Page 135 of Beyond the Stroke

My eyes narrow. “How do you know that?”

“I looked it up when I first saw your tattoo. After I gave you the nickname, I wanted to make sure it fit.”

“Hmm.”

“It fits you perfectly, Summer.” He presses his lips against my tattoo. “Why here? The skin is sensitive. It must have hurt.”

It did. But what’s physical pain when you’re hurting so much more emotionally?

The way Rory’s looking at me has me thinking he can read my mind. He’s too damn intuitive.

“So I could see it when I painted.”

He smiles, the skin beside his eyes crinkling. “I love it.”

We lie next to each other in contented silence, Rory brushing his fingers through my hair while I trace the lines of his carved muscles until a rumbling growl reverberates between us.

“Are you hungry?” Rory asks. I can hear the hopefulness in his voice.

“No, but I know you are,” I tease. “You’re always hungry.”

“I don’t want to get out of bed, but if I don’t eat, we’re going to be listening to my stomach growl all night.”

I stretch my arms above my head, then curl my naked body back into the covers.

“Go get your snack. I’m going to take a power nap. I’ll be good in ten.”

“Goodnight, Summer,” Rory says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Seriously,” I mumble, “wake me up. I want to return the favor.”

“It wasn’t a favor. It was a privilege.”

God, he’s so sweet. I drift off thinking of all the ways I’m going to enjoy having him. Just as soon as I get some rest.

thirty-seven

. . .

RORY

Summer

You didn’t wake me up

You were sleeping so peacefully. The softest, most delicate snore. I didn’t have the heart.

Summer

Hmm. Still should have tried. I feel slighted that I didn’t get to touch you last night.

I’m the one who’s wounded here. You passed out and made me eat all the snacks by myself. Alone. Shirtless. Vulnerable.

Summer

Wow. I can’t believe I missed naked snack time.

And I didn’t get to watch you lose your mind again. So yeah, we both missed out.

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