I never imagined this.” He saw disbelief rising in her eyes. “It’s true, Pipe. I’d never lie to you, especially about this. You’ve always gotten to me, but making love to you? Babe, we rocked my world, too.”
Trepidation and happiness battled in her eyes, and he waited her out, praying she wouldn’t want to run. He brushed his nose along her cheek and whispered reassuringly, “You’re not alone in these new feelings.” He was thankful that he wasn’t alone in them, either. “Just go with it, Piper. I’m right here.”
She looked a little frightened, but then the edges of her lips twitched up, and she said, “I sure hope there’s a twelve-step program for this, because damn, Dutch, this could be addicting.”
There’s my take-charge girl. “Hell yes, it not only could, but it is. Does this mean you’ll consider spending the night?”
“No.”
His heart sank. He really thought they’d crossed another bridge.
“But I’m pretty sure the overnight bag in my truck does,” she said softly.
His head fell between his shoulders. She was going to be the death of him. “You were planning on staying?”
“I knew how much it meant to you.” She trailed her fingers down his arms. “But beware, I’m not used to sharing my bed. I toss and turn all night. You probably won’t get any sleep.”
“I think I can handle it.” He kissed her, and as he sat up, he said, “Thank you for staying over.”
She rolled onto her stomach and crossed her arms under her head, gazing up at him with a telling smirk. “Thank you for the orgasms.”
He chuckled as he grabbed the crutches and headed to the bathroom.
After taking care of the condom, he brushed his teeth and caught sight of the scratches and bite marks on his shoulders and neck. A thrill rushed through him.
He snagged the crutches and opened the bathroom door, surprised to see Piper lying beside Jiggs on the bed, one arm around his furry pup, the other tucked beneath her pillow, tripping up his heart even more. His sneaky dog wasn’t allowed to sleep on his bed.
Harley made his way across the room, and Jiggs opened his eyes, gave Harley a once-over, and then closed them again. “Come on, Jiggsy,” Harley whispered. When Jiggs opened his eyes, Harley pointed to the floor.
Jiggs crawled to the edge of the bed on his belly, his big brown eyes pleading with Harley. Harley shook his head. “Sorry, buddy, but I’ve waited too long to share this night with you.”
Jiggs jumped woefully off the bed and skulked away.
Harley climbed into bed, and Piper snuggled against him, nestling into the curve of his hips, her back against his chest. He pulled up the blanket and wrapped his arm around her. She sighed and drifted off to sleep.
He lay awake for a long while with Piper safely tucked within the confines of his body, sound asleep. Holding her like this was better than sex, better than anything he’d ever known. He’d thought she’d already wrecked him in all the best ways, but now he knew she hadn’t wrecked him at all. She made him whole.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
PIPER WAS WRAPPED in the warm cocoon of Harley’s body when the morning light trickled over her closed eyelids. She moved her hand, grazing his arm, which was belted around her. He felt amazing, and she felt different. Good and happy, which sent her mind in another direction. She was always happy, wasn’t she? She loved her job, her family, her life. Yes, she was definitely a happy person. She sighed with relief not to have discovered a life-shattering revelation about herself. But could this be another level of happiness? Could there have been more to happiness than what she’d always accepted? That was too deep to ponder this early in the morning. She pushed those thoughts away for now, focusing on how else she felt. Weird, definitely weird. She was lying naked in Harley Dutch’s arms. If that shouldn’t make her feel weird, she didn’t know what should.
Harley tugged her closer. He was so warm, like a big, cuddly bear. A cuddly bear with a fully erect blissmaker pressed against my ass. She took stock of her emotions.
Weird, happy, and cuddling? Okay, I think I can deal with this.
Cuddling is so girlie.
God, I’m a mess. What woman doesn’t like to cuddle?
Harley kissed her shoulder. “You must have liked sleeping with me,” he said in a gravelly voice that sent heat down her spine. “You didn’t move all night.”
Her eyes flew