Chapter Twenty-One
CASH
IWAKE UP before the alarm.
She’s asleep, her body tucked into mine. Every curve aligns with my own. One arm drapes over my waist, and her hair loosely tangles against my chest and the pillow.
For a moment, I let myself pretend this is how my mornings start. That there isn’t a clock ticking somewhere in the room, counting down the space between us.
I don’t move.
I don’t even breathe right.
I just look at her, because I need to store this away—like one of her photographs.
Frame it.
Lock it.
Save it.
This moment is quiet, and I only feel this peace and calm when I’m with her. The certainty that she’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
But I can’t.
Not now.
She needs this time to find herself, and I won’t be the one to take it from her.
And it hurts. Leaving her fucking hurts, deep in my chest. In places I didn’t know existed until now.
I smooth her hair back with my finger and kiss the side of her head.
“You’re awake.” Her breath is warm against my chest. “Is it already morning?” Her sleep-rough voice vibrates through me.
God, I wish I wasn’t. I wish I could go back to the hours we spent awake last night in each other’s arms. I wish it were her waking me again to spend another hour making love.
“It is.” I trace the line of her shoulder with my thumb, memorizing the slope and the way she leans into my touch.
Her skin is warm, silky, still smelling like soap, sleep, and sex.
“But you sleep, and I’ll pop back after my class.”
“No.” She stretches her warm, naked body against mine.
Her thigh slides over mine. The sheets rustle and the mattress dips ever so slightly.
Shit.
It feels so good. She feels so damn good.
Her hair brushes my chin. I breathe her in. Vanilla shampoo. Sweet. Warm.
Vanilla will never smell the same again.
From now on, it’s her.
Every cupcake.
Every cake.
Every damn dessert.
I can already envision waking up every morning like this. With her. Her smell. Her sleepy voice. Her perfect body burrowed into mine.
“I don’t want to miss the last class.”
Her words hit me. She’s coming.
Thank God.
Vanilla scones are on the menu. The second that smell hits, I’ll think of her. It’s been a long time since I’ve ruined dishes before, but I wouldn’t put it past me to burn the whole kitchen down, distracted by the scent. Distracted by the picture of her curled up next to me, just like this moment.
“I don’t want you to miss the last class.”
She giggles, a soft half-laugh and half-yawn. “But it’s so early to be awake.”
The morning sun shines through the window, glistening off the curve of her shoulder.
“Seems we’re not the only ones awake.” She rubs her leg against my morning wood.
Heat and friction spark through me.
“You,” I growl, wrapping my arms around her and rolling on top of her.
That damn scent hits me full-force.
She squeals in delight and laughter, and I want never to forget the sound. The bed dips and springs under us.
She presses her hands against my chest as I pin her to the bed. Her eyes grow soft, and her smile fades. I feel the rise and fall of her breathing.
“I’m going to miss this.”
I press closer. Her warmth presses back into me.
My chest tightens.
I finally nod. “Me too.”
I nuzzle my nose against hers. I’d worry about morning breath, but we barely slept—just drifted in and out of each other all night.
Her fingers absently play with my chest. Each brush makes my pulse spike.
“I’m going to miss you.”
I suck in a breath. My throat is tight.
“I want to ask you to come with me,” I admit. “Forget your plans and come home with me, but I can’t.”
Her quiet exhale brushes my lips, and her eyes flicker. Her thumb traces the center of my chest like she’s storing away every part of me.
“I know.”
“You have to do this for yourself, and I know that, but I’m going to miss you so fucking much.”
Every nerve in my body is keyed to her. Her warmth, the curve of her shoulder, the light in her eyes. It all pulls at me.
We live on opposite sides of the country. Too many miles. Too many real-life things. I’d never ask her to leave it all for me.
God, I want to anyway. I want everything.
There’s that familiar spark flickering in her eyes that I’ve grown to love. It catches the morning sun, gold and mischievous.
My stomach twists.
“You don’t have to leave yet.” Her voice is hopeful. “You’ve still got time before your lesson.”
Her fingers run down my torso. Goosebumps rise, and heat pools.
I kiss her. Because this is it, this is all I’m allowed to demand from her.
She kisses me back just as fiercely. Her teeth scrape mine. Her hands are firm against my skin. Heat radiates off her, and I catch each quick inhale against my lips. Every piece of us is electric—every nerve, every inch.
Because we both know.
We have right now.