Page 124 of Swan

“Birdy.” Drake chuckled, holding me against him. “Relax. I let work know. They told me you were scheduled off for Monday and Tuesday since you worked the weekend anyway. I said you’d be back Thursday, tomorrow.” I nodded against his chest, melting some more for this man. He then added, “Also spoke with your parents. They’re cool. Deanna told me that when you get the flu, you’re pretty much out of it for a while.”

Emotions thickened my throat; this man had taken care of me like I was precious to him. Knowing that was how he saw me still blew my mind. I gripped the hem of his tee at the back. “Thank you again.” Tipping my head up, I smiled at him. My cheeks heated as his warm gaze ran over my face. He started to dip, but I blurted, “Germs.”

“Are all gone, and I would have gotten sick already if I did catch anythin’.”

He was right since he’d slept beside me each night. Though beside me was not strictly true. At times I woke in the middle of the night to find myself lying over him before I went straight back to sleep.

I licked my lips. “Okay,” I whispered, grateful that I’d brushed my teeth already.

He grinned, but it vanished when he touched his lips to mine. It started as a soft brush of skin before pulling back once, twice, and then, when I cupped the side of his neck, he stayed against me, deepening the kiss and turning it from sweet to hot as we tangled our tongues together.

The raw desire rose, leaving me wanting more.

My pussy pulsed, the lust driving me to slide my hands up under his tee, stroking over his back. He broke the kiss and shook his head, stepping away.

My hands dropped to my sides. Worry thickened my throat.

“Fuck, Birdy. Don’t look like I just killed a puppy. Want you somethin fierce, Swan.” He glanced down, and I saw the outline of his erection. I bit my bottom lip, smiling around it.

He was turned on for me.

“You need some food. You’re still gaining your strength back. I don’t want to push?—”

“You’re not. You never can. I know how much you respect what I want, how you put me first, but what I want is you.”

“Birdy,” he groaned roughly.

“I would like to have sex with you, Drake.” The bold move had me wanting to hide my face or sink into the floor, but I stood tall, fighting the need to flee, to get what I desired.

I didn’t want to wait to be with the man I loved. I already knew he would take care of me in every way.

Okay, I had to stop thinking or I’d go up in flames.

He dropped his head back and closed his eyes, breathing hard. “Christ.” He straightened and nodded, gaze darker and hungry. “You’ll have me. Fuck yes, Birdy, but I need to take care of you first. I didn’t miss the way your stomach howled for food. Let me feed you before anythin’ else. And even when it comes to anythin’ else, know you can back out at any time you want.”

The organ under my ribs went crazy. My body tingled.

“Feed me then, please.”

Because I was desperate for something more.

Him.

My pulse went ballistic, but I wouldn’t back down.

Drake Marcus wanted me. He’d proved it over and over. He got a tattoo of a swan.

He was true and clear on his emotions for me, and he showed me that. I wanted to be strong and show him too.

He stepped forwards and kissed me again with a low groan.

I stood in the kitchen watching Drake’s hands and arms as he fixed us some sandwiches. I’d never noticed veins on a man until that moment.

Nibbling on my bottom lip, I listened—and watched, of course—as he told me about the customer he had to deal with downstairs while Coyote was out. They’d wanted a refund on an item, but the item looked used, and when Drake refused, the customer started ranting. That was why he hadn’t been upstairs when I woke.

“I forgot I caught you changing the covers. You didn’t have to do that, Birdy.”

Rolling my eyes, I told him, “I sweated in them. I felt like it should be me.”

---