Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(61)

“What?” he asked with a smile.

Krista turned back into the pillow with a thump. “I was just checking to see if you were as handsome today as you were yesterday. Checking to see if maybe the spell wore off.”

“And?”

“You’re an ugly wreck,” she said in a flat voice.

He laughed and squeezed her, then hopped out of bed. He was in a great mood. For the first time in a very long time he wasn’t in a hurry to get a woman out of his house. And she looked just as beautiful with her hair all a mess and her eyes sleepy as he thought she would. Better, if that were possible.

“Do you want breakfast?” he asked as he pulled on some sweats.

“Uh...don’t know. I have to jog, hit work for a few hours, and then take your sister out, so I might get going. What time is it?”

“Ten after nine.”

“Ehhhhhh. It’ll be nice when we don’t have to work on the weekends.” She got up and searched the floor. Sean threw some of his sweats at her and a T-shirt. Without hesitation she pulled them on. They were so big she was swimming in them, but she didn’t seem to mind. She took a big whiff of the sleeve and closed her eyes.

“Pity,” Sean said, running his eyes over her bare br**sts and remembering how they tasted. “Well, after my play...would you mind if I met up with you and my sister?”

Sean hated that he sounded like an insecure douche, but he didn’t want to smother her. He didn’t know how to do this relationship thing. It was a tricky business.

“Don’t make things weird, McAdams,” Krista said flippantly, leaning against the wall to put on the sweats. “You want to meet up after, say so. If I don’t want you to, I’ll tell you to f-off.”

Sean laughed and nodded, “Got it. I’ll call you after the play is done.”

“Better text. I’m sure it will be loud wherever we are. When should I pay attention to the phone?”

“Ten-ish I should think.”

“Right. Next question: Do I have make-up all over my face?”

“Yup. You are a hot mess.”

Krista crossed the couple feet separating them, slid her hands up his chest, and reached up on her tippy toes to kiss him. He complied eagerly, but not with a rush of passion. He wanted to hold her, cuddle with her. He wanted it soft, full of feeling.

When she stepped away, she was awestruck and doe-eyed. And for the first time, it made him feel like a man, instead of irritated that a woman was still there. It was a good change.

She had said, “Big risk, bigger payoff.” He hoped she was right.

“And bad breath,” he said in a grave voice.

Krista scoffed and slapped his chest as she turned away. He caught her from behind laughing and kissed her neck and ears, tickling her with his breath. She giggled and squirmed until he let her loose with a slap on her butt.

Cassie was at the table, eating cereal.

“Good morning,” she said with a chipper voice.

Krista mumbled a response as Sean wished the same to her.

“Did you guys have a good rest?”

Krista sat as she said, “Like a log actually. Not usual for sleeping in someon--”

She cut off abruptly.

Sean paused with the coffee pot in his hand and a smile on his face. Most men would probably be pissed that she was thinking about other experiences, but Sean was no pot pointing fingers at a kettle. Instead, he was happy she was already comfortable sleeping by his side. That was a good sign, because he could have said exactly what she did, and it would have been just as true.

However, he couldn’t let her get away with it. He yelled, “I know where that was going!”

He walked out with two steaming mugs, interrupting Cassie and Krista exchanging a knowing look.

“Do you?” Krista said, reaching for coffee. “You knew I was going to say, ‘Not usual when I watch Sean sleep, since I’m usually looking through the peephole in the rafters?’”

“I knew there was a draft coming from somewhere!” he laughed before he took a sip of his coffee.

Krista stayed for about a half hour, made plans with Cassie, and headed on her way. Sean followed her to the door.

“Thank you for last night, Krista. You--it ended perfectly,” Sean said, seriously.

“Thank you, too. Twice,” she answered with a leer and a wink.

He laughed, thankful she could see it with humor. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging tightly. Before she stepped away, she slid her palms down his chest. He had no idea how long he’d be able to keep from thrusting inside her. He wanted her so bad it was a constant distraction.

“Okay, buddy, see you tonight,” he said with a smirk, seeing that soft look of love in her eyes again. And for the first time, liking it.

“Buddy, is it? I thought we were friends?”

“Buddy is closer than friend.”

“Ah. Well, thank you, Professor, for explaining the elevated details on friendship.”

“No problem. I know you can be dense, and I like to help.”

“Humph.”

Krista walked off in oversized sweats and T-shirt, on high heels, with dress in hand. Sean couldn’t help yelling, “Hot mess!” for all the neighborhood to hear. It was a fantastic walk of shame.

“How’d last night go?” Cassie asked when he returned to the table.