“Excuse me?”
“You make the funniest little noise when you sleep. You sound like a raptor. Muted and much less dangerous, of course, but that’s what you sound like.”
“They screech and tear people apart with their long claws!” she gasped.
I laughed. “They also make a funny clicking-purring noise at times. That’s the one I’m talking about.”
She made me play it again, and she giggled. “You know, my roommate at university told me I made odd noises.”
I nodded sagely. “You do. It’s quite amusing.”
Fee rolled her eyes and continued. “But she never compared me to a dinosaur—especially a scary one. I think you’re a little rude.”
“I’ll apologize, but it’s true. You sound exactly like that.”
“Hmph,” she replied, tilting her head as if offended.
I nudged her playfully. “I think you’re the cutest raptor I’ve ever seen, though.”
“Nice try.”
“I’ll give you the last brownie?” I asked, handing her the plate. She had whipped them up this afternoon, and they were awesome. I was hoping she would refuse, but she took it.
“Hardly a grand gesture, Halton. There are more in the kitchen.”
I rubbed my chin. “I’ll let you snuggle closer when more scary parts happen.” She had never seen the movies—something that shocked me and I was determined to change tonight.
“I want popcorn.”
I leaned over and kissed her. “Your wish is my command, FeeNellyRaptor.”
Her laughter made me grin all the way to the kitchen.
It was late when the marathon was over. Fee stood, taking the dirty dishes to the kitchen and loading them in the dishwasher. I followed after shutting down the entertainment system.
She wiped her hands on the dish towel, then hesitated.
“Well, I guess I should, ah, go?”
“Go?”
“Home,” she clarified.
I shook my head. “Stay.” I inhaled and held out my hand. “Please.”
I led her to my room and let her get ready for bed, loaning her a T-shirt. She slid in beside me and I pulled her close, breathing in her scent.
I shut off the light, the darkness surrounding us. She nestled close, and I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. We were silent for a few moments, then I spoke.
“Fee…”
She tilted back her head, looking at me in the dark. “What is it?”
I had to tell her. “Earlier today, after the sofa, when I…”
“Freaked out?” she finished for me.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “My reaction—the way I feel—it isn’t about you, okay? I need you to understand that.”