“Yes, along with the three other ones I got from the boys,” she sighs. “And I have a knife.”
I raise a brow. “Do you know how to use it?”
“I could teach you a thing or two.”
“I seriously doubt that,” I scoff, but I sober quickly. “If there’s anythin’ you wanna say to me, you can, Nove. I won’t judge.”
“I know, and I’m grateful. It was just…a lot.I trusted those girls, and I can take care of myself, but when this one guy grabbed me in the bar, I freaked out.”
“Wait, someone grabbed you?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Why didn’t you say somethin’ when we were there?”
She shakes her head. “What were you gonna do? Charge in there by yourself and take on the entire bar?”
I take a breath, squeezing my eyes closed for a second at her carelessness. “Maybe. It would’ve been worth it.”
She reaches out and I tense, but she swipes the hair off my forehead. Nova knows not to touch me without asking first. I never told her why, but she seems to have figured out where my boundaries are.
“I love you, do you know that? You’re the sweetest man I know.”
Her words don’t just resonate deep inside me, they make my cock ache. Jesus, I’m glad she can’t see under the covers. The truth is? I want her to touch me.There.Heck, everywhere if she wants. She wouldn’t violate me, Nova would never.
I’m safe with her.
“I’ve been told that’s my problem—I’m too sweet.” I poke a tongue, dancing over the fact she just told me she loved me. I should say it back. Ineedto say it back.
She giggles, unaware of my inner turmoil. “Kiss me one last time before we go to sleep.”
“You’re gonna get me in all sorts of trouble if you put your lips on me.”
“Is that a promise?”
I lean forward and kiss her on the nose. “Go to sleep.”
“That wasn’t a good kiss.”
“Friends don’t go around kissing one another,” I remind her.
“Well, we do because we have boundaries. Ones that nobody else can cross.”
My eyes open. I love how she just gets me. I don’t have to explain. “And for that I’m grateful, but I feel like you’re leadin’ this conversation somewhere?”
“You let me into your bed, and now I feel like I kinda invited myself.”
I yawn. “You didn’t, babe. You know I wouldn’t have offered if I felt weird about it, I would’ve taken the couch.”
“Why don’t you let women stay in your bed?”
“Because I don’t like that. This is my space and mine only.”
“But I’m here,” she presses.
“That’s because I like you.”
“That’s cute.”