Page 124 of Cloudless
The usually warm depths of her blue eyes turn icy as she looks up at me with a frown on her pouty lips. “Why would you think that? I hate the mornings.”
My shrug shifts her on my chest. “You’re the brightest person I know. It would make sense for you to be a morning person.” My voice turns to nearly a growl as I run my hands up her bare back. “I’ve learned a lot about you over the past twenty-four hours. You turn into an ice queen in the mornings, you kick in your sleep, and you make the sexiest noises when you come.”
Her scoff makes my smile grow even more as her icy eyes meet mine once again. “I donotkick in my sleep!”
I nod my head. “How would you know? I bet I’ve got the bruises on my legs to prove it, too!”
She rolls her eyes as some of the ice melts from their depths. “You play hockey, Trouble. Youalwayshave bruises on your legs.”
My arms tighten around her back. “Yeah, but these bruises would be from you.”
She raises a brow. “You say that like it’s a good thing.”
“I’ll wear them as a badge of honor if it means I get to have you in my bed every night, Sunshine.”
A smile blooms on her face as more of the ice melts from her eyes. “Aww, you’re so romantic in the mornings, Trouble.”
The tips of my fingers dig into her sides. “In the mornings? What are you talking about? I’m always romantic.”
I’m rewarded by her muscles tightening against my side and a squeal so loud it could wake the dead. Her voice turns breathless as I continue my tickle assault. “Fine! Fine! You’re romantic all the time! Just spare me from your tickling, at least until I’ve had breakfast!”
My fingers soothe away her sensations left behind from my assault as I laugh. “So you’re saying I can have my way with you after we eat breakfast?”
Her warm eyes shine as bright as her smile as she catches her breath. “No.” Her smile turns mischievous as she says, “But you can have your way with me after we play in the snow.”
My smile mimics hers. “It’s a date, then.”
I plant a quick kiss on her nose that pulls a laugh from her lips. “As much as I would like to stay and take advantage of your nose kisses, I can’t ignore the screaming of my bladder.”
My smile turns splitting. “You want to take advantage of me?”
Her eye roll can’t hide the magnitude of the smile on her face. “You know what I mean. Now let me up before I pee myself!”
I reluctantly release my hold on her waist as she wiggles away from me. “Fine! We’ve got to get downstairs, anyway. I’m sure Mace already has breakfast—” My words stall in my mouth as the blanket falls away from her chest.
My elbows sink into the plush mattress as I sit up. Her laugh shakes the swell of her breasts as I lose all train of thought. “My eyes are up here, Trouble.”
“I know where they are.” My gaze doesn’t move an inch. “These past few months, I’ve spent most of my time memorizing every shade of blue present in the depths of your eyes. Every fleck of gray and every thread of silver that only sparkles when you’re in the sunshine. I’ve spent the last few months forcing myself to look at nothingbutyour eyes. So, yes, Sunshine, I know where your eyes are. I’m just choosing not to look at them right now.”
She clears her throat as her legs squeeze together under the comforter. “Alright then, I’ll just, um, go use the bathroom then.”
I catalogue every new inch of skin that’s exposed as she wiggles out of the blanket. I admire every tan line that’s now visible in the dim morning light streaming through the sheer curtains.
I struggle to swallow as her feet land on my hardwood floors, and her bare back comes fully into view. I struggle to breathe as her hips sway with every step she takes while she walks away. Relief only comes as the bathroom door closes, sealing her away from my view.
Only then can I catch my breath.
Only then can my thoughts clear enough to realize having Lila in my space is quickly becoming a requirement.
A necessity.
As important as breathing.
A chorus of voices and the metallic scrape of cutlery on ceramic transforms the kitchen into a living entity. The smell of bacon permeates the air like a beacon, calling all the residents of this house to a central location with the promise of a home-cooked meal.
Dax’s voice booms through the space as his hand pauses halfway to his mouth with a fork full of scrambled eggs. “Nice of you to join us, Kila. If you would have waited much longer, the food would have been gone.”
I raise a brow as Mace hands me a plate stacked high with pancakes. “Kila? Really, Dax?”
