Page 48 of Because of Blake
“I don’t think I could have waited that long.” This bedroom honesty spewing from my mouth keeps surprising me.
He props himself up on his elbow and looks down at me. His brown eyes shine in the glow of the movie credits now rolling. There’s a tenderness in them I haven’t seen before. In fact, no one has looked at me this way since Charlie, and it makes my mouth go dry.
My eyes instinctively glance at the clock on the wall and then come back to meet Blake’s, which now almost appear hurt and afraid. “Please don’t say it’s late and you have to go.”
“What?”
“You always leave right after the movie.” He swallows hard. “Please, not tonight. Stay with me?”
Stay? He wants me to stay? “Blake, I don’t know if–”
“Please?” His voice cracks. “If you want to go home, I won’t stop you, but it kills me to know you’re all alone in your house. I hate watching you shut the door.” He closes his eyes. “I hate coming back here without you.”
I place my hand on his cheek and he turns to kiss my palm. “Will you stay?” he asks into my hand, his tone filled with longing.
His plea warms me, making my answer an easy choice. “Yes.”
Without a word, Blake scoops me up and takes me upstairs. He sets me on his bed gently and turns to the dresser, opening a drawer and rifling through the clothes.
“Sorry I don’t have any pajamas or anything, but this shirt is super soft,” he says, as he turns around. He stops in his tracks, holding the shirt in his hand while his eyes trail up and down my body, making me squirm.
“What?” I ask, wrapping my arms around my chest to hide myself. He’s getting a good look now. I’m sure he’s disappointed.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
What a line.I roll my eyes, but can’t help blushing at the compliment. “Thank you.”
“I mean it, Maggie. When I look at you, I lose myself. I want nothing more than to touch you right now. You...you have an effect on me I can’t control.”
My eyes lower from his face to see his chest expand. His muscles tense as he speaks, and the front of his boxers grows tighter with each passing second. I raise my eyes back to his where desire blazes, burning a hole through me.
I lick my lips and say, “Then come here and touch me again.”
Chapter fifteen
Iwakethenextmorning alone in Blake’s bed, rolling onto my back and flopping my arm across my forehead. The sunlight filters in through the curtains, soft and bright. I turn my head to see the clock. It reads 6:45 a.m.
Where is Blake?
My mind instantly gives way to intrusive ideas of Blake having second thoughts. He’s had me, seen me thoroughly exposed, and now he doesn’t want the awkwardness of kicking me out of his bed.
Do I go look for him?
That’s probably what he wants. Me getting out of bed is a natural segue to me leaving. I don’t know if I can take rejection right now. I should stay in bed and wait for him to come back, but I really have to pee.
In his main bathroom, I take in as much as I can without snooping. He keeps the bathroom very clean. Come to think of it, the whole house is pretty tidy for him being a bachelor.
That’s a nice attribute.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I come to my senses and go downstairs. If I need answers, I’m not getting them alone in the bedroom.
I find Blake in the kitchen, leaning against the sink counter, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. I drink him in from the doorway. His disheveled brown hair hangs down, kissing the corners of his eyes, which are focused on his phone in his hand. The slight stubble covering his chin shadows his strong jaw as he lifts his mug. It reads “Caffeine is my spirit animal.”
My giggle announces my entrance, and Blake stands straight up and sets his mug down, nearly spilling it. “Hey, Maggie, good morning.”
“Good morning,” I say shyly, raking over his bare chest. My eyes follow the curve of his collarbone and down his pecs. I bite my lower lip as I drag my gaze over his abs, stopping where those deep V muscles meet the waistband of his pants. The sight of him shirtless hasn’t gotten old and even now, after everything we did last night, it leaves me breathless.
I realize I’m staring, my cheeks flushing, so I yank my gaze up to his, only to find him staring, too. I’m still only wearing his t-shirt and my panties. I feel a bit awkward, but the way his eyes dip to my bare thighs while his Adam’s apple bobs calms my nerves.