Page 32 of Moonshine Lullabies

“What type of woman?” I asked dryly, raising an eyebrow.

“One to suffer fools or fuck bois gladly,” he said without missing a beat.

I had to bark a laugh at that.

“No, no I am not,” I agreed.

He reached up carefully and touched the side of my face. I knew I lost my easy smile as, even though I was clothed and pretty ordinary at that, I felt nude and stripped bare all just with that one touch and the look in his eyes.

“I ain’t lying or laying anything on thick, Jessie-Lou. I think you’re beautiful.”

Well hell… what did you say to something like that?

“Thank you,” I said, my voice cracking and my mouth suddenly dry.

“Ain’t never have to thank me for telling the truth,” he said, and I was completely lost for words at that.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Collier…

I handed her book back to her, and she set it aside on the bedside table. She didn’t turn out the light, but I didn’t want her to, not yet. Instead, I put the pillow I had myself propped up on up in front of me and beat it some into a comfortable position for my head and turned on my side to face her.

“Come on down here,” I murmured, and she scooted down further under her blankets and lay down on her side, tucking her hands beneath her cheek like an angel. Wasn’t lost on me that she was a bit stiff and her arms were in front of her chest, a bit defensive. Not for the first time, I wondered who had hurt her.

“You sure you’re good with this?” I asked, smoothing a hand over the warmth of her tee-covered shoulder.

“If I wasn’t, I would have told you to get out,” she said, and I had to laugh at that because she was right. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and tell a fella to get fucked. That was one of the reasons I liked her.

She searched my face from inches away and took her topmost hand out from under her cheek and reached out, hesitating.

“Go ahead,” I told her and she took the permission and ran her fingers through my hair some, scraping it back for lack of a better term, out of my eyes.

“Yeah, I either need to cut it or soldier on until I can pull it back,” I said wryly. She smiled, but she wasn’t looking me in the eyes anymore.

“Don’t cut it,” she said softly. “I like it longer.” Then she blushed as she realized what she’d just said.

“Duly noted,” I murmured, and I inched closer. “I’m not a fan of the shears anyway. I think the last time I just buzzed it off because it was cooler, then I burned my damn head so bad I wasn’t about to do that again.”

She laughed slightly and nodded, and I sucked in a breath. Her smile, when it was genuine like that, turned her whole face into something else, I’ll tell you what.

Her fingertips trailed along my face and settled on the side of my neck and gooseflesh erupted all over me.

“Get under the covers if you like,” she murmured. “I don’t want you to be cold.”

I did as she asked, wiggling and wriggling to get the blankets out from under me and slid in between the sheets with her. It was definitely warmer under here than out there and with all the motion, it put me in a better position to take her into my arms, which I did with a gentle, “C’mere.”

She was a little reluctant at first, and I didn’t make any sudden moves, just opened my arms and let her scoot closer. I wrapped them around her and buried my hand in the back of her silken hair, pressing her face into my chest and breathing her in. She smelled so good, like cypress and rainwater, her breath warm against my neck where she sighed out.

“That’a girl,” I murmured as she relaxed. When I kissed her forehead, I swear she went boneless in my arms, the tension going right out of her. I would have to remember that about her, for future use.

“There you go,” I murmured, and I held her close. She shuddered in my arms and sighed in something that sounded like contentment. In a few moments more, I think we were both just soaking up the comfort. I didn’t have a clue who passed out first, her or me, but I didn’t think it took long at all for either one of us.

We didn’t even turn out the light.

* * *

The alarmfrom her phone the next morning was at least melodic with how it shattered my peace. She stirred in my arms and I didn’t think either of us had moved an inch in the night. She moaned and mock-sobbed against me and I reluctantly let her go so she could shut it off.

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