Page 64 of Devour
And you just happened to watch. And listen. And almost got me there in the first place. I chuckled at the absolute absurdity.
A compelling argument, however, I did not actively participate in you getting off, so that’s got to count for something.
Well, someone’s mood significantly improved, so that must count for something, too. As much as I didn’t want to move, I kinda had to. Ugh.
Just stay here. Eli slid off the bed and trudged over to my bag first for clean clothes, then came back with a small, damp towel from the bathroom.
“And where are you going?” I said as soon as he turned to leave.
“I shouldn’t be in here while you change.”
“Oh, I see. That’s what’s over the line of too sinful?”
“No.” He hit me with a trademarked, hubby subtle smile, before going back to the bathroom.
Interesting. Admittedly, I never took my clothes off in front of him, but at the same time, he’d seen me wearing less while still technically clothed. Maybe being a gentleman? Eh, sounds like hubby, but maybe not this time.
Are you jerking off in there? Only half kidding with that question.
For heaven’s sake, no.
A likely story.
If I have to watch you stripping, we won’t be going to sleep anytime soon.
Okay, then. Someone knew me too well because I certainly would put on a show until he got so horny we started that all over again.
You better be dressed when I come back in there.
And what if I’m not? As if he could do anything about it.
Easy, no cuddles.
Damn him. I guess he could. And damn me for becoming a snuggleslut.
You’re my favorite snuggleslut.
Hubby returned shortly after, and we both climbed back in bed. Once again, his fingers rubbed my scalp until he fell asleep, hand still in my hair. Sigh. Hard to believe, once upon a time he wouldn’t even let me get close to him. Even after he permitted physical contact, that was still me all over him until he decided I got too carried away and ripped me off him. Never dared to hope I’d get much more than that, but gradually, we somehow reached a point where he didn’t hesitate to touch me. Remembering how far we’d come made it easier to swallow the barricades that would always be in place. Yet, it also gave me a smidge of hope that if we kept chipping away at it, one day there would be none.
Even though I spent some time playing with my phone while he slept, I still woke up much earlier. So much so, I doubted anyone else would be awake. And really, I usually didn’t mind just chilling here and waiting for Eli to wake up too. It was kinda nice, actually, cuddling beside him and getting to watch him open his eyes and see my face first, then smile.
I would’ve stayed in bed had I not heard someone walking around the house. Today was party day, and since someone stressed an unnecessary amount about us being burdensome, I figured I could alleviate some of that by being helpful. Or something.
Sure enough, I found Eric in the kitchen feeding a tabby. While I’d suspected they had a cat in the house, I hadn’t seen any sign of one aside from bowls in the kitchen and we’d been here for two nights already.
After Eric and I said our good mornings, I smiled down at the kitty, swirling around my legs and begging. Now cats, I liked. No offense to other animals, but cats did not require special mind reading powers to understand. A cat would always tell anyone how it felt about them with brutal honesty—and this one wanted pets. Once I crouched down, she pushed her head into my hand and purred.
Eric set down her bowl on the green linoleum floor of their kitchen. Some might consider their home dated, but I liked the ambiance here. Unlike our visit to Eli’s family last Christmas, this place felt warm and cozy instead of like the waiting area at a funeral home.
“Normally she hides when other people are in the house,” Eric said. His cat had finally abandoned me in favor of food. Couldn’t blame her.
“Cats like me,” I said with a shrug. Not that I could confirm or deny with any certainty, but I was pretty sure we smelled the same to cats as humans did to us. Walking catnip, over here.
“Me too. She kept showing up, and I finally talked Mary into letting her in the house. Now she likes Mary more than me. Unless it’s five in the morning, then she’s suddenly my cat.” Eric chuckled and began clearing the counter. “Didn’t expect to see you down here so early, though.”
I shrugged. “Bit of an insomniac, so I figured I’d try to be helpful. Even if I stayed in bed, I wouldn’t get much more sleep.”
Eric smiled but said nothing. Oh, but was he ever thinking. About me and my hubby. And what he heard last night. Oh, no no no.