He checked his watch. “Not since this morning.”
“Austin,” I admonished, and rose to my feet. “I’m going to fix you something to eat at least.”
His phone buzzed and he nodded. “Appreciate it, baby.”
He answered his call and I headed back to the kitchen. I pulled out bread and cheese, figuring grilled cheese was quick and easy to prepare, and it would tide him over for a little while.
I was setting the food on the table when he walked back into my apartment, his face grim… well, grimmer than it had been twenty minutes ago.
“You okay?”
He nodded and sat at the table, devouring the food in record time. “Thanks, babe,” he said, and dropped his plate into the sink.
“Got time to sleep for a bit?” I asked.
Austin shook his head, sliding his hand to my neck.
“What can I do?”
“You’re doin’ it, babe. You make everything better,” he said, and pulled me close.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. A familiar scent registered and I leaned back. “Why do you smell like gun powder? Please tell me you were at a firing range.”
“Sure.”
“Are you carrying?”
He stroked my cheek. “I’m always carrying.”
“You’re scaring me a little, honey. What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’ that won’t be handled tonight, so I just have to deal.”
“Are you in danger?”
“Not currently, no.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I said.
“I know, baby, but I can’t talk about it.”
“Fine.” I settled my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head and we stood like this for a while. Our peace, however, was disturbed when he answered his phone again.
“Yo.” He tried to pull away, but I held him tighter, so he settled and wrapped an arm around me. “Yeah. No. What do Crow and Hatch say? Shit. Yeah, I’m here. No. Okay. Fuck me, Mack. Yeah. Fine. Okay. If that’s the case, then I’m gonna grab some shut-eye. See ya.” He hung up and dropped his phone in his pocket again.
“Are you staying?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Kind of you to offer, baby.”
I smiled up at him. “Well, you pretty much announced you were going to, so I have benevolently decided not to kick you out.”
Austin laughed. “Appreciate that. I’ll lock up and meet you in the bedroom.”
“Um, no,” I countered. “I’m going to bed. You’re sleeping on the sofa.”
“You’re fuckin’ hilarious, baby.”
“I’m serious, Austin.”
He frowned and shook his head. “Not sleeping on your fuckin’ sofa, Dani. Also, not gonna fuck you if you don’t want me to fuck you. What I am gonna do is hold my woman and sleep until I’m called up again.”
“I am not a slut, Austin.”
“Never said you were.” He scowled down at me. “What the fuck, Dani?”
I bit my lip. “This is just going too fast.”
“Jesus, Dani.” He set me away from him and left the kitchen to lock up the apartment, returning quickly, and grabbing my hand. He led me back to my bedroom and faced me. “What side?”
“Excuse me?”
“What side of the bed do you want?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Window.”
He laid his gun and phone on the nightstand by the door and promptly removed his clothes, graciously keeping his boxer briefs on. I swallowed at the sight of his body. God, it was still as magnificent as I remembered. He pulled the covers back and flopped onto the mattress, linking his hands behind his head. “You comin’?”
“I… um… have to take my makeup off and brush my teeth.”
“Be quick, babe, yeah?”
“No funny business.”
“I’m too tired for funny business.”
I shook my head, my attempt at keeping him out of my bed a big fat failure, and headed to the bathroom. After removing my contacts, washing my face, and brushing my teeth, I opened my closet, found some pajama bottoms and a cami and changed into them in the closet. I flipped off the light and made my way to the bed, pulling the covers back and slipping inside. I was promptly pulled onto Austin’s chest and kissed to distraction.
He rolled me so his chest was to my back. “‘Night, baby.”
“Goodnight,” I whispered.
I scooted closer and his arms tightened around me. I smiled as I closed my eyes. This was pure bliss.
Danielle
I WAS AWOKEN Monday morning by my alarm. My bed was empty, but the delicious smell of Austin was still attached to my sheets.
I rubbed my eyes and stretched. I had parent-teacher conferences all day, so I needed to get my butt up and moving, but all I wanted to do was turn back time so I could snuggle up to Austin again.
“‘Mornin’, babe.”
I turned my head toward the door to find Austin standing at the threshold. He wore jeans, sans shirt and he was positively edible.
“Mmm, hi.” I sat up and smiled. “I thought you’d be gone by now.”
“Didn’t get called up.” He stretched out on the bed and pulled me on top of him. “How’d you sleep?”
“Better than I ever have.” I ran my fingers over his chest. “Why?”
He gave me a sexy smile and shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Um, no. We don’t play the nothing game, remember?”
Austin chuckled. “You talk in your sleep.”
I sat up with a gasp. “I do not.”
“You absolutely do.”
“What did I say?”
He grinned and slid off the bed. “That I’m not gonna tell you.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because I don’t have to.” He leaned down and kissed me. “Now, get ready for work and I’ll drop you off.”
“You have your bike.”
“A recruit dropped off my truck.”
“I’m fine to drive. Then I don’t have to find a ride home.”
“I’ll pick you up when you’re done.”
I smiled. “I thought you were busy tonight.”
“Plans changed.”
“What if I’m busy?”
He grinned and kissed me again. “Are you busy?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.