29. Piper #3
He sighed and looked away. “Maybe another day I’ll be up to it, but it’s been ten years and I feel it.”
“So this feels new to you too.”
“Yeah. We have that in common.”
I nodded. “You know, it’s good that we slowed down. Otherwise, this would be over way too quickly.”
“Ah, well.” He rubbed his neck. “That was definitely an option.”
“Really? You were that into it?”
“Have I ever not been into anything with you?”
“Good point.” I propped my head on my knees. “You so like me.”
“You’re so annoying,” he muttered. “But I do.”
“I’ll let you cool off, old man. We do have a movie to watch after all.” I looked back at the screen. “Though, I have no idea what’s happening.”
“I . . . wasn’t watching it at all.”
“Maybe we should start it from the top.” I reached for the remote and restarted the movie, giving Theo a smile while I did so.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him take in a deep breath and let it out, his shoulders loosening slightly.
As much as I hadn’t planned on watching the movie, I enjoyed it once I focused on it. Theo must have been feeling better, because he talked through most of it. Not about us, but little things he noticed about what was happening on screen.
I enjoyed every second of it.
But by the time the credits were rolling, my eyelids were heavy, and Theo had yawned five times in the span of ten minutes.
“You know,” I began, “I did say the commute was closer. You could stay at my place and take advantage of that. Sleeping only, of course.”
His eyes flicked to me and then back to the TV. “It does sound nice, but I have to get up at four thirty.”
I cringed. “Oh my God. How do you live?”
“I do it sleep-deprived.”
“Well, I won’t be waking up, but you’re still welcome to stay.”
My chest ached for him to, but I would never say that out loud. I had a thing about the idea of sharing a bed with someone, which is why it appeared in every single one of my books.
After living a lonely existence, the idea of someone holding me as I fell asleep sounded heavenly. To this day, as I drifted off, I would cuddle up with one of my pillows and pretend it was a person who cared about me.
Still, tonight had taught me there were things Theo wasn’t ready for, and I would wait. I would handle it if he didn’t even want that.
“I’ll stay, but . . . I don’t know how this’ll go. I’ve never done that.”
“Really?”
“Back when I did some sleeping around, I was too busy to even think about staying the night. Technically, I still am, but it’s you who’s asking.”
His words hit me right in the chest. I had to take a shaky breath before answering.
“I’m up for anything.”
“Even if I get into your space?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Is that an option?”
“It might be. Anything can happen and you might not like waking up with someone next to you.”
“I doubt that’ll happen,” I replied quickly. “And I already woke up on your chest. I was fine.”
I’d wanted more, and now that it was in front of me, I needed it.
“Are you—” I interrupted him with a flat look. “Then I’ll stay.”
“Great.” I nearly fell off the couch in my excitement to get to my bedroom. “Let me hide all my dildos and you can come in.”
Theo went red in the face. “Piper!”
“I’m kidding! I always hide them! I just don’t want you to see my underwear.”
“You’re making dildo jokes and you draw the line at underwear?”
I laughed and went into my room. “I never said I made sense.”
I did wind up putting my underwear up, but I also grabbed an extra pillow I’d stuffed in my closet so Theo could use it. Then I was back out in the living room.
“Okay. Bedtime!”
“Are you sleeping in a skirt?”
Fuck. “Never mind.”
I slammed the door and I heard him laugh.
The second time went far better. I managed to find something that would fit Theo, and we both lay in my bed.
“Do you still want me to hold you?”
“Yes,” I said. “Please.”
“Lift your head,” he said softly. He wound one of his arms under my neck and the other one wrapped around me in a tight embrace. One of his hands landed on my head, and his fingers ran through the strands, scraping on my scalp. “Tell me if it’s too much.”
For a second, I was on the edge. If it were anyone else, it would have been. But I grabbed his hand, feeling the calluses I knew all too well, reminding myself who was close to me.
My heart calmed down and I relaxed in his embrace.
“I’m okay,” I whispered. “I can actually do this.”
I wanted to stay happy, and deep down, I was. But having the thing I’d always dreamed of made emotion clog my throat. I never thought this would happen to me. Being in someone’s arms and feeling safe was a pipe dream. And now it was here, and I was the calmest I’d ever been.
A sniffle escaped me, even though I tried to hide it.
“Piper?” Theo asked, his chest tensing.
I didn’t even realize someone could feel that.
“It’s just so nice.” My voice was thick. “Thank you for being here.”
“Any time, Piper.” His hand resumed its movements.
I could have stayed like that forever, and my eyes grew heavy. Feeling safe made me sleepy.
It didn’t take long before I drifted off in his arms.