Chapter 46 Check Your Priorities
FORTY-SIX
Check your priorities
LILA
I always thought a relationship was mostly yelling “what” from the other end of the house and getting mad when your partner doesn’t understand you. Oh, and disagreeing over the thermostat setting and who snores the loudest.
With Reed, it’s birding dates, sleeping in the nude, having a personal chauffeur, orgasms for days, bubble baths, and warm towels. In light of this new information, I’m thankful Past Lila gave him another chance. She’s smarter than I gave her credit for.
After my hair is combed and loosely braided, I brush my teeth and head into the bedroom. Considering how much he’s seen me naked in the last hour alone, it seems silly to go with the towel wrapped around me.
I do it anyway.
Some habits are hard to break.
Even with his face buried in his tablet, Reed looks so darn handsome in bed. Suppose I can berate myself over the body shame later. He’s giving me plenty to focus on as I glide across the carpet with hearts bulging from my eyes like a cartoon character.
That triggers a funny image to appear in my head. My internal amusement turns into outward snickering by the time I drop the towel and slip into bed.
Reed plugs in the tablet and places it on the nightstand next to his cell phone. “What’s so funny, gorgeous?”
I contemplate a distraction technique, but he’d probably enjoy the laugh based on my real thoughts instead. “I was thinking about how good you looked sitting in bed with all that skin on display, and how lucky I am to get to sleep with you for the second night in a row.”
He throws a bemused look at me before clicking off the lamp. “What’s funny about that?”
I get comfy, lying on my side to face him. “Did you ever see the Roger Rabbit movie?”
“Yeah. We had it on videotape before Mom ditched the VCR for a DVD player.”
“Remember when Jessica Rabbit walked out on stage for the first time?”
He mirrors my position, tucking his hand under his pillow. Since my eyes have adjusted to the darkness, I narrowly make out the mirth in his expression. “I’m not a gambler anymore, but I’d wager every male in the free world recalls that scene. In vivid detail.”
“Touché.”
“So what about Jessica Rabbit?”
“I was picturing a reverse of that scene. You were Jessica, looking all yummy, and I’m the one with bulging eyes who sprouted wings to fly over to you.”
He makes a psh sound, which is so not like him. “Woman, please. You’re the perfect Jessica in any scenario.”
“Whatever.”
“No, no, nooo. Not whatever.”
Scooting close to me, he slings an arm around my midsection and yanks me against him. Then he locks me in place with his firm thigh over mine. It’s an almost aggressive move, but it’s also hot. So let’s say it’s aggressively hot. Or even offensively scorching.
“You are absolutely Jessica. You’ve got her curves.
” He skims his hand down my back, getting a handful of one of my butt cheeks.
“So damn voluptuous. And don’t get me started on your sexy belly.
” His hand slides along the underside of my leg.
“And these thighs. Fuck, I love them. They make the best earmuffs.”
I want to believe him. However, a lifetime of conditioning isn’t easy to ignore. How do you deprogram your brain when you’ve only ever been told that fat is disgusting?
It’s always, you have such a pretty face. If only you’d lose a few pounds. And never, you’re beautiful exactly as you are.
Sure, I’m gaining comfort at being naked around Reed. But seeing myself the way he does? Not likely.
Aiming to change the subject, I playfully brush off his praise. “Okay, you’ve made your point. You like my plumpness. Don’t use this as a distraction to avoid talking about your thing.”
Reed releases me from his full-body death grip. “Roll on your back,” he orders, gravel scraping his tone.
“Why?” I ask, reluctantly doing as commanded.
I’m not strong enough to disobey him when he sounds that way. It’s embarrassing how quickly he makes me fold.
“Because I told you to,” he sasses.
My nipples stiffen like they’ve been summoned to the principal’s office.
As soon as I’m flat on my back, he literally climbs on top of me, straddling my waist.
Yowza.
This is a way sexier position than I would’ve predicted.
His strong thighs surround me, keeping me in place. He roams his hands over my chest, kneading and caressing my flesh. His eyes track the movement, and his lips part to expose the tip of his tongue.
He’s coveting me. Worshipping me with his hands and his hungry gaze.
The longer he studies me, the more I begin to wonder if he’s picking the perfect place to finish the next time we have sex.
Why did I have to think that? Now I’m envisioning it.
I wonder if he wants to slip his cock between my breasts? That would be so dang hot I might incinerate.
Speaking of his one-eyed willy, it’s partially erect and resting on my upper belly. Also hot. Even feeling his balls on my stomach turns me on. And those are arguably the least attractive part of a man. That and the ring of fire.
Dang it. Instead of cooling me off, picturing that part of his anatomy on me as well is making my clit throb and thighs press together.
Call me Mount Lila. Reed’s welcome to climb naked to my summit anytime.
Oblivious to my somewhat disturbing inner monologue, he shoves my breasts inward.
I glance down, noticing my twin peaks have an impressive valley of cleavage.
No easy feat since I’m on my back and my nips were basically pointing to both sides of the room.
When they’re this big, gravity is their true master.
Hoisting my chest up and making it jiggle, he sounds indignant when he asks, “How can you look in the mirror and not realize this is what the animators were aiming for when they drew that damn character?”
Reed might be deranged, but he’s mine.
And apparently, I’m his type.
Out of nowhere, he jolts, posture stiffening and eyes tripling in size. Yet he doesn’t release my boobs. “Oh. I have the best idea.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” I counter.
“Cookie, next Halloween, we’re doing a couple’s costume. You’re going as Jessica. Up to you whether I’m the old detective dude or the crazy rabbit.”
Welp, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.
Unabashedly, I laugh in his face, which he wholeheartedly deserves. Despite my hysterics, he continues massaging my chest. I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it.
And that makes me laugh harder.
After the hilarity dwindles, I ask, “Do you attend many Halloween parties? I haven’t been to one of those since high school. And a couple’s costume? Who says I want to do that?”
I totally want to do that.
“I didn’t say we were going anywhere.” He waggles his brows and shakes my breasts like they’re point-emphasizing pom poms. “We can trick or treat around the bedroom. Once I see you in that costume, we won’t make it out of here anyway.”
His playful side is almost too much for my heart to take. I adore seeing him this way. So full of light and levity.
I crick my finger at him. “Come here. I need a kiss.”
He descends Mount Lila before claiming my lips. I’m careful to keep the kiss brief so we don’t get wrapped up. I need to figure out what made him flinch in the tub.
All because I called him dimples.
When he pulls away, he keeps one hand cradled against my cheek. “I love you. And you’re beautiful. Stop cutting yourself down.”
“I’m trying,” I admit. “It’s not easy.”
“I know.” He joins our lips for a sweet peck. “I’ll keep telling you how gorgeous you are until we’re old and gray if I need to. I’m highly committed to this goal.”
“Why don’t you focus on one goal at a time? I think keeping me alive is a higher priority than convincing me I’m a cartoon.”
“Speaking of which,” he begins, referring to the matter of my life being in danger.
On instinct, I sit up in bed about halfway, resting my upper back against the headboard. I feel like I should be mostly upright for this. If he can have topics that aren’t shower-friendly, then I can have sitting-only conversations.
“Yes?”
He studies my new position and wordlessly adjusts his own.
With his cheek resting on my belly, I become his human pillow.
His face turns so he’s looking at me over the swell of my breasts.
Despite his location, he manages to cuddle me by snaking one arm around my lower back, pinning it between me and the mattress.
And then he releases the sigh to end all sighs. He’s the embodiment of contentment.
Oh, this man.
While making moon eyes at him, I finger-comb his damp hair, throwing in the occasional scalp scratch.
His eyes flutter shut. I keep mine open, though, not wanting to miss how serene he looks.
I couldn’t possibly love him more.
Regrettably, I have to destroy the moment before we can drift off. And watching him release his tension and find tranquility this way has my eyelids growing heavy.
I lick my lips and lightly clear my throat. “Don’t think you’re using sleep to get out of talking about what was bothering you when I called you dimples. But also, what were you going to say about my safety?”
Some of the serenity in his expression fades when he forces his eyes open. Otherwise, he doesn’t move. “I’m concerned about leaving you vulnerable when I go to work tomorrow. I can’t exactly bring you with me.”
“Bianca wasn’t sure if I’d need to deal another shift while wearing the spy gear.
She explained you likely caught enough cheaters tonight that you’ll be busy building cases against them for several days before you orchestrate a mega arrest. Silas is your new priority, especially since I confirmed he was at the murder scene.
More than likely, he’s the one who knows who is running the operation. Right?”