Page 66 of The Alpha and the Baker
“I’m glad to hear that. But how about I take you home, sleepy girl?”
“I’d like that,” she murmured. “But…”
“But?”
“Do you have to come right back home?”
I paused, genuinely surprised, then my mind began to rapidly play back our last time in bed together.
“I suppose I could stick around for a while.”
“Good,” she said, looking far too pleased with herself as she settled into the seat. My mileage was definitely ticking upward way faster than usual, but I wasn’t going to complain. “Let’s go home then.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Castiel
Get ’Em Cowgirl
By the timewe reached Felicia’s place, she had nodded off in my passenger seat. I didn’t mind, however, because she looked quite adorable with her mouth open and head tilted back slightly. Goodness, she had to be right bushwhacked to fall asleep sitting up.
“Hey, we’re home, Felicia,” I murmured softly, not wanting to jolt her. While I was more than interested in her offer to stay over, I’d prefer her to get all the rest she needed. Maybe some would rag on me for being weak or even “gay” because I gave a damn about her health, but those people could go jump off a bridge for all I cared.
Felicia was one of the hardest-working people I knew. If her body was asking her for rest, I wanted her to have it. More than I wanted to get my dick wet. Besides, it wasn’t like it was all or nothing. I could put her to sleep today, set her up for success the next day, and then endthatday with a satisfying roll in the sheets without any, uh… sudden exitson my part.
“Felicia,” I murmured again, gently stroking her cheek. Her skin was like silk, and although I already knew that, it was like a revelation all over again. Suddenly, all my previous high-and-mighty thoughts about not needing sex tonight seemed a lot less convincing. “Let’s get you inside, shall we?”
Finally, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked from me to her apartment. “It wasn’t a dream?”
I couldn’t help the smile that split my face, and honestly, I didn’t want to. She was so damn adorable.
“Not a dream. But it’s time to dream, if you want. Think you’re ready to go in?”
“I…” She yawned. “I wanted to rock your world.”
I burst out laughing, but I made sure to keep the volume low. “We can do that anytime, sweetheart. If you’re tired, you need sleep.”
“Sleep is for the weak!”
“Hah, all right then. How about we get you inside and see how you feel once you’re upstairs.”
“Tha’sa good idea,” she said, going to open her door before I clicked my teeth. “Wha’?”
“That’s my job, ma’am,” I said before getting out of the car and hurrying around to her side. When I opened the door, I could almost see the physical reaction as the cool night air hit her face. “Did you just wake up a bit?” I murmured, hoping that I was wrong.
“Oh, I just woke up a lot!” Felicia said, tilting back her head and laughing. “Phew, that spring air’ll really get ya.” She blinked rapidly as she took my hand. “Don’t get me wrong, I could still fall asleep, but I just went from being in Lala land to being able to bust out a two-page paper before I sleep.”
“They made you write papers in culinary school?” I asked before realizing how that sounded. I cringed, and Felicia playfully jostled my arm.
“Excuse you, wedidhave to write papers. And I’ll have you know that my degree is in business management. If it was just about baking, I could have opened a place right out of college.But it’s about managing inventory, knowing how to create an online presence, and being able to strategically schedule services that I might not be able to afford if I wasn’t strict about things.”
“Now youreallysound too awake.”
“What can I say? I find the finer points of businessinvigorating.” Sarcasm dripped off her every word.
“Oh, business, is it?” I teased. “And here I thought it was the exhilaration of getting me inside your place again.”
She laughed, and it was just as enchanting as the first time I heard it. In fact, I would never tire of hearing it. It was a warm, easy-going sound that just had such a current ofjoyin it. It spoke to my wolf in a wild way that words couldn’t. I didn’t even know a laugh coulddothat.
