Page 24 of Strawberry Cake

He crooked a brow. “Not fighting the compliment?”

“I’m working on accepting them more easily.” Hope hummed and nuzzled into his side again, throwing her leg over his thigh, after redressing him.

“Do you need me to do anything for you?” he asked, running one hand over her thigh while the other pushed under her shirt to caress the small of her back.

“Can you just hold me?”

“That seems fairly easy, but it’s nothing in comparison to what you just did for me.”

“It’s really all I want,” she sighed, slipping beneath his shirt again, her body moulding to his. “It feels good.”

“Anything you want,” he whispered with a kiss to her hair.

He ran his fingers over her skin, spoiling her with his attention while she slipped away into her dreams.

Hope

She woke up the next morning turned away from Decan, but his hand still laid on her bare waist. She rolled over to find him still sleeping, his curls having broken free from their elastic restraint and spilling all over the place. His hand slipped from her waist to the mattress, and Hope laced her fingers with his. She closed her eyes again, her stomach fluttering with butterflies. She’d felt so alone lately, and Decan filled a void that she’d worked hard to ignore. She dozed off again, relishing the warm, fuzzy feeling washing through her veins.

Hope only awoke again when Decan stirred. His sleepy eyes found hers, his lips curling into a lazy smile. “Good morning, little thief.”

“You still have your blanket,” she pointed out with a laugh.

“I’m not talking about the blanket.”

Her cheeks heated as she gathered the courage to ask. “So what am I stealing?”

“My heart.” He kissed her hair and stretched, carrying on as if he hadn’t just dropped that bomb on her. “Mind if I take a shower?”

She welcomed the sudden change of subject, feeling as if any response she came up with wouldn’t measure up. “Are you asking my permission to take a shower in your own home?”

“I guess I am.”

“Well can I have coffee?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll allow it.” She leaned over and stamped a kiss on his cheek before climbing out of bed to give him some privacy. She could see how uncomfortable he was in certain situations—such as getting in and out of a car, or his own bed. Not that she thought there was a need, but she could respect that doing it all with an audience was new for him.

In the kitchen, she excitedly used his fancy coffee machine to make herself a cup of steaming morning sun. She took her time returning to the bedroom, but not without stopping to look at the pictures that decorated his walls. There were a few of him and his car—a Ford from what she could see, but that was as far as her knowledge of cars went. When she stepped into the bedroom, the water ran behind the closed bathroom door.

“What would happen if I walked in right now?” she jokingly shouted.

“Come in and find out.”

She froze, not having expectedthatresponse. She hesitated, staring at the door, but then took a few steps towards it. Slowly, to give him time to veto, she turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Decan sat on the built-in bench, steam fogging the glass walls enclosing the shower. His hair was longer now, weighed down and dripping wet. Her eyes trailed down to his chest where that lion proudly stretched across his skin. Somehow, she’d always thought one could still see his ex’s name on his chest but there was nothing but a beautiful detailed roaring lion. The sails of an old pirate ship decorated his left arm while skulls and roses twisted and wound up the right.

“I was about to get out, but I can stay a little longer,” he chuckled.

Her face burned as hot as her core. “I wouldn’t mind joining you.” Her words shook, insecurity creeping in like a weed amongst the roses.

That self doubt was partially at fault for her rejection the night before as well. Before she could second guess herself, she set her mug on the counter and shoved her stolen sweats to the floor. She couldn’t bring herself to check Decan’s reaction as she stepped out of the fabric. Those encroaching thoughts only got worse when she pulled the shirt over her head, revealing her pudgy stomach, stretchmarks, and hanging breasts.

But Decan surprised her. “Gorgeous,” he hummed, pushing the door open and offering her a hand.

She stepped in, the steam and hot water wrapping around her like a warm comforting cocoon. The water dripped down from the rainfall shower head above them, weighing down her hair still secured in the hair tie. Her breath hitched when Decan pulled her to stand in front of him. His free hand dipped down, trailing over her knee and teasing up her inner thigh.