I jumped out of bed and went over to her, capturing her up in my arms.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve been taking lessons from Francis.”
“Lessons in what?”
“How to be a secret deviant.”
She snorted and shoved my chest.
“He’s just smart.”
“Too fucking smart for his own good. I swear his imagination knows no bounds.”
Going up on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to my mouth.
“That’s one of the things I love about him.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“And what do you love about me?”
She licked her lip.
“You’re always putting me first, taking care of me, being sweet and kind and the way you love me is… I don’t have words, but it’s the best feeling in the world.”
My hand drifted from her back to her behind. I gave it a squeeze.
“And you’re dirty as fuck, so there’s that too,” she added.
“That’s more like it.”
“Aww, Pres, do you not like having nice qualities?”
“No, I like being bad.”
She laughed and kissed me again.
“You can be bad to me later.” She skipped out of my arms and gathered up my clothes. “For now, let me dress you.”
I didn’t object as she helped me into a casual pair of dark chinos and a black polo shirt. She stroked my chest when she was done, giving me the once over before dressing herself in a little black jersey dress. I noted she hadn’t put on any underwear underneath it. Her nipples stood out against the fabric. I stroked one when she passed by me, only earning me a scowl.
“You can play with them later,” she stated before she flounced out of the room, leaving me trailing behind her.
When we got downstairs, Drake was already up and had laid out the boxes all over the dining table. In the kitchen, he’d left a selection of brunch items for us on the counter.
“Well, someone has been busy this morning,” I commented as Scarlett, and I made our way over to the kitchen.
“No time for slacking off,” Drake muttered, his head buried in some papers.
I didn’t know if it was a dig or not, but I decided to ignore him. Scarlett set about making us some tea and a coffee for his majesty. She took it over to him, placing it down by his hand and leaning down to kiss his temple.
“Morning, grumpy.”
“I’m adding that to your list of offences, Scarlett.”
She grinned at me before pushing his arm off the table so she could straddle his lap. Drake stared at her with cold eyes. She merely stroked her fingers through his hair.
“Are you going to write it all down and present it to me, so I know why I’m being punished?”
“If that’s what it takes to get you to behave.”
“We both know you don’t want me to behave, Drake. Let’s not pretend otherwise.”
I snorted, picking up two plates for me and Scarlett and bringing them over to the table. I made some room for them before grabbing our teas and sitting down.
“Go eat your breakfast.”
She leant closer to him, brushing her lips over his.
“What if I want you to feed me?”
“You’re trying my patience.”
“Is it so bad I want to spend time with you?” she told him, her voice cracking on the words. “I need you, Drake. Don’t you understand that?”
For a moment I thought he might push her off him and tell her to go sit with me, but he reached up and stroked her hair back from her face.
“You need me.”
“Yes… a lot more than you realise. The only time you give me your undivided attention is when I push your buttons. Is it any wonder I’m always doing it?”
He leant his forehead against hers and sighed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I’m not used to being… needed.”
She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck.
“I’m not trying to ask you for things you can’t give me but spending time with me is non-negotiable. And a little affection wouldn’t hurt either.”
He curled his arms around her.
“Like this?” he asked, nuzzling her hair.
“Exactly like this. No more statue Drake. I don’t like him.”
“Statue Drake?”
She pulled away and looked at him.
“Yes, sometimes you’re like a stone and I’m not here for it. Warm, fuzzies Drake who kisses me without restraint is who I want.”
“I don’t do warm fuzzies, Scarlett.”