14. Pecker
Chapter 14
Pecker
“Are you ok?” I brush her hair over her shoulder and lift her chin with my knuckles until she's forced to meet my gaze.
“Yeah, I'm just worried about Leslie. I’m a little worried about myself too,” she confesses softly.
“That’s understandable. I'm worried about you too. But you know, I'm not going to let anything happen to you if I can stop it, right?”
“I know, but you aren’t always around. When I'm sleeping, I'm all alone.”
“Are you saying you want to sleep here?” A grin tugs on the corner of my lips.
“I can only imagine how much drama that could start.” She rolls her eyes. “Colt will disapprove and he’ll think I don’t trust him to keep me safe. Leslie will be upset and think I don’t want to risk being close to her. And let’s not even get started on how Wes Robinson would respond if he found out his little girl was sleeping in the cute deputy’s bed.”
“Baby,” I whisper, taking her face in my hands. “If you’re more comfortable staying here, I’ll take all of those people on. I’ll handle everything that gets thrown our way and more. I want to make sure you’re where you want to be, that’s all I care about.”
“I want to stay here, Peck. I know you’ll protect me.”
I tug her onto my lap and hold her against me. I want to kiss her, but this isn't about being romantic right now, it’s about making her feel safe. I bury my face in the crook of her neck and hug her tightly. We can stay like this all night and I wouldn’t be mad.
My phone pings and lights up the low-lit room. I grab it off the small table at the side of the couch and smile when I read the text.
Colt: Can you keep Sophia at your house tonight? I’d rather only have one person to worry about in case he shows up.
While I'm not happy he’s this worried, I know I won't need to battle anyone tonight to keep my girl in my arms.
“Sweetheart, you’re sleeping here. Colt just asked me to keep you with me tonight.”
“Why?” She pulls back and meets my gaze. There’s so much fear and concern swimming in those blue eyes.
“He thinks it’s better if we each have one person to worry about. He cares about you, he’s just more focused on her. Just like I care about Leslie, but my focus will always be on you first.”
She closes the distance between us and presses her lips against mine. She conveys all of the emotions she doesn’t want to voice and then some.
Sophia’s my tough girlfriend, but I can tell right now she wants someone else to be tough for her. I'm more than happy to fill that role. More than happy to let her rest while I keep watch for the both of us.
“Let’s get some sleep. I think everyone is tired.”
“Can we watch a movie while we lay in bed?”
“Anything for you.”
I lift her into my arms and carry her over to the bed. Placing her in the center, I reach behind my neck and drag my shirt over my head.
“Holy crap, that was hot,” she whispers, staring at my bare chest.
“Do you want something else to sleep in?” I smirk.
“Gimme your shirt.” She holds out her hand and waits for me to place the fabric in her fingers.
“I’ve been wearing that all night. Don’t you want something clean?”
“No. I want that one.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t smell bad.” I roll my eyes and drop the shirt into her hands.
I watch with amusement as she slips the shirt over her head without taking off anything. She moves her arms around and tugs her sweater out from under the hem, it lands somewhere on the floor. My brows draw together as I try to figure out how she did that.
I'm about to open my mouth and ask when her bra gets flung across the room. My brows raise as I stare at her. I wasn’t expecting that. I know she let me massage her last night, but I didn’t think she’d be comfortable sleeping like this.
She stands up on the bed and unbuttons her jeans. She shimmies them down her legs and they meet the floor like the rest of her clothes. I nearly choke on my own spit when she slips under the covers and tosses a thong on the floor.
“Holy shit. Are you taking off anything else?”
“You’re right, I didn’t take off my socks.” She winks before dropping those on the floor too. “What do you like to sleep in?”
“Naked. I like to sleep naked,” I deadpan. I normally sleep in boxer briefs, but I’d love to sleep naked next to her.
“You do not!” She giggles.
“Boxer briefs,” I mumble under my breath.
“Then strip down, boyfriend.” She claps her hands, telling me to hurry up.
I tug my jeans down and leave them on the floor, then climb into bed next to her. As soon as I'm lying on my back, Sophia curls into my side. Her head lays on my chest, her arm is slung across my stomach, and her thigh is draped over my thigh. I run a hand down her back and over her hips. My fingers meet the bare skin of her thigh and I groan.
“You’re really trying to kill me, aren’t you? You’re not even wearing anything. The only fabric between us is my boxers.”
“I don’t have to lay like this. I just wanted to be as close as possible to you,” she whispers, her voice full of embarrassment. She starts to pull away, but I stop her. There’s no way I'm turning this woman down. Not when she’s scared and wants to be close. Not when she’s pressing her practically naked body against mine. Never will I turn her down, it doesn’t matter what she asks for.
“Not a chance in hell,” I growl. My arm wrapped around her tightens and my hand is placed on her ass. I tug her closer and grab her thigh with my other hand, holding it tighter against me.
I know this is going to make sleeping difficult for me. My cock is going to be hard all night. I can feel the warmth of her core pressed against me, turning me on even more. The shirt slid up and my hand is cupping her bare ass. I know it would take barely any effort to tug off my boxers and have her straddling my waist, but that’s not what she needs right now.
“Thank you,” Sophia murmurs after a few minutes of silence. “You make me feel safe and loved, Peck.”
“Good, that’s how I want you to feel. You can stay here whenever you want, sweetheart. You can lay here in my arms in as little amount of clothing as you’d like too.” I grin when she swats at my chest. “I'm falling hard and fast for you,” I confess into the darkness.
“I am too,” she whispers, then presses a soft kiss to my chest. I could get used to sleeping like this every night.
What’s better than having the woman you’re falling in love with tucked safely in your arms while you sleep?