Page 58 of Taming You

I shake my head with a smile. Of course. I do know this about Zoey, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her watch anything without either eating a meal or snacks. She settles on the couch, and I put the popcorn oil and kernels in a pot on the stove.

When I notice her pull at her skirt as she adjusts herself on the couch, I head into my room and grab the same clothes I gave her the last time she was here and hand them to her. I tip my head towards the washroom. “Put these on, you’ll be more comfortable.”

She offers me a relieved smile and heads to change. By the time she’s out, the popcorn is done and I’m salting it. I settle at the end of the couch, and when she tries to make her way to the other side, I grab her wrist and shake my head.

“You are going to sit right beside me and share this bowl of popcorn.”

She raises a brow. “Now, who said anything about sharing? I may just eat the whole thing myself.”

I raise a brow back. “Oh really? You may have to fight me for it.”

She takes a step closer and lowers herself in front of me. “Oh, I could take you in a fight, Carter.”

She reaches into the bowl and grabs a large handful and shoves it into her mouth, a few kernels missing and falling down her shirt. She pulls it away from her chest and grabs them before tossing them into her mouth, and I shake my head. It’s something I’ve seen all the girls do before, they’ve all become very comfortable in the group and have no qualms about eating anything that lands on or between their boobs.

She plops beside me and pulls a blanket off the back of the couch, which has only found residence there since Zoey started coming over a year and a half ago. The girl is always cold and is always in need of a blanket when she’s sitting still, so I left one out for her. Plus, the look of joy on her face when she gets all bundled under it and does a happy dance in her seat is worth it.

I press play on the movie, and we settle in. Once the popcorn is finished, I put the bowl on the coffee table. Zoey leans into my side, and I wrap an arm around her. My thumb hooks under the fabric of the sleeve of her T-shirt, and I run it up and down her arm, loving the feel of her soft skin.

When the movie finishes, she looks up at me with hopeful eyes as she asks, “Next one?”

Who am I to say no to a request like that? Pressing play, I hold her tighter into my side.

It’s 2:30 a.m. by the time we finish the movie, and I’m yawning, beat from the day. Zoey is yawning beside me, and I know there’s no way I’m taking her home tonight.

I kiss the top of her head and say, “We should head to bed.”

She nods against me as she yawns again. I get up and offer her a hand, and she takes it, following me into the bedroom. She climbs into the same side as last time, and when I climb in this time she doesn’t stay on her side, she curls into my side, resting her head on my shoulder. I run my hand through her hair, allowing it to sink in that I have Zoey Williams in my bed, consciously cuddling me, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. She drifts off quickly, and I’m reminded that the girl snores, and not some cute soft snore, but in the shake the walls of the house kind of way. Luckily I’ve always been able to sleep through anything and can drift off.

When I wake up in the morning, I don’t even bother hiding the fact that I’m hard. There is no way I’m getting out of this bed, or out of Zoey’s arms, until I absolutely have to. She nuzzles into my side and lets out a contented sigh, only solidifying my decision. I grab my phone and quickly send a text to Gi asking if I can push back picking up Jayden, and she tells me Mom was hoping to keep him for the day and offered to keep for the night again if that helped. I agree, hoping I can get Zoey to stick around a little longer this morning.

I brush back some of her hair that’s covered her face and smile as I take in her peaceful expression. Her eyes flutter, and she smiles up at me when she closes them again, protesting waking up.

“Morning.”

“Not yet,” she mumbles.

I chuckle.

She cracks one eye and asks, “What time is it?”

“Nine a.m.”

She nuzzles deeper into my side. “What time do you have to pick up Jayden?”

“Mom offered to keep him for the day and do another sleepover.”

“So more sleep,” she says with a smile.

I chuckle again. “You can, but I don’t think I’ll be falling asleep again.”

She huffs. “So breakfast.”

I laugh so hard my body shakes, and Zoey makes a face at me, making me laugh even harder. “Bug, when it comes to you, I know I must feed you first thing in the morning and give you plenty of sugar if you’re to function normally.”

“Well, I’m glad you’ve learned that. So, what are you feeding me?”

I stare at the ceiling, running my fingers through her hair.

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