29
OZZIE
Gray looked so peaceful asleep, the sheet I’d pulled up to his chin earlier softly rising and falling with each breath that I loathed waking him. The ranch house was quiet, the only sounds the rustling of the leaves outside. The alarm on my phone vibrated quietly, signaling it was time to check on him again.
Stifling a yawn, I gently placed a hand on Gray’s shoulder and lightly shook him. I’d been following the doctor’s orders to a T, waking him up every three hours, and making notes on my phone of my observations. So far, he seemed fine, but I didn’t want to miss anything.
“Gray,” I whispered softly, leaning in closer to place my lips on his forehead. “Gray, wake up.”
He stirred, his eyelids fluttering open slowly. For a moment, his gaze was unfocused, but then it settled on me, and a small, tired smile played at the corners of his lips. “Hey,” he murmured, his voice raspy from sleep. He slid his hand under the sensible cotton pajama top I had on. “What are you wearing? What about the sexy lace I love seeing you in?”
I frowned. “Gray, do you remember what happened?”
“What do you mean?” He skimmed his fingertips over my tummy, making my stomach flutter.
“The accident.”
He stopped moving his hand and groaned. “Shit. I thought you were here to sex me up.”
I chuckled. “You have a concussion, mister. Might as well take sex off your mind. You’re holding a rational conversation with me, though, so I don’t have to be worried. Do you feel any nausea?”
“No, Ozzie, I already told you I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me, baby. Now come here and give me some sugar.”
He tried to haul me onto the bed on top of him. Alarmed, I’d hurt him if I resisted, I allowed him to pull me closer, the soft fabric of his shirt brushing against my cheek as I leaned in to peck his lips gently.
“Sugar delivered,” I mumbled against his mouth.
“No, not like that.” Gray cupped the back of my head, and his other hand landed on my backside. He pushed his tongue between my lips, kissing me with an intensity that left me breathless. God, the sounds he made, the way he moaned as if he couldn’t get enough of me, went straight to my cock. He tightened his hand on my ass, and I caught myself just in time to refrain from rubbing against him like I wanted.
“Gray,” I protested against his mouth, even as I kissed him back. “Can’t have sex—”
“I’m just kissing you, baby.”
But kissing could lead to more. So much more. Yet I relaxed in his arms as we rolled onto our sides, necking and stroking each other like horny teenagers.
“Gray.” I tore my lips away from his, gasping when he pinched my nipple between his fingertips. “Gray, I need to catch my breath.”
“Hmm.” He cocked his head into his hand propped up by his elbow on the bed. Even though he was no longer driving me wild by playing with my nipples, he gently stroked my tummy. I squeezed my eyes shut. I loved this with him—the way he touched me.
“I can’t keep my hands off you,” he groaned. “I always want to touch you…kiss you. I love you, Ozzie. Thank you for taking care of me tonight.”
I smiled weakly. “Emma helped.” She’d insisted, even though I’d told her she didn’t have to.
“Ozzie.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to worry about Emma. She’s my past. You’re my present and my future. Okay?”
I nodded, pulling his calloused hand up and pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Okay,” I whispered. What else could I say? I wasn’t used to being reassured about something of this nature. Carter always told me to stop being paranoid and jealous.
“I don’t mean to be a jealous fool,” I whispered. “It’s just that—I-I like you an awful lot, Gray, and I’m afraid.”
“Of what? Losing me to someone else?”
“Yeah. I’m afraid you’ll wake up one morning and wonder what I’m doing in your bed.”
“Are you kidding me? Baby, when I wake up alone, it’s the opposite. I want to do everything in my power to ensure you’re right next to me every morning. You’re beautiful, sweet, smart, and so damn sexy.”
