I marveled at how well we fit together, and I arched into him. “Uh-huh.”
“This is a nice way to wake up.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” I tried to cover my mouth when his lips neared mine. “But, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”
He maneuvered in front of my hand, kissing me, taking my top lip between his. “Neither have I.”
Those sweet kisses by the window intensified, and we found ourselves enmeshed in the sheets and pillows again. Unlike the night before, when we’d come together in a frenzy, this time was slow. Every caress, stroke, and thrust melted into the next until it all crescendoed.
Resting my head on his shoulder, I caught my breath. My torrent of pleasure ebbed, and we rested in a cozy huddle until he jerked away, surprising me.
“I forgot,” he said, climbing off the bed while I looked on, confused. “I brought you something.”
“A present?” I propped myself on my elbows.
He handed me an envelope-sized package wrapped in plain brown paper with a pink ribbon around it. “I meant to give it to you last night but got distracted.”
I took the package, glancing between him and the gift. “You brought me a present just because?” I asked again, awed.
He climbed back in bed next to me, his expression gleeful. “Open it.”
I dragged my nail under the paper and pulled out a package of brightly colored pencils with my name embossed on them in gold lettering. They were the kind I always hoped for as a kid. I met his grin, and my heart did somersaults. “Where did you find these?”
He shrugged. “I have a guy.”
“You have a pencil guy?” I ran my fingers over the embossing, tracing my name. The gift was perfect. He’d been thinking of me; he’d listened and knew me enough to know this simple thing would make me smile. I didn’t just smile, I beamed.
“Do you like them? I was a little worried you’d think it was cheesy.”
“You know I like cheesy. I love them.” I set the pencils aside, wrapping my arms around his neck to kiss him again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He stroked my neck, and we lay in loose-limbed silence for a minute or two. “So, when do I get to see you again?”
My head shot up.
“What?” he asked, seeming both startled and amused. “I’m really not a wham-bam kind of guy.”
“I know, I—” I stammered. “I mean, I’m not, either, a wham-bam girl, that is. I’m not good at relationships,” I blurted. “It seems like you should know that before, or even just if, this is something . . .” I trailed off. “Not that I’m saying it has to be more than fun,” I stammered and pressed my eyes shut for a moment. “Forget I said that, it’s a nonissue—I know this is casual and I don’t expect anything from you—”
“Hey, calm down.” He rolled to his side, stretching an arm over my waist. “I don’t know what this is, exactly. It’s new, and I don’t want to rush anything. And, if it helps, I have it on excellent authority I am not good at relationships, either. I can get caught up with work, I travel a lot, I can be too closed off, I’m not romantic enough.”
He scrunched his nose and closed one eye. “Have I convinced you to keep seeing me yet?”
“You bought me pencils. That’s pretty romantic.” I touched his biceps, enjoying how solid he was against me. “But what I’m hearing is that you did not treat those sweet, elderly librarians very well.”
“It’s a good thing Gladys likes bad boys.” His eyes lit up. “Here’s what I do know: You’re fun and funny, and you make me feel fun and funny, and no one has done that in a long time.” His hand rubbed up and down my side, creating a friction that made me want to roll into him. “And you’re beautiful. I don’t hit on women in bars, ever. But I couldn’t not talk to you. And then, once I did . . .” He stroked his thumb up and down the side of my face. “Well, I didn’t want to stop, because I think you kind of get me, and that feels like something.”
He planted a light kiss on my mouth, a sweet peck. “So, I’m okay with you having some expectations while we figure out what this is.”
I’d been bracing for him to let me off the hook, to agree that this was casual. Instead, I was trying to wrap my mind around what he’d said. “I’d like that.”
“I fly out tonight. Can we make plans to see each other soon?”