Page 16 of All Bark, No Bite

CHAPTER 7

ANDERSON

The low tones coming from my phone pull me from sleep. Even though I’m the most comfortable I’ve ever been in my life, Reese snuggled into my side, her hair a mess of brown perfection splayed out around her and across my skin, I still pop my eyes open at the sound. I look down at Reese and she doesn’t stir, not even a little bit.

I chuckle softly, unable to keep the amusement from beating a new rhythm in my heart. She’s so damn cute like this. She’s the sweetest and kindest heart I’ve ever known, but even in sleep she somehow becomes an innocent angel.

One I’ll protect at all costs and hold close. I’m not entirely sure if she knows she can trust me, but I know she wants to. I can feel it tug at me, a thread connecting us and showing me her doubts with the same clarity that it shows me the future we’ll have.

I just can’t screw it up. It’s a damn good thing I have no intention of doing so.

The fact that she’s here, again, in my bed and I’m waking up with her is a fucking miracle. One I’m going to cherish and hold close. I know how amazing it is for this woman to let me soak up her sunshine.

Even though I know I’m damn lucky no one else saw how fucking special she is, I can’t think about that now. Thinking about any other man with my girl makes me feel unhinged. It’s not a good feeling.

This is the fifth night she’s slept in my arms. Yes. I’m keeping count. Who wouldn’t want to have everything important in their life in their arms? It doesn’t matter at all that I intend to do it for the rest of our lives. I’m going to appreciate every single fucking night.

She could have blown me off. She could have decided not to open up to me and shut me down, holding herself back. I’d probably still be stressed the fuck out, grumpy and stuck behind writer’s block without an end in sight if that would have happened.

I’m grateful as hell that she’s given me a new lease on life. In more ways than one.

I didn’t even realize how lonely I was, especially alone writing most days, until having Boomer with me during the day and then my girl with me at night. I don’t think I’ve ever been so fucking productive.

Not only am I writing again, but it’s good. I got a call last night from my publisher who had insisted on some pages. They wanted proof I was actually going to get the job done, but I didn’t even care. I was proud as fuck to send over the first three chapters.

I got the call last night. There was no preamble when I answered which I was thankful for because Reese was going to be home any minute. “This is better than your other books. This isn’t some author farce, is it? The rest of the book is happening?”

I scoffed, “Yes, the rest of the book is happening.” I’m sure I sounded smug as fuck, “I’m going to meet my deadline too.”

“Okay,” relief filled their voice before dropping down to a whisper, “I just really need to know what happens.”

I barked out a laugh and finished up the phone call quickly. Reese didn’t even hesitate when she knocked and I pulled her into me, spinning her around. She giggled. The woman fucking giggled, excitement stretching across her features even though she had no idea why I was acting the way I was.

She was simply happy for me.

If I hadn’t known I was already in love with her, I would have known right then.

I love the moment when I get to see my Sunshine again after she’s been at work, but this moment right here, when she’s in my arms and I’m about to wake her up in the best way, is damn good as well. The first morning she slept in our bed, I let my alarm go for a little while and watched her.

I believed her when she said she wasn’t a morning person, but considering how damn loud her alarm is, I kind of wanted to test the theory. I shouldn’t have doubted my girl, not even a little bit.

She sleeps like the dead. It’s adorable and a little creepy. I’m so damn glad I’m in her life now because I’m going to make sure she’s always safe which includes when she’s damn near comatose in sleep. She’s mine.

When I gently roll Reese over, she lets out a little grumble, but the sound is there and gone just as quickly. That’s about the extent of the reaction I get from her when she’s sleeping. I kiss her forehead and then her lips softly.

As a soft smile spreads across her lips, I keep my descent steady. I don’t leave a single inch of her skin unloved. When she wakes up, I want her to know where I’ve been, that I’ve covered her in my love, that I’ve worshiped every inch of her.

I feel the muscles of her legs flex as I continue to move down her body. When as soft hum comes from her, I know she’s starting to wake up. She might not be a morning person, but she wakes up like a cat waking up from a nap in the sun. It’s endearing as fuck.

I run the tip of my tongue around her hard nipple before sucking it into my mouth. Reese lets out a long, low moan and arches her back. Yeah, she’s with me now. Not completely, but not far off either.

“You spoil me,” her voice is a soft rasp which wraps around my heart and warms me from the inside out.

“You deserve it,” I murmur against her skin after I let go of her nipple and start moving across to the other one.

Her fingers thread through my hair when I give it the same attention. “Anderson,” the sweetest, morning imbued moan slips from her lips along with my name.

If I wasn’t going to pleasure her before, I am now. I pop off her hard tip and keep moving down her body. She thinks I do this for her, to wake her up gently and without the air raid horn blaring. She’s not wrong, but, really, I do this for me. The best way to start the day is with her taste on my tongue.

---