Chapter 6 #2
“I want to scare away your bad dreams,” he whispers.
My lips part, and I struggle to form a word, but somehow, I manage to invite him in.
Stone sits on the chair in the corner of the room, reading on his phone while I quickly head to the bathroom to throw on my pajamas and take off my makeup.
Taking a few extra moments to examine myself in the mirror, I feel the flutter in my chest. It’s the special kind that is comforting yet exciting.
I’m literally about to enter my room in pajamas to meet a man that I should be wanting to impress, except we’re already past all that. We’ve seen one another drenched from a pool, with my mascara running. Most of all, he’s seen me in a few of my dire moments.
I could have suggested that we head down to the hotel bar, but intuition has me planting my feet here. Plus, I’m not sure I can handle noise and people. I am really tired.
Taking a deep breath, I open the door and enter the room. Stone’s eyes flick up to survey me, and the corners of his mouth curve up subtly.
“Hope you don’t mind; I’ve been in restrictive clothes all day.”
He stands and grins. “Although still gorgeous when I arrived, the real you is even better.”
Another deep breath escapes my lips, then I have to smile to myself. “Uh, how did you find me?”
Stone laughs. “Our publisher let me know where you were staying. Coincidentally, my brother is at the hotel since the Spinners have a game here tomorrow. How I managed to get your room number, huh, should I admit my crime?”
“Yes,” I say, amused.
“I leaned over the counter to look at the screen when the receptionist had to collect a bag in storage for another guest, and she forgot to lock the screen, which by the way, would never happen at my fine establishment, the Dizzy Duck.”
I smirk at his tendency to cross lines when he wants… except with me. He seems to treat me like I’m fragile, only he’s waiting for a signal to throw a different side of himself at me.
“Typical Stone Madden.”
He scratches his cheek, and I notice the stubble on his chin is just short enough but already adding to his appeal.
“Here we are,” he begins.
My lips press in as we both stand there in the middle of my room, curious to see what the night will bring.
“I’m just here to be with you, nothing else,” he assures me.
Half a smile hits my mouth. “I know, you’re always a gentleman.” I step forward to tap his arm with mine. “Want something to drink?”
He groans a sound and rubs his face with his hands. “I’ve had enough. I had a heart-to-heart with my brother for the past hour or so. He has romantic woes and is working on his grand gesture, as you call it.”
My brows rise from curiosity. “Is that so? Sounds like my plots aren’t so crazy after all. I hope he works everything out.”
“Vaughn will; he's as determined as me. A cursed genetic trait that makes us slightly edgy when needed.” Stone can’t tear his gaze away from me, nor can I with him.
My hands begin to fumble with one another out of nerves. “I kind of thought, I don’t know, we stopped our emails for a bit.”
Stone throws me a promising wry smile as his fingers softly brush hair behind my ear. “Nah, I just thought you might have needed a little space, and then I had this plan. Felt the element of surprise was better.”
I close my eyes to let out relief that I didn’t know was so large inside of me, but it releases and my shoulders ease. In the corner of my eye, the apple basket is right where I found it.
Stepping away from Stone, I slowly walk to the apples and begin to list. “Apple pie, apple butter, apple cake, apple sauce, baked apples, apple muffins, apple juice, caramel apples, so many things one could do with an apple.” I pivot to glance at Stone who is amused, waiting for me to finish.
“You can do a lot with apples… Except, I guess I never told you.”
“What?” He seems mesmerized.
I tip my head and attempt to hide my smirk. “I fucking hate apples.”
Stone bursts out laughing. And this feels like the icebreaker we needed to relax from our heightened emotion this evening.
“Of course, you would. The one time I thought I could be romantic, and I fail miserably.” His head falls but the grin stays glued to his cheeks.
“You’re being romantic?” My voice is delicate, but I know the answer. It’s been obvious from the moment I opened my door.
“I’m trying.”
I begin to walk until I find myself at the foot of the bed. Stone watches me, unsure what I’m doing. I sit down, and Stone follows my cue and sits next to me when I pat the mattress.
“Is it crazy that even though we only met for a few days that it feels as though every word we write is binding us more?” It’s a scary admission.
He swallows, and I notice the way his throat bobs.
“You’re right. In truth, you have me upside down.
I’m not used to being the one who wants to push forward and want something more than physical, it’s normally the other way around.
But you don’t leave my mind, and I’m about to lose it.
” His hand rests on top of mine on my lap.
“I’m not sure what to do, Stone. For once in the longest time, I want to open up, but it’s a lot of bricks to break down.” His thumb caresses my hand, and it’s soothing.
“Doesn’t matter. Just focus on now.” He sounds confident with his words, and I have no choice but to believe him.
The tranquil calm arrives again as the feeling of him nearly consumes me. My entire body is heightened in awareness that he is close.
“I didn’t pack the sandalwood oil, I forgot. Tell me how you plan on scaring my dreams away. I wish we could talk all night, but I’m so ridiculously exhausted.”
“What can I do?”
I glance to the pillows on my bed then swim back to Stone. “There are no Dizzy Duck Inn cookies here, but maybe I don’t need them to persuade you to lie with me for a while?” My voice rises slightly.
This is what I want. I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing he was nearby, yet not close to me.
Stone observes the pillows then checks in with me to make sure, and he must see that I’m behind my suggestion 100%.
“How could I be so careless with what I’m doing?” He sounds serious, and my stomach drops, thinking this is the end of tonight. We’re both giving mixed signals, aren’t we? “I should have brought cookies on my journey here.” A smirk breaks out on his lips, and I grin as air escapes me.
We both fall back onto the bed, laughing.
But I stay true to my request and crawl up the bed to move the duvet and tuck myself in and prop my head on the fluffy pillow. Stone gets comfortable next to me, lying on his side to focus on me, with his fingers instantly weaving through my hair as I rest my head on my hands under my cheek.
“I’ll let myself out when you’re deeply asleep.”
I say nothing. Just sink into the bed, realizing that I’m sharing an intimate moment with someone and how it opens a door that I’ve had closed.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away. I left after the kiss and maybe even reiterated via email that we would be a bad idea. I’m not great at lying, so that all seemed like the answer. This is all new to me again,” I whisper.
“Shh, close your eyes, Harlow.”
I grip his shirt and slide an inch closer to him.
My breath is warm as I lean in, and the heat of his body causes any thought in my head to blur because I’m attuned to my feelings.
Taking the initiative, I brush my lips along the line of his jaw, feathering up to touch his lips with mine, before pressing gently to signal that he can give back what I desire.
The tip of his tongue seeks entrance, which I give because I want it on my own.
His fingers glide through my hair, as he is the one to possess me.
I’m not sure this man would ever let me take the reins in this moment, and I don’t mind one little bit.
My murmur is more sensual than perhaps I intend, but it comes naturally. It’s a shame that air is a necessity, but when we part, our mouths stay as close as possible. “I didn’t kiss you hello,” I murmur against the corner of his mouth.
A hoarse sound from the back of his throat informs me that he approves of my move. “Well, hello then.” I feel his fingers caress the curve of my forehead, and he kisses the top of my head. “Sweet dreams, firefly,” he whispers. He’s called me that once or twice now, and I like it.
My heavy eyes begin to close as I nestle closer to his body. Maybe when he believes I’m asleep, he begins to stir. But I’m not sleeping, and I reach out to grip his wrist.
“Stay. Just lie with me tonight. You don’t need to go,” I request.
Stone’s eyes are set on my hand, but only a second later, he responds by getting comfortable again. He brings my body closer to him and his arm tighter around my middle.
“Night, Harlow. I’ll be better than sandalwood oil, I promise.”
His whisper warms my heart.
If anyone can scare my bad dreams away, then I’m beginning to believe it might be him.