A Sweet Mess - Jayci Lee Page 0,78

boxers to rein himself in before getting back in bed. He kissed the top of her head and held her tightly. He listened to her even breathing with his hand splayed over the smooth curve of her hip, and Landon wished they could stay like this forever. In a beautiful cocoon with only the two of them.

She meant more to him than any other woman he’d been with, and he couldn’t imagine letting her go. But what choice did he have? Her portion of the filming would be over in days, and she would return to Comfort Zone and the dream she’d worked so hard for. Her path was set.

As for him, he didn’t even know where he wanted to live or what he wanted to do after the filming. Should he continue traveling and critiquing restaurants? For how long? Or could he finally let go of his past and open his restaurant? The thought alone made his chest tighten with anxiety. His meticulously planned life was shaking at the core, and all he wanted was this woman by his side.

Even in the storm of his troubled emotions, exhaustion lulled him to sleep.

* * *

Muted light invaded the room through closed curtains, alerting him that morning had come. Landon instinctively reached for Aubrey, but she wasn’t in bed. He frowned, impatient to have her … at least twice. He raised himself on his forearm. His scowl transformed into slack-jawed astonishment. She was on the floor beside the bed stretching like a languid cat, her breasts thrust forward and her sweet ass curved into the air.

“Damn, Aubrey.” His growl of need and appreciation sounded feral even to his own ears. The cat startled and popped up to her knees—eyes wide and blinking. “Michelangelo wouldn’t be able to sculpt a more perfect bottom than yours.”

“More poetry?” Aubrey laughed. “And so early in the morning.”

“While being presented with a premium view of your delectable behind is nothing to complain about, I’d much rather wake up to feel your body next to mine.” Landon grasped her hand and tugged her back into bed.

“You were exhausted. I wanted you to sleep a bit longer.” Aubrey scanned his face and nodded with approval. Apparently, he didn’t look dead on his feet anymore. “Besides, I didn’t want to wake up Grouchy Landon, your evil alter ego.”

“You already know a very effective cure for that affliction.” She gasped when he cupped her ass in his hands. “Sweet buns.”

She kissed him with a smile on her lips, and the teasing banter ceased. His world shrank to this single moment, intense and vibrant. The feel of her skin, her sweet moaning, and his name on her lips. That was all. He made love to her with frantic desperation, because he yearned for her even when she was in his arms.

He buried himself in her warm core and set a pace that had her writhing under him, begging for release. When he didn’t think he could hold on any longer, she came apart in his arms and he met her at the peak, their fingers threaded above her head. He stayed inside her as their breaths slowed and the tremors going through their bodies quieted. Then he rolled to the side, taking her with him, and drew her head against his chest.

“Best morning ever,” Aubrey whispered.

His laughter was closer to a growl. Every morning with her had been the best in his life, and he didn’t want them to stop.

18

Landon woke her up at the crack of dawn and surprised her with chocolate-dipped strawberries on ice. His intentions weren’t all innocent, but the juicy, tart, and sweet strawberries made the best after-sex breakfast. The morning with him was the high point of her day.

It was her last day of filming, and he’d dropped her off at the schoolhouse before heading to his meetings. She welcomed and feared this day—excited to return to Comfort Zone and afraid to lose Landon. Aubrey walked inside, expecting to find Aria in the center of the chaos, but she was nowhere to be seen. Worry niggling at her, Aubrey went through the motions of being dressed and made-up. Still, there was no sign of Aria.

Feeling awkward standing around as the crew ran about, she escaped to the outdoor deck and found the person she was looking for. Aria sat motionless in one of the chairs, gazing pensively at the surrounding hills. Aubrey never thought she’d use Aria and pensive in the same sentence. Her eyebrows drew