Page 78 of Sheltered
“What?”
“You said you used to think about what it would be like to have this experience and how horrible you would be at it. I just want you to know that you weren’t bad at it. You did everything right, everything I hoped you would do. And as time goes on and we have more opportunities to explore, you’ll learn about the things you like, as well as the things I like. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned to be the truth when it comes to you and the way you approach any new situation, it’s that you make it a whole lot of fun. I’m confident this is going to be the same,” I promised her.
I watched as even more softness filtered into her expression before she dropped her cheek back to my chest.
Harlow and I wound up spending at least the next hour of our night curled up with one another, simply talking about everything and nothing until we both drifted off.
And now I was staring down at her while she slept and was still in awe of everything she’d done to change my life, doing it effortlessly.
Unable to resist touching her, I lifted my hand to the side of her head and stroked my fingers gently through her hair. She let out a soft moan, forcing me to smile and continue moving my fingers through her hair.
Wanting to hear that whimper again, I began massaging her scalp. The corners of Harlow’s lips tipped up just before she nuzzled herself closer to me.
I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. My lips lingered there for a moment, but they ultimately moved toward her ear. That’s where I whispered, “Good morning, baby.”
“Mmm. Good morning, boss,” she murmured sleepily.
“I have a question for you,” I told her.
She inhaled deeply and stretched before her eyes fluttered open and found mine. With a smile on her face, she asked, “What’s your question?”
My hand that had been massaging her scalp drifted down beneath the blanket and sheet, seeking her warm, soft, and naked skin. With my fingertips tracing random patterns delicately over her body, I asked, “Is this how it always is, or was a special exception made last night?”
Confusion washed over her, her brows pulling together. “What exactly are you referring to?”
“Do you remember the Monday after our first date when you called me before I went into work?”
Harlow nodded her head slowly. “Of course.”
“I knew you were still in bed when we were on the phone that day, and I was curious about how you slept. I wondered if you had a favorite T-shirt you wore, if you slept in something sexy, or if you slept in nothing at all,” I confessed.
The confusion was gone and replaced by amusement and a hint of mischievousness. “It’s none of what you considered. At least, not regularly.”
Curious, I pressed, “What does that mean?”
“It means that I switch it up depending on my mood,” she explained. “Some days, I might wear just a T-shirt and a pair of underwear. Other times, I am desperately cold and bundle up in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, though I’ll never wear socks to bed. I’ve tried wearing satin or silk pajamas or even nighties, but with nobody to ever see them, wearing them made me feel silly. I do have some actual pajama sets I like to wear most regularly, and there have been a handful of times when I’ve worn just a pair of panties. But until you came along, I’ve never slept completely naked.”
My brows shot up in surprise. “Really?”
“Can you blame me? I mean, what if someone tried to break into my house when I was sleeping?”
“Fair point. So, do you like sleeping naked?” I questioned her.
Though I wasn’t quite sure how it was possible, Harlow shifted herself closer and pressed a kiss to the center of my chest. “Only if you’re here with me. I feel safe enough to be able to do that, and you’re so warm.”
“Good to know. How are you feeling this morning? Still tender?”
She pursed her lips, considered her response, and said, “Maybe a little sore still.”
“Well, at least you have the day off to recover,” I noted.
“This is true. What time do you have to go to work? Can I make you breakfast before you have to leave?”
I grinned at her. “I didn’t know that what happened last night was going to happen, but now that it did, I’m even more thankful for my forethought and decision to go in and work on Saturday.”
“What?”
“Since we had the plans to have dinner with your family for your dad’s birthday last night, I thought I’d work on Saturday, so I could take the day off from work today and have you all to myself,” I shared.