Page 65 of The Other Guy

A few years later we met James and it took her a long time to have the courage to become something more with him than just friends. Actually, it took us both time to understand what a good, solid, loving relationship looked like but James was patient with us. He was good for us. Showed me (and Mom, too) how a real man behaves.

The memory of my childhood seems so distant now, and for that I’m glad. I don’t think about Vince or the way he treated my mom very often for a reason. Because it makes my blood boil when I do.

My mom once asked me if I was scared of commitment because I was afraid that I’d be like Vince. The thought had never occurred to me. I may share the same blood as the man, but I know I’m nothing like him. Never have been. And I’m not really scared of commitment — I’ve just never found the one person I want to spend time with. Until Sierra.

She squirms next to me and I shift so she has more room. I had already moved us so she was lying down rather than sitting up. Unfortunately, I fumble around when I have to catch my glass from crashing to the floor and she somehow ends up with her head in my lap. Right next to an area that would be very awkward if she woke up lying so closely to.

And then…

Her arm moves and she slides it up to rest on my lower stomach.

So close.

Too close.

A quick glance down tells me she’s still asleep but I can’t allow myself to continue staring like I really would like to do.

“Shit,” I whisper when she nestles in more. Her face is right there. And I’m enjoying it far too much. Growing harder by the second at the sight of her pouty lips so close to me. Her hair drapes over my legs in cascades of shiny, long, dark silkiness and I can’t stop myself from running my fingers through it.

She moans quietly as I let my fingers trail down her spine and up again, slipping over her shoulder and down her slender arm. I have no idea how she manages, but she snuggles in closer yet and I pray she doesn’t wake up anytime soon. At least not until I can get my growing erection under control. And I’ve had my fill of her.

Which could be never.

Her eyelids flutter open and she looks up at me.

“I slept on you.”

“I didn’t mind,” I tell her, letting my fingers move to her cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Well, my stomach doesn’t feel like someone just kicked it anymore.”

“That’s good. Want to try sitting up?”

“Not really.”

We stare into each other’s eyes and I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am. Actually I wonder what she’d do if I bent down and kissed her. With her hand so close to my dick, though, I’m not sure I want to take the chance just in case she isn’t feeling what I am.

She licks her lips and looks away. “How long was I asleep?”

“Couple hours.”

“Is it still snowing?”

“It is. Hasn’t let up yet.”

“Yikes.”

I nod and help her sit up. Toby lifts his head up off the chair and slowly slides himself down to the floor when he notices Sierra’s awake. He’d been sleeping the entire time and I pretty much forgot he was even here.

Sierra stretches and moves her neck back and forth while petting Toby. “Has he been out lately?”

“He’s just as lazy as you are.”

She giggles. “This is true. He’s usually all or nothing. He runs hard then crashes.”

I stand up and move to the sliding door at the back of my house and open it up. Toby stands next to me staring at the snow then up at me. If a dog could speak English, he’d be asking if there was another option. Can you maybe let me pee in your house instead? I shut the door again. “Hang tight, bud. I’ll put on some more clothes and my boots and go out with you.”

“He’s a wuss in the snow and won’t last long.”

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