Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 7
A soft click woke him up about two hours after she went to sleep. He’d heard her toss and turn for a while before the room became quiet. Now, Kole froze and assessed his surroundings trying to pinpoint the noise. The quiet sound of cloth reached his ears next. He sat up. “Gabby? Are you okay?”
“It’s so hot in here,” she moaned, fanning the bottom of her nightshirt to get some air.
“Leave the door open so the cool air can get in there,” he suggested. “You’re perfectly safe.”
“I miss PupPup. He scares all the yuckiness away,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry, Little girl. Do you have another stuffie to sleep with?”
“No. PupPup always slept with me.”
“Let me see what I can do.” Kole stripped the pillowcase off the extra pillow he’d found in the cabinet. He grabbed a small cushion that had decorated the couch and placed it inside the fabric. After tying the material in the middle, he stretched the corners up into cat ears. He stood and walked closer to her, holding the creation out to her.
“This isn’t PupPup, but meet KittyCat. Try holding on to her and see if she keeps all the bad dreams away,” Kole suggested.
She hesitated, rubbing her toes on the carpet. “Um… I hate to ask.”
“Want me to stretch out with you for a while?”
“Would you mind? Nothing scary will risk messing with you.”
Without saying a word, Kole stood and followed her to the small bedroom. The space felt even more confining with this enormous form inside. The room was cooling, but Kole could feel the trapped air that had woken her up. When she walked to the left side, he moved to the right. Settling on the bed, he waited for her to sit and then stretch out on the edge of the bed. He noticed she held KittyCat between them like a barrier.
“Go to sleep, Little girl,” he suggested.
She nodded in the dark, and he smiled at her sweet nature. Kole didn’t understand how he knew this woman was the Little girl he’d searched many years to find. Life had brought them together when she needed him the most.
He evened out his breathing, making his inhales and exhales long and deliberate. Within a few minutes, she matched his breath. He felt her body relax on the mattress and a short time later, she drifted to sleep. Only then did he allow himself to doze.
Kole knew the exact second she moved toward him. Scooting into the middle of the bed, Gabby rested her head next to his. She paused there for about ninety seconds before curling over him. Her cheek settled on his shoulder as her arm wrapped across his torso. Kole shifted slightly to wrap his arm around her, and a happy-sounding sigh escaped from her lips.
He held his breath, waiting for her next move. He’d showered after her and wore only a pair of athletic cut snug boxers. The feel of her skin against his was exquisite. Forcing his body not to react to her closeness, Kole practiced his breathing. Usually, he was able to focus, allowing him to drop into sleep. But her delicate scent toyed with his senses and his control. Finally, he won, pushing everything out of his mind and joining her in sleep.
A soft kiss pressed to his jaw woke Kole up. He opened his eyes, expecting to see her still asleep, but her gaze met his boldly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up. I just needed to thank you for helping me sleep.”
“You were restless by yourself.”
She grinned impishly, taking him totally by surprise. He’d never seen this side of her. “You make a good stuffie, but you’re a bit hard. Maybe more tacos?” she suggested, tilting her head to the side.
Without consciously deciding, he wrapped a hand around the back of her head and urged her forward until their lips met. She wiggled against him, moving toward the kiss to press her mouth fully to his. Parting her lips, she deepened the kiss. He stroked down her spine, cupping her pert bottom to lift her a bit higher. When her tongue traced the inner surface of his lips, Kole groaned as she wiggled against him happily. She enjoys playing with me.
Eager to amuse her, Kole tightened his arms around her and turned sharply over, trapping her underneath him. Immediately, he deepened the kiss, taking control. Her playfulness melted into heat. Gabby wrapped one leg around him as she brushed her fingers through his hair to tug. He lifted his head to check he hadn’t misread her desire.
“No!” she protested and lifted her head to rekindle the kiss.
Sure she wanted him, Kole kissed her the way he’d wanted to the first moment he’d seen her. She stilled below him for a brief moment before meeting his passion. Exploring the sweetness of her mouth, Kole loved her response. Her tongue teased and twisted around his.