Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“Not at all. I like knowing you’re in my bed.” Robert grinned. He was so out of practice at this kind of thing and hoped his flirting was obvious.
“Do I need to be awake because you’re awake, because I seriously need some rest. You stressed me the fuck out, trying to get ready for our non-date date. And then you kept me up until all hours of the night…” Landon couldn’t finish the sentence from the involuntary jaw-cracking yawn tearing free.
Robert laughed at the honesty of Landon’s refreshing remarks. There was no coy game-playing. Landon had been open and upfront so far as he could tell. At least he’d always know exactly where he stood with his man. “I’ll let you sleep, but I’m going to get up for a while. Are you good with that?”
“I feel like this is a trick question or a test of some sort. Should I get up too?” Landon asked, his sentence ending with him lifting his head, trying to rise.
“No.” Robert pressed a hand on Landon’s chest, keeping him down. “You go back to sleep. We’ve only been asleep a couple of hours. I’m going to clean myself up.” As he spoke, he untangled himself from the warmth of Landon’s body and tucked the blankets back around the alluring man then kissed his lips. “You’re tempting as sin and gorgeous in my bed.”
“You too, Doc,” Landon mumbled with a sleepy smile.
“Call me Robert. I like hearing you say it.”
“Got it…”
Robert waited, watching Landon, who had closed his eyes. Maybe as much as a minute passed before Landon opened one eye, looking straight at him.
“What?” A big grin parted Landon’s lips, causing the skin at the corner of his eyes to crinkle as he finally gave in and said, “Robert.”
Robert’s heart sped at the sexy growl in Landon’s voice. He loved when the sergeant called him Doc, but that title of doctor seemed to act as some sort of a status marker for Landon in whatever social class limitations he perceived to be between them.
“Wake me up if I sleep too long,” Landon added while turning to his side and burrowing under the blankets.
Robert wanted to crawl under those covers and make out with Landon until they both were mad with need. The thought was enticing and tempting just like the man, but in the end, Robert rolled away, pushing to his feet from the other side of his California king. They had plenty of time for sex. Landon should sleep now for all the energy he’d be expending soon enough.
Robert went for his bathroom, taking a quick shower and dressing as silently as possible. When he walked back into the bedroom, Landon was still on his side, sleeping soundly with the blanket drawn up to his chin. He lingered at the foot of the bed, lost in thought as he took in Landon’s sleeping form. Any distance he’d managed to keep between Landon and his raging feelings had vanished. His heart fully and completely connected as he stared down at the man. Landon was beautiful, inside and out, and a caring, giving lover—things Robert had instinctively known since day one.
He stepped away, not wanting to wake Landon, and quietly padded across the carpet with his tennis shoes in hand. After quietly shutting the door, Robert took the stairs down to the first floor. He stood at the landing looking over the house before dropping down to put on his running shoes. The twinge in his ass made him smile as he shifted his position. The place looked as it had when he’d left. Nothing was out of place, except the clothes on the stairway where they’d shed them last night—the main reason for his extremely good mood this morning.
The nagging voice in his head quickly drowned any happy memories from last night, questioning why it didn’t look like anyone had been in the house since he’d left months ago. He bypassed the living room, going straight for the kitchen. Not a thing was out of place in there either. He opened the dishwasher. Empty. Then he went for the refrigerator—only the few things he’d left were inside. Robert checked the pantry. It was bare, and there was no trash in the trash can either. Had Landon even been staying there?
Curiosity had him jogging back up the stairs. He headed the opposite direction from his bedroom and pushed open the guest room door. The room was as tidy as every other part of the house, but there were footprints in the freshly vacuumed carpet and faint traces of Landon’s delicious cologne. So, he had been in the townhome, but wasn’t utilizing the space. Hmmm.
He’d have to ask about that later. He wanted Landon comfortable here. It was four thirty in the morning, and for the first time in a long time, he felt like cooking. The mere thought gave him the certain knowledge that he was leaving his funky mood behind. Robert liked to prepare meals, and those bursts of cooking and baking usually came when he was happy and content in his life. He’d have to make a grocery store run. He went back down the stairs toward the garage, wondering what Landon might like to eat the most.