Page 50 of Backdraft
Air whooshed out of me, and I turned my hand over so I was holding his.
"Really? This is all so complicated. Isn't it?"
He tilted his head to the side. "Complicated? It doesn’t have to be. I don't see complications."
I thought about it and wondered how he could not see the complications. Our agreement in Denver, my tendency to pick up and leave and find a new place to live. Whatever it was that caused him to switch careers.
I pulled my hand out from him, missing his touch even if it had been very brief.
It was dark when Taylor pulled into his driveway. He glanced over at Drea. She was fast asleep with her head resting back against the headrest and the side of the truck. She was snoring gently, and her face was relaxed. He didn't think he'd seen her face so relieved of stress and worry since she'd arrived. He turned off the truck. He got out and unlocked the house so he could carry her in. At the truck, he maneuvered her into his arms, and was surprised she didn't wake up.
He smiled. It was probably the wine combined with sheer exhaustion. He cradled her and liked it when she reached up and pressed her hand to his chest and turned her face into him. It was an unconscious move, but it told him a lot. She knew he was there and she was safe. His chest swelled and almost ached with a raw and unexpected emotion coupled with desire and the need to take care of her. Protect her.
Drea continued to sleep when he went in the front door, closed it, and climbed the stairs. He carried her into her bedroom.
Her bed was neatly made, so he laid her on top, took the quilt draped over the iron footboard, and gently placed it over her.
She murmured in her sleep and rolled to her side. Her hand fell over the edge of the bed. Taylor tucked it under the quilt. Before he could let go, she curled her fingers around his.
She moaned and her eyes fluttered. "Stay."
Taylor's chest almost exploded. How he wanted to stay with her. There was no question, and he hesitated for a moment, deciding what to do.
She tugged his hand. “Stay… Hold me."
He couldn't refuse her and lay on the bed behind her. She snuggled into his chest, her back curved into his front. He put his arm under her pillow and hugged her close
She sighed, and he was so moved that his throat tightened. "I've got you," he whispered into her hair.
Soon, she was breathing deeply, and he knew she was asleep. He did his best to remain still, so he didn't disturb her. He wanted this magical moment to last.
He had her in his arms. He vowed the trust she’d placed in him would never be misplaced. He would be there regardless. In the morning, they would talk about their plans. Their future.
Taylor was aroused, but he pushed it down. Now definitely wasn’t the time. He wanted her awake, ready and eager for when they decided to make love. He felt it was important for them to dive deeper and get to know each other much better. He wanted to know what made her tick, what made her happy or sad. He pressed a kiss to her head, liking how her hair fanned over the pillow.
There was so much he wanted to discover about her.
He didn't expect to sleep. He rarely slept. Slowly, his eyes drifted closed, and he tightened his hold on Drea, never wanting to let her go.
A feather was tickling my nose. When I reached up to scratch, I felt my hand brush across soft, curling hair. Sometimes I had lucid dreams where I knew where I was even though I was still dreaming, and this must be one of them. If it wasn't a feather and it was hair, was I dreaming or was I awake? I pressed my hand into the softness and came against warm muscled flesh.
A man's chest. I snuggled in closer, liking this dream. I hadn't had a man for so long, and the one in this dream was perfect. A muscled arm draped over my shoulders, and I curled my arms into my chest, letting myself be pulled against him. I was wrapped in safety, warm and protected.
I sighed deeply, the man of my dream was almost real. I pressed my cheek against his chest, inhaled his wonderful scent and drifted off.
This was rather peculiar, because I was dreaming I was falling asleep again. It was too complicated to try and figure it out, so I let it slide out of my mind and into the weightlessness of oblivion.
A sound woke me, and I listened with my eyes still closed. It was purring and soft snores from somebody beside me. I opened my eyes. In the dim light of dawn, I saw the outline of Cinder curled up on Taylor's chest. He was fast asleep beside me. I remained still, not wanting to wake either of them.
I lay there trying to remember what had happened yesterday. I was still dressed, but Taylor was bare chested, and we both lay on top of the covers.
My sleepy brain recalled our lunch at the vineyard and the wine flight, but the rest of the day faded into nothingness. I didn't think I was drunk, but maybe the wine relaxed me into a sound sleep.
I didn't even remember the drive home or getting into bed. I sat up a little more to watch the two males next to me sleeping. Cinder opened his eyes, and I looked at me. I reached over to stroke his ears. He tipped his head and placed his nose on Taylor's chest.
Aww.
I watched Taylor sleep. I wasn't alarmed we were in bed together. After all, we'd been here and done that before. I watched them both for a little while until my eyelids grew heavy again. I rolled onto my side, pushing the pillow under me, and I laid my hand on Taylor's belly. The tip of Cinder's tail gently waved back and forth.
