“Are you okay?” he managed to get out. He watched as her lips curved into a wide smile and her chest expanded with a deep breath.
“Oh, yeah,” she whispered. “I’m perfect.”
He continued to search her face for a moment, but pleased sincerity was all that she exuded, and he finally relaxed. “I was afraid I was too rough. Or too heavy.”
She brought her hands over his shoulders to where she cupped his face with her fingertips. “No. You were perfect, too.”
He rolled to the side, gathering her in his arms and pulling her with him. His cock slowly slid from her body, but their legs tangled, and their chests pressed tightly together, arms banded around each other so they stayed connected. He breathed in her scent, knowing it would always be connected with this memory.
Not giving doubt a chance to settle into her mind, he said, “I’d like to stay.” As soon as the words slipped from his lips, it dawned on him that he had not said those words before. No matter where he was stationed or had lived, he preferred to sleep alone. His bed had always been his private refuge. A place he could be alone with his thoughts. A place that was just for his own relaxation. But now, with Harper, he wanted to share her intimate space.
Holding his breath for a moment, he waited to see what her reaction and answer would be.
Her smile brightened and her eyes sparkled. “I’d be disappointed if you left.”
With those words, he hugged her to his body tighter. “I’ll be right back.” He climbed from the bed and moved to the bathroom, taking care of the condom. Stalking back to the bed, he held out his hand to her and assisted her from the bed. Leading her to the bathroom, he grinned as she handed him a fresh toothbrush and murmured, “Make yourself at home.”
After he brushed, he left her alone to finish her nighttime routine and went over to the clothes they had strewn about the room. Folding his carefully, he set them on the chair that was angled in the corner of the room. He had just done the same with hers when the bathroom door opened and he turned, seeing her hesitate at the doorway. He tilted his head to the side slightly and waited.
Harper walked directly to him, appearing comfortable with her nudity. “I wondered if this was a dream and if you would still be here.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close and bent his head to kiss her lightly. Continuing to hold her gaze, he replied, “In a world full of doubts and uncertainties, I am very sure that I want to be here with you tonight.”
He delighted as her smile widened and led her back to the bed. Settling together, he pulled the covers over them, tucking her in close, praying they would have a night together with no interruptions from work.
22
Harper blinked, trying to discern what was different. Her gaze landed on the framed photograph of her family sitting on her dresser across the room. A hint of sunlight was beaming through her lacy curtains, casting familiar patterns on the opposite wall.
Instead of feeling the typical cool air of the morning chill, she felt cocooned underneath the covers. Remembering, her eyes jerked open wide as she rolled gently to see Sean lying on his back next to her. Grinning, she propped her head on her hand and observed him, memorizing everything about him. One of his long arms was resting across his middle, his fingers splayed out over his stomach. His other arm was curved, his head resting on his hand. Continuing her perusal, she noted the hard planes of his face were softened with slumber.
His upper body was muscular, and she had had evidence of his powerful thighs the night before. Warmth spread over her at the memories of their lovemaking. The sheet had shifted downward, resting just below his waist, and she was tempted to wake him up by trailing kisses over his pecs and abs… and possibly lower.
She wanted to continue to lie in bed doing nothing more than admiring him, but the call of nature was too great. Slipping from underneath the covers, she shivered slightly as she hurried into the bathroom. When she came back through the bedroom, he was still fast asleep, and she wondered how often his nights were interrupted by calls out. She had grabbed her sleep shorts