Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I stared at the top of his head as he bent down, positive my mouth was gaping open.
He looked up at me and smiled. “Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed, Addie. I’ve seen you naked plenty of times.”
Sick or no, desire pooled in my stomach. I opened my mouth to protest, but then quickly shut it. I was feeling so awful, I realized I didn’t care who saw me naked. I nodded, and he pulled my clothes down before gently helping me sit on the toilet.
“God, I haven’t felt this bad in years. Do you really think it’s the flu?”
He shrugged. “Could even just be a weird viral thing. Done?”
I nodded.
“Can you, um, wipe?”
“Do I have to?” I groaned pitifully.
With a smile that almost made me feel better, he replied, “I could do it for you, but that might be taking things a bit far.”
“Can I drip dry?”
He laughed, and it sent a jolt straight to my heart. How I loved that laugh. I’d missed it so much. Handing me some toilet paper, he demanded, “Come on, one wipe will do.”
I did as he said, then used his shoulders to help myself stand, holding still as he pulled my panties and sweats back up.
“Back to bed you go. I’ll grab the thermometer as well and take your temp. Are you hungry?”
“No,” I managed to get out in a raspy voice. The moment we got close to the bed, I let go and fell face first onto it. Gannon grabbed my hips and rolled me over.
“I’ll be right back.”
I was pretty sure I lifted my hand and gave him a thumbs up, but I wasn’t one hundred percent positive. It didn’t take long before I felt myself drifting back asleep.
The bed dipping jarred me awake again. Soft brown eyes with flecks of gold that seemed to radiate when any light touched them stared down at me. His eyelashes were long and thick, and each time he blinked, they seemed to touch his cheek. Women paid good money for lashes like that.
“You’re back,” I said softly.
“I am. Now open up. Your mom said this will take your temperature faster.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. There was no way my mom would let this go. Gannon here, taking care of me while I was sick. A beeping sound made me open my mouth and ask, “What time is it?”
“Two in the morning.”
“Oh my gosh, Gannon! I’m so sorry.”
He smiled and handed me some pills. “Take these, you still have a slight fever.”
I popped the two Tylenol into my mouth and chased them down with the ice water he handed me next. “You’re not leaving, are you?” I asked despite feeling a little guilty for keeping him here.
He paused before he took the water and placed it on the side table. “Did you want me to stay?”
“I was sleeping so well in your arms.”
The corners of his mouth twitched with a hidden smile.
“I mean, if you need to leave…” I started.
He shook his head and straightened. I watched as he pulled his shirt over his head and placed it on the bench at the end of my bed. Then he worked on his pants, and I told myself to look away, but my eyes stayed fixed on his hands. Unbuttoning his jeans. Pushing them down and tugging them off his legs.
I allowed my eyes to roam up his body. I swept my tongue over my dry lips as I stared at his abs. “Holy shit. I don’t remember being able to see every single ab like that.”
Gannon laughed quietly. “I like to work out, and I swim a lot.”
I jerked my eyes up to meet his. He kept his boxer briefs on, but my feverish mind almost had me insisting he take them off. I had to bite down on my lip to stop myself.
Instead of asking my ex-boyfriend to strip naked with my parents only a few doors down, I moved over and lifted the covers for him to crawl in. He glanced at the closed bedroom door, then back to me.
I attempted a laugh but coughed instead. “We’re thirty-one years old, I’m sick as a dog, and neither of us is naked. You’re fine.”
He nodded and climbed into bed. I turned onto my side, facing away from him, and allowed Gannon to pull me close. “Is my body too hot for you?”
“No, you feel amazing.” He kissed the back of my head and held me a bit tighter.
“Gannon?”
“Yes, Addie?”
“Did you mean it when you said you loved me?”
He paused for a moment, but I didn’t feel his body tense, so that was good. “I did.”
I couldn’t help but sigh. “I meant it too.”
He squeezed me and kissed my head again. “I’ve missed you, sweetheart.”
I closed my eyes and let the warmth of his body wrap around me like a familiar quilt. “I missed you too. So much.”