“That’s great. Another worry off your plate. When do you start?” I question already knowing the hours.
“I start on Sunday, of all days. A Sunday, this is one of those things that come with the territory. Why didn’t I decide to work at the Pediatric office instead?” she questions.
“Well at least you know you have options, if you decided you’d rather work those kinds of hours,” I murmur into her ear. She has her back to my side, and she’s tucked in as close as can be.
“True, I’ll have to see how it goes this winter. After that I should know where I stand. I guess I should get going. I have Snickers in one of your stalls,” she says, as she stands up.
“Ed told me. Why don’t you stay here tonight? You don’t have anything to do in the morning, do you?” I ask her.
“No, are you sure it’s okay? I don’t want to intrude in on your space,” she says, as she plays with her bun.
“If I had it my way, you’d always be in my bed, Peyton. Think I’ve told you that a time or two,” I say, with a laugh.
“Alright, I’ll stay. But I need clothes and a shower,” she states.
“I may have both of those. It is the twenty-first century.”
“Smart ass,” she laughs, as I lead her upstairs to the master bedroom.
13
Peyton
Levi gave me a pair of his boxer shorts and one of his shirts. I knew they’d be big. I just didn’t realize the boxers would need to be rolled up three times or that his shirt would hang almost to my knees. Our height differences really show with the clothes I’m wearing. I put a side knot in his shirt and walked out to his bedroom. His house really is charming, more updated than my parents’ house, and somewhere I could see kids running up and down the stairs. Maybe even sliding down the banister too.
I stop dead in my tracks. Levi is naked from the waist up, his back is to me and I can see the lines of his muscular back all the way down to his lower back where two dimples are formed. Levi’s skin is a deep honey color from working on the ranch and if he turns around, I will probably faint.
As if he hears me, Levi turns around. My heartbeat speeds up and if I thought his back was amazing, his front side is a work of art. From his arms to his pecs, down to his abs, and a small trail of hair that leads to a place I want to be most intimate with.
“Look at you,” he comes up to me.
“Me? Have you seen yourself, Mr. Heart?” I volley back.
“I like seeing you in my clothes, Peyton,” he grumbles.
“Well I guess it’s a good thing that I like being in your clothes,” I sass back to him.
“Get in bed, baby. I’ll be back out in just a few minutes,” he responds, and I watch him as he walks into the bathroom until he closes the door. What I wouldn’t give for a sneak peek at what he’s packing beneath his jeans.
I finally crawl into his bed. His bedroom is exactly what I would expect it to be — all hard woods gleaming in a dark walnut stain, it matches perfectly with the trim work that is used all around the house. The bed though, that’s the showstopper. It’s massive in size and definitely manly in style, yet it fits in perfectly. The deep olive-green bedding ties it all in.
Taking in Levi’s scent that surrounds me, it slowly lulls me into a dream like feeling. A smile is on my face and I snuggle into the pillow that’s beside me, something I’m noticing I do anytime I have something of Levi’s.
Moments later, I feel the pillow I was laying on being moved as Levi slides in beside me.
I hum out my appreciation of him getting into bed beside me. He turns me on my side as he spoons me and the last thing I hear him say is, “Goodnight, Peyton,” as I drift back to sleep.
14
Levi
The past few days Peyton and I have been inseparable. Now that she’s started working, it’s got me in a state of worry. I know she can drive on her own. That doesn’t mean I didn’t ask her to text me when she got there or when she got home. I’m just glad it’s now Thursday and she’s off for the next two days.
It’s been hell leaving her in the morning to get started on work. I’d make it back to the house just in time for her to leave.
What Peyton hasn’t realized is that she practically lives here now, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Though, I doubt she’s realized how much of her clothes are now in the closet and drawers. Not to mention the bathroom. It looks like a bomb went off most mornings, I just shake my head and smile. Seeing her things mingled with mine, I could give two shits about a mess if it means she never leaves.