Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
And I liked the way he smiled at me.
“I know it’s late, but do you want to go on a ride?” He still held my hand and I found I didn’t want him to let go just yet. I had to smile. The guy didn’t act like a badass biker or military guy. He acted like a teenager with a crush. It was one of the things I liked most about him.
“Um, we could just sit here.”
He gave me a puzzled look, then glanced down at our entwined fingers like he was just noticing. I thought he might pull away, but he didn’t. His fingers closed even tighter around my hand and he smiled. “We can sit here as long as you want.”
That was the thing about Falcon. He and Lemon bickered back and forth like competitive siblings, but with me, Falcon was always so patient. He was around me all the time. Not a day went by I didn’t either see him or talk to him. We’d had sex. You know. Before. When Hammer had given his OK for the guys to have me if they wanted me. I’d fucked him the same as I had a lot of his brothers. Since he found out I hadn’t been as willing as he’d thought, Falcon had never once touched me in a sexual way. He’d protected my personal space and always made sure I knew I could depend on him if I needed anything. All of our interactions were as platonic as it got and that gave me the courage to enjoy our time together. Falcon was with me because he wanted to be. Not because he thought I’d fuck him, or for any other self-serving reason. He just liked being with me.
“Want to watch a movie?” He jerked his head at the TV. “I got all kinds of streaming services we can log into.”
I squeezed his hand briefly before tugging away. “You don’t have to stay with me, you know.”
“Yeah. I know.” He grinned before standing and reaching for me to pull me to my feet. “Now. I gave you your chance to pick a movie. It’s my turn. Go make me some popcorn and I’ll pick the movie.”
I couldn’t help the surprised giggle that escaped my mouth. Falcon winked at me before going to the living room to find his movie. Falcon and I ate a lot of popcorn. Popping a batch wasn’t difficult and didn’t take much time. I popped two batches. His with salt. Mine with popcorn butter and kettle corn seasoning. I brought us both sodas.
As always, Falcon sat on one end of the couch, one ankle crossed over the opposite knee and his arm over the back of the seat next to him. He sat first, not to claim a spot on my furniture, but to give me the choice to sit on the opposite end or next to him. Usually, I’d start on the side away from him. By the end of whatever we were watching at the time, I’d be sitting next to him. That was as far as I’d been brave enough to go.
Tonight, I sat next to him. I leaned against him and he let his fingers play along my shoulder. He didn’t pull me against him or try to wrap his arm around me. He just let me know his hand was there.
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and letting his scent fill me. The heat from his body filled me with warmth and I wanted to curl up in his lap and have his arms wrapped tightly around me, just for the sensation. The closeness. I craved that closeness, was starved for it. But other than a few of the women, I didn’t like being touched. I wasn’t a hugger. The only person I had any desire to have wrap their arms around me was Falcon.
We sat in silence, eating popcorn and watching The Fifth Element. And yes. It was my favorite movie which Falcon knew.
“Thank you.” My words were barely above a whisper, but I knew Falcon would hear me. He always heard me.
“For what, honey?”
“For sitting up with me. For watching out for me. I know you’re keeping a closer eye on me than I should be comfortable with, but you make me feel safe. I never thought I’d have that in my life. So, yeah, I know you waking me up from my nightmares isn’t a coincidence. I just don’t care. Thank you, Falcon. For all of it.”
Falcon grunted before leaning down to brush a kiss on the top of my head. We sat in silence for a while before he said, “So… You’re saying you don’t mind that I was stalking you. Right?”
I couldn’t help the laughter bubbling up from inside me. I turned my face into his chest, clinging to his shirt as I shook with silent laughter.