Chapter 13 #3
Alaska sat on the couch next to Drake and stroked his hair over and over.
He was fast asleep against her, his deep inhalations telling her without words just how tired he was.
Drake didn’t sleep well. She’d noticed it in the hospital, and he’d mentioned it a time or two since.
But at the moment, with his head in her lap, one arm curled around her thighs, Mutt snoring in the crook of his knees, he was out.
It felt good to be able to give this to him.
She couldn’t deny she was a touch disappointed that they weren’t currently naked in his bed, making love, but this was almost as good. In many ways, this was more intimate.
It had been a long day. Alaska had a feeling Drake would deny it, but helping others through their traumatic reactions took a lot out of him.
Brought back his own not-so-good memories.
Being here for him now, allowing him to let down his guard and veg on the couch without having to think too hard about anything, felt good. She felt needed.
So much of her life, she’d been on her own. No one really cared if she came or went. But seeing Drake’s appreciation for the sweets she’d made him, for not being upset about their change in dinner plans, for her willingness to sit on the couch and watch mindless TV… It was everything.
But it was getting late. Her leg was falling asleep where Drake’s head lay.
And tomorrow was going to be a long day for both of them.
For her, because she was working on revamping The Refuge’s website, and for Drake because he’d most certainly want to keep a closer eye on the guests after what happened today.
“Drake?” she said softly.
He didn’t stir. But Mutt lifted his head to look at her.
Alaska knew the dangers of waking someone with Drake’s past from a deep sleep. She wanted to get him to bed, but wasn’t sure how to go about it.
Mutt took the decision out of her hands. He jumped off the couch, then circled back and began to lick Drake’s face as he slept.
It was all Alaska could do not to laugh. At first, Drake kind of mumbled in his sleep. But when Mutt didn’t stop licking him, he groaned and brought up a hand to push the dog away.
Mutt persisted, licking Drake’s fingers, wrist, then his face again when he could reach it.
“Damn dog,” he mumbled. “I’m awake.”
Alaska knew she was smiling like crazy, but she couldn’t help it.
Drake lifted his eyes to hers, and she stilled. She couldn’t interpret the emotion she saw in his gaze, but it made her belly clench with longing.
“What time is it?” he asked, the intense moment passing.
“Twelve-thirty or so,” she told him.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”
“It’s okay. I was trying to wake you up so we could go to bed when Mutt decided to help.”
“Good boy,” Drake said, reaching out a hand and ruffling the fur on top of the dog’s head. “I didn’t teach him to wake me up like that. He figured out on his own it was better for me to wake up slowly than be surprised with an alarm.”
“Yeah, I didn’t know exactly how to wake you up without startling you.”
Drake sat up, and to her surprise, she saw a mischievous look cross his face. “I could think of a few ways,” he said.
Alaska couldn’t stop herself from glancing at his lap. Even as she watched, his dick seemed to grow in his sweats.
“Yup, that’s one way,” he said, without sounding the least bit embarrassed. He stood. “I’ll let Mutt out if you want to head on to bed.”
Things between them were so…easy. So domestic.
Alaska had thought living with a guy would be so much more awkward.
But nothing about her days or nights with Drake had been uncomfortable, ever.
He always let her use the bathroom first. Gave her plenty of time to get changed without her having to worry if he’d barge in on her.
He cleaned up after himself. Was constantly looking out for her.
Making sure she had enough to eat, that she was warm enough, that she wasn’t bored.
He made her feel special. Which was a new thing for Alaska.
By the time she finished in the bathroom, Drake and Mutt were back inside. She headed into the bedroom with the dog while Drake visited the bathroom. She was crawling under the covers when he returned.
While he always gave her alone time to change before bed, Drake had no problem getting ready in front of her. Probably because he had not one thing to be shy about when it came to his body. Tonight, Alaska didn’t even pretend she wasn’t watching as he stripped off his shirt.
His biceps were large enough that she didn’t think she’d be able to get both hands around them at once.
The yowling lion tattoo on his left arm rippled as he moved, and even from where she was lying, Alaska could see the veins in his forearms. Why that was so sexy, she had no idea, but the thought of those hands and arms around her made her squirm.
Next, Drake shucked his sweatpants. His ass in those boxers was rock hard, and his thighs were huge. He was a big man…all over. That wasn’t something she could miss. And tonight, she let her gaze linger on the front of his boxers as he walked around the bed to the side he slept on.
“Like what you see, honey?” he asked as he crawled under the sheet.
Alaska’s nipples were hard under her sleepshirt, and she could feel the wetness between her legs.
Instead of being embarrassed about her perusal of his body, she felt emboldened.
And she instinctually knew Drake wouldn’t make her feel shame in her own body.
Wouldn’t think her boobs were too small or her nipples too big.
He wouldn’t make her feel weird about how wet she got when she was super turned on.
And she had a feeling he’d have no problem whatsoever with her taking control.
She might not be the most sexually experienced woman in the world, but she liked what she liked…and she definitely liked Drake.
“Yes,” she said simply.
“Good. Because I more than like you looking.” He reached for her waist and pulled her against him, into her usual sleeping spot against his side.
Alaska snuggled into him, nuzzling his shoulder as she got comfortable.
His hand, which usually rested against her back, gripped her shirt and tugged upward. He pulled on the material until his hand could get under it. He rested his palm on the small of her back, holding her to him.
Alaska didn’t usually wear more than panties and an oversized shirt to bed, so her bare legs and even her belly brushed against his equally bare skin. And she couldn’t stop thinking about how close his fingers were to her butt. Her nipples actually hurt as they pressed against his side.
“You feel so good against me. I don’t think I’ve told you that before,” Drake said softly.
Alaska shook her head. “And you feel good against me.” She ruined her attempt at seduction by yawning, hugely.
Drake chuckled and gave her a quick hug. “It’s late. Sleep, Al.”
She wanted to protest that she was too turned on to sleep, but her eyes seemed too heavy to keep open all of a sudden.
Drake ran his fingers up and down her arm, which she’d wrapped around his belly. She could feel and hear his heartbeat under her cheek.
“Thank you for tonight. It was exactly what I needed,” he said after a moment.
Alaska fell asleep with the feel of Drake along every inch of her body, the sound of Mutt snoring behind her, and the knowledge deep in her bones that this was where she was meant to be.