Page 125 of Swan

He stilled, and I looked up from his hands to see him watching me. “The way you’re watchin’ me, Birdy, you’re makin’ things hard.”

“Which things?” I blurted with a glance down, but the counter was between us and blocked my view.

He chuckled.

“Sorry,” I said, blushing.

“Birdy, don’t apologise. You say anythin’ on your mind. But, Christ, babe, it’s like a treat knowin’ you want me.”

My nerves got the better of me; I ducked my gaze and shrugged.

He chuckled again. “Let’s eat.” He slid a plate over to me and picked up his own sandwich. Both of us took a bite.

While we ate, we talked about our family. Apparently, it hadn’t been just my parents and Nicky to check on me. Maya and Texas had stopped by, as well as his twin, Ruby, with her boyfriend, Dillon. Zara and Talon called their son to see how I was, as well as Nancy, Drake’s grandmother, but it hadn’t stopped there. His uncles and aunt did too. Julian, Mattie, and Josie.

“As Julian said, the word had spread like a prostitute’s legs that I was lookin’ after you at my place while you were sick.”

Laughing, I shook my head. Of course that was something Julian would say. “You’ve definitely been busy.”

He grinned as he chewed, nodding. After he swallowed, he said, “But it doesn’t bother me. Good to know they care.”

“We do have the best families.”

He winked. “Most of the time anyway.”

Laughing, I nodded. “True.” I cocked my head to the side when I realised it was Wednesday. I adjusted on the seat and swallowed my bite. “Am I keeping you from work?” I gasped, choked, and coughed. Drake rose out of his chair to come around, but I waved him off. I took a quick sip of my soda. “Y-You haven’t stayed the whole time?” I cleared my throat.

As he slowly sat back down, his brows pinched. “Most,” he admitted.

“Drake,” I whined. “I don’t want to keep you from your work or to become a burden?—”

“You could never,” he said quickly and roughly. He pushed his empty plate away. “With the work I do here at the Harley store, the garage, and tattooing, I get to pick and choose when I want to work. I get to shuffle things around if somethin’ comes up.”

“But don’t feel you have to miss out on jobs because of me,” I said to the counter while twisting my plate around. I loved that he wanted to stay to take care of me, but he couldn’t do that all the time.

“Birdy, don’t stress, yeah? I wanted to be here for you. I wanted to be the one to take care of you. If I have it in my power to do it again the next time, I will. You come first over anything or anyone else. And I promise that if I can’t take the time off when you’re sick, I’ll make sure someone can drop in to help if needed.”

But… it sounded like he was talking as if I would be here instead of my parents’ place. Or was I reading that wrong?

Either way, it was lovely knowing he wished to be there for me in any situation. Wanted to be the one I relied on. I hoped he knew I wanted to be his person he relied on most too.

“How are you still single?” I asked, honestly baffled. He was the kindest, most honest, caring, and calm man I had the chance to be around, while also making me feel comfortable and needy.

He smirked. “I’m not anymore.”

Smiling, I nodded. “No, you’re not.”

“Birdy?”

“Yes?”

“You want me?”

A tingle started in my heart, then shot to my stomach and lower.

Biting my bottom lip, I nodded. His gaze locked onto my lips. I released it and licked over the skin. He slowly pulled his eyes back up to meet mine.

“You gonna let me between your legs? Let me taste you? Gonna get you ready nice and slow, Birdy. Don’t want to hurt you, but I heard it does, and that fuckin’ sucks. But?—”

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