Lucky Rufus.
‘I’ve noticed.’
I open the door a crack and he immediately rushes in, making for the bed.
‘Can he?’ she asks.
I eye the pair of them. ‘So long as there’s room for me too.’
Now her grin is wide, happiness as golden as her hair all around her as she pats the bed and gives Rufus an excited, ‘Come on, buddy!’
Up he jumps, immediately circling to find his spot.
‘He has a thing for pinning my feet down. Doesn’t matter if I’m lying, sitting or standing...he finds his way to get on top of them.’
I return to the bed, scratch his head with a murmured, ‘I like your thinking, Rufus.’
His ears prick, his puppy-dog eyes blink up at me, and Summer, who’s puffing up her pillow, pauses. ‘What was that?’
‘Nothing—nothing at all.’ I give him a final pat. ‘Night-night, buddy.’
She gives a tired chuckle.
‘What’s so funny?’
‘You.’
I join her under the quilt and she scoots into my side, her naked warmth instantly soothing.
‘Why?’
‘You’ve picked up on my nickname for him.’
‘I have?’
‘Uh-huh. Buddy. Do you think he’s gonna get confused?’
Rufus is cocking his head back and forth listening to our little exchange.
‘I don’t think so. No more than usual at any rate.’
She gives me a playful thrust of her behind. ‘Oi! Don’t be mean.’
‘Mean?’ I murmur against her ear, catching her lobe between my teeth and fighting every urge to trail my lips lower. ‘Mean would be kicking him out so I can have my wicked way with you again.’
She gives a sleepy laugh that’s cut short with a yawn. ‘You’re insatiable.’
‘Are you complaining?’
‘Never.’
‘What about ten years from now, will you complain then?’ I say it in the heat of the moment, the heat of the drowsy connection but as soon as the words leave my lips, I hold my breath, force my body to relax when all it wants to do is tense against her.
‘You’re so funny, Edward. I prefer you like this, you know. Don’t change.’
She thinks I’m joking, only I’m not.
I know that now.
I want her. I love her. And I will do everything in my power to keep her.
Time is all I need to convince her that she wants the same. And, thanks to Gran, I have it in abundance.