Page 71 of Always Been Yours

This may not come as a shock, but I know quite a bit about Tinkerbell and Pixie Hollow, thanks to my little ladies.

“I don’t think it’s obvious to Tinkerbell how he feels about her, though,” I say in a soothing voice but I’m trying not to laugh.

“But it’ssoobvious,“ she retorts.

“I know, love.” I put my arm around her, finally pulling her body flush to mine. My heart swells when she immediately relaxes against me.

I know Terence’s pain. Wanting a woman who doesn’t see your feelings even if you think they’re flashing like a neon sign. But a part of me knows that Genevieve sees my intentions clear as day, but she isn’t ready. And that’s okay. I can be patient with her. I owe her that much.

But I want to guide her a little closer to being ready.

“MaybeTink knows but isn’t ready to admit her feelings for Terence.” She huffs, as if it’s a ridiculous suggestion. “And that’s okay,” I whisper into her ear. “I think that Terence will wait for Tink. No matter how long she needs.” I place a kiss on her temple. “I know I would.”

Her head turns a fraction of an inch toward me but it’s all I need.

I grab her chin and turn her mouth the rest of the way.

Our lips meet in a chaste kiss. It isn’t frenzied or all-consuming. This one is a quiet promise. One of patience and possibilities.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Vivi

The light through the crack in the curtains is blinding even while my eyes are closed.

I feel a weird mixture of the best sleep I’ve had in months and grogginess that’s threatening to pull me back under.

Who knows when I’ll get sleep like this again though?

Slowly, I turn to my other side to hide my eyes from the morning sun.

I bump into the wall, causing me to fall onto my back.

Except my bed isn’t against the wall. And it’s softer than what I’m currently on. My terracotta satin sheets are a lot lighter than this itchy knit blanket too.

Hesitantly I open one eye and peer around the room, last night slowly coming back to me.

Grady showing up on my door. Grady kissing me and the power going out. Grady and I smoking that joint. Grady and I having fun after we smoked that joint. Grady kissing me again. Grady whispering in my ear and pulling me against him.

The only thing I don’t remember is falling asleep out here. I’m almost positive that my plan had been to go to my room at somepoint.

As I glance at Grady sleeping peacefully next to me, I can’t find it in me to care at all. Not only do I feel like I slept on a cloud, the sight of my childhood best friend asleep is one I haven’t seen in forever. It’s still one of my favorite things ever.

I guess Grady isn’tjustmy childhood best friend anymore. If I’m being honest, he hasn’t been for a while now. Maybe since the moment Stella and Daisy marched into my classroom.

It’s been a long time since I’ve stepped into this world of dating and even longer since I allowed myself to stay the whole night with a man, so I don’t really know what comes next. But I don’t want it to end.

I close my eyes and move closer to Grady’s chest. He’s wearing the shirt I let him borrow but I really wish he had taken it off at some point. From what I’ve been able to see through his clothes—muscular arms, thick thighs and even his ass looks like he’s still playing catcher on a daily basis—I bet he’s toned and gorgeous underneath.

He starts to shift around me, and I realize that I’m using one of his arms as a pillow. My heart breaks a little as his arm moves under my neck but I lift my head so he can pull it out.

My body and nerves melt as soon as he scoots his arm further under my neck and wraps his other arm around my waist, pulling me close. He falls forward a little, now half laying on me and tangling our legs into a knot I never want to unravel.

I want to remember the feel of his body wrapped around me and the pressure of his weight over me. It’s like the warmest anxiety blanket not even money could buy.

I let one of my arms wrap around him and the other settles between us, twisted into his shirt to keep him close.

It doesn’t take long until the comfort of his protective body lullsme back into a deep slumber.

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