13

She shocked me when she patted the mattress and smiled at me sleepily. “We can talk about that later. Come to bed.”

I didn’t need to be asked twice. I slid in beside her and pulled her into my arms, letting her curve around my body. She fell asleep right away, and I tucked an arm under my head, trying to adjust to the new development.

It was another first for me. I had never once slept in a bed with someone. I liked the feel of her pressed close. Her breath was warm on my skin, and her hair was soft under my chin. I drifted, ever conscious of her beside me.

Fingers running over my chin startled me, and I opened my eyes to meet her soft, green gaze.

“We fell asleep.”

I smiled. “We did.”

She glanced behind me. “It’s two a.m. Late.”

I held my breath. “Are you kicking me out, Deirdre? Making me do the walk of shame in the middle of the night?”

“Do, uh, do you want to go?”

“No,” I said, surprising myself. “I don’t. I’m quite comfortable.”

She snuggled closer. “I am too.” Her hand drifted o