Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
G ood afternoon, Sleepy Head. I hope you slept well. I had to make a quick run to the office, but I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, there’s breakfast in the kitchen. Make yourself at home and don’t leave! Also, in case you need something else to wear, here are some sweats. Remember, don’t leave! H.
Nyla laughed and looked down at the red rose that Harrison had left next to the note on top of the clothes. It was after twelve and apparently, she had slept as soundly as usual since she hadn’t heard Harrison enter the room.
Don’t leave , his words made her smile.
Leaning back against the headboard, she brought the rose to her nose, loving the wonderful fragrance. She was glad Harrison wasn’t ready to get rid of her. Spending time with him last night had been just what she’d needed after a long week. It was fun getting to know him. His sense of humor had been on full display, and he’d been a good sport about playing twenty questions.
Then there was that heated kiss they’d shared. The one that led to heavy petting. Even thinking about it had Nyla squeezing her thighs together to tamp down memories of the delicious ache he’d sparked between her legs.
The man could turn her on with just a look, but having his mouth, his tongue, and his large hands on her body had her wanting a repeat. If he hadn’t stopped last night, they would’ve ended up naked because Nyla had no intention of stopping.
She wanted him. All of him. When he was on top of her, she had felt every inch of his strong, solid body. But it was his thick erection pressed against her lower stomach that almost had her coming without him being inside of her. Even now, it was as if she could still feel his mouth on her. The way his lips had caressed her skin, and the way his tongue had teased each nipple made her…
“Ahh, hell. I need to stop this,” Nyla murmured.
Thinking about Harrison, his dick, and that tongue of his wasn’t helping. No, she needed to get up, get dressed, and see what was in store for the day. Besides, she needed to mentally brace herself for the talk he’d wanted to have last night.
It had been easy to see that he hadn’t been ready to bare his soul to her. Which was why she’d initiated the twenty questions game. She figured she’d give him an out because, whenever he did decide to open up to her, Nyla wanted him comfortable. Well, as comfortable as talking about prison and murder could be.
She stared down at the rose again, and her heart squeezed. What if whatever he told her brought up so many bad memories that he’d retreat from her again? She wanted to see where their attraction could take them, but she knew her heart couldn’t take another rejection. Doubts about not being good enough for him were already trying to sneak in, but if his past made him take a step back from her…
“Don’t go there,” she mumbled. Just stay in the right here and the right now , she reminded herself.
She was crazy about the man and didn’t want whatever this was building between them to be over before it got started. At least it was safe to say Harrison trusted her. He left her in his home alone, and she was sure that wasn’t a norm for him. No, he didn’t trust easily, so she’d look at it as progress.
Nyla set the rose on the bed and headed to the attached bathroom. Maybe a shower could help clear her mind. Overthinking was new for her, and she was pretty sure she hated it. She needed to channel her free spirit, go with the flow persona if she was going to enjoy her time with Harrison.
A short while later, Nyla finished rolling up the pant legs and sleeves of the sweats that Harrison had given her to wear and went downstairs in search of a vase. When she finally made it to the kitchen, she couldn’t help but laugh. In the middle of the center island was a crystal vase that held at least two dozen roses. Or maybe twenty-three of them since she held one in her hand.
Grinning like an idiot, she hurried to the island and buried her face in the beautiful bouquet. The scent was amazing. Seeing a small card with her name on it tucked between the stems, she plucked it out and read: Just because…
Gawd! This man was too good to be true. She loved flowers, especially roses. Sadly, it had been years since she’d received any, and Harrison’s thoughtfulness hit her right in the feels. If he was trying to make an impression, it was working. Last night he had her feeling desired, and today she felt treasured.
I’m going to have to do something special for him, she thought as she poured a cup of coffee. There were pastries on the counter and a scribbled note that said fruit and juices are in the refrigerator. There was also a covered dish, and whatever it was smelled delicious. She couldn’t wait to dive in, but first, she’d start with coffee.
After adding sugar and Irish cream creamer to the aromatic dark brew, Nyla took a tentative sip and moaned with pleasure. “Excellent.”
As she leaned a hip against the counter, she glanced around the open space. The house was quiet, except…
With her mug in hand, she strolled to the window, surprised at all the snow. It had started coming down on their way to Harrison’s house, but she hadn’t expected to see what looked to be seven or eight inches. What surprised her more was Harrison outside shoveling. He was in the process of clearing the walkway that led to the detached garage.
Nyla smiled as an idea bloomed inside of her. Another few sips of her coffee, and she set the mug down and went in search of her coat and boots. Minutes later, she stepped outside. It wasn’t as cold as it had been in the past week, but it was cold enough to have her shivering despite the layers of clothes.
Harrison kept shoveling, then suddenly stopped and turned as if sensing her. A slow smile spread across his mouth, and he let the shovel fall into a pile of snow.
“Hey. What are you doing out here?” he asked and wrapped her in a bear hug. His cold lips met hers and she melted against him.
“I love being greeted like this,” she said when the kiss ended.
“Good to know.” He gave her another quick kiss. “It’s too cold for you to be out here. Head back in the house, and I’ll be in shortly.”
“Actually, it’s not that bad,” she lied, wanting to hang out there with him. “If you have another shovel, I can even help.”
“That’s not necessary, but I welcome the company. I’ll make this quick.”
He went back to shoveling, and Nyla stuffed her gloved hands in her pockets as she shuffled her feet back and forth to keep warm. More snow had fallen than she originally thought, and it was heavy enough to make a snowman. Actually, it was perfect for a snowball fight, something she hadn’t done in a long time.
A grin spread across her mouth, and she quickly made a few snowballs while Harrison’s back was turned. His focus was solely on clearing the walkway, and she used that to her advantage.
Six snowballs should be a good start.
Nyla held them all in the crook of her arm, and let one fly, and then another, and yet another. The first two hit him in the back, and the last one splattered on the back of his head. Good thing he was wearing a thick wool cap.
She started grinning when Harrison stopped shoveling and glanced over his shoulder. She threw another snowball at him, and it hit him smack-dab in the middle of his forehead.
Bursting out laughing, she almost dropped her last two snowballs. His incredulous expression only made her laugh harder.
“Seriously?” he finally said, unsmiling and still looking as if he couldn’t believe she’d hit him with snowballs.
Unable to help herself, she threw the last two at him. One hit him in the chest, and the other went wide and missed him. Instead of laughing with her, Harrison dropped the shovel and charged toward her.
“Oh no!” Nyla turned to run but had barely taken two steps before she was tackled to the ground. “Ahhh!” she screamed, then turned over onto her back only to be met with a face full of snow.
It was ridiculously cold, but she couldn’t stop laughing. Not one of those little giggles, but a full-bodied laugh that had her stomach muscles hurting.
“Harrison, this is not how you have a snowball fight!” Sputtering, laughing, and wiggling against him, she almost got away, but he straddled her.
“Oh, is that what we were supposed to be doing? It was an unfair fight since you just attacked me with snowballs without warning.”
“That’s how snowball fights work. You attack, then run, but I—I’m sorry.”
“I don’t believe you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be falling out laughing,” he said, a rare smile on his face.
He grasped both of her arms above her head, then held her wrists in place with one large hand . “So, you want a snowball fight, huh?”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond. Instead, he smashed more snow into her face causing her to scream and sputter some more.
“Wh—what are you doing?” she stammered while still laughing. Moving her head left and right, she tried to keep Harrison from smothering her with more snow. “You—you, this is not how a snowball fight works.”
“Well, this is how I play,” he murmured, shoving more snow into her face and a little inside her jacket.
“Oh, my God!” she shrieked, still trying to get free of him while struggling to breathe because she couldn’t stop laughing. “Okay. Okay. For real, I’m sorry,” she said unconvincingly.
Nyla couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed this hard. Tears leaked from her eyes, probably freezing on her face while her cheeks hurt from all the laughing.
“Okay. Okay. I—I give up,” she managed to say.
“Now that’s what I like to hear,” Harrison said, using the end of the scarf around her neck to wipe her face.
When he smiled down at her, Nyla’s heart pounded double-time. The man was so handsome, it was almost hard to look at him. Add that to his thoughtful and kind nature, and she was officially hooked. She more than wanted him. More than wanted to spend time with him, and that excited her while also scaring her a little. What if he realized she wasn’t enough for him? Would he be like John? Date her for a while, dump her, and then end up with someone else weeks later?
“You’re beautiful,” Harrison said just above a whisper, and her thoughts flew away.
He stared at her for a minute before crushing his lips to hers and thrusting his tongue into her mouth. It was as if time stood still and the cold that had been seeping into her body was replaced with a roaring fire. The intensity behind the searing kiss was different from all their other kisses. This one…this one felt as if he was claiming her. As if he was saying, you’re mine. All mine. Or maybe she was projecting.
But damn the man could kiss.
When he released her hands, needing both of his to hold her, Nyla wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the connection. The weight of his body on top of hers felt so good, and with the heat pouring from his body to hers, she was sure she could stay like that forever.
Between last night and today, something had definitely shifted between them, and Nyla wanted him even more than she’d wanted him last night. If his potent kiss was any indication, he wanted her too.
Kids’ laughter and screaming in the distance met her ears and, apparently, Harrison’s too. He slowly ended the kiss and lifted his head. He gazed into her eyes, and without his glasses, she could make out every emotion—joy, excitement, and even vulnerability. More than anything, though, she saw desire.
“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” he said, and Nyla could feel the deep rumble of his voice to the depths of her soul.
“Then take me,” she whispered.