“So I saw.” I kiss her head and take a deep breath of her citrusy shampoo. “You seem to be calmer now.”

“Mm,” she murmurs again.

“It’s going to be a pleasure keeping you on your toes.” I can’t help but smile at the thought.

“Yeah, right,” she replies, and nuzzles her nose against my chest, making my cock stir.

“Just wait and see, tesoro.”

She takes a deep breath and drags her leg up mine, linking them together. Her arm is draped around my stomach and her ear is pressed to my heart.

I’m content to simply lie with her, brushing my fingers through her hair. I’m exhausted, but I don’t want to sleep.

I’m finally in Alecia’s bed, and I don’t plan to miss a moment of it.

“I should go to sleep,” she whispers against my skin. I grin and kiss her head.

“Go ahead.”

She tenses, every muscle in her body waking up, and she lifts her head to frown at me.

“We’re not sleeping together.”

Blow to the gut.

“Excuse me?” I keep my voice even and lift an arrogant brow.

“We fucked, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to spend the night together.”

She sits up and tries to hop out of bed, but I’m faster. I pull her back onto the bed and cover her body with mine, my face inches from hers.

“We didn’t just fuck.”

“Yes. We did.” She tries to wiggle out from under me, but I’m much stronger. “Dominic, you’re hurting me.”

Back at you, sweetheart.

I immediately release her and shake my head. My feelings are hurt.

This is new.

I glance back at her to see that she’s wrapped the sheet around her, and she’s gazing at me with uncertainty. Not fear, just as if she’s not sure what I’ll do next.

“I’ll go.” I pull my shorts on and turn back to her. “But I’ll be joining you for breakfast.”

“That’s not—”

“It’s necessary to me, Alecia,” I reply and lean down to capture her swollen lips with mine. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

I turn and leave without looking back and stalk down the long hallway back to my own room.

She fucking kicked me out.

That’s never happened before.

I flop onto my back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. I can still smell her, and it makes me wish she were still pressed up against me. I think back over the evening, wondering where things went wrong.

The sex was…

Amazing.

Fantastic.

The best I’ve ever fucking had.

And I know I wasn’t alone in that. The way she responded to my touch was extraordinary.

But it was when we were cuddled up, ready to sleep, that she panicked.

My piccolo tesoro is uneasy with intimacy.

I feel my lips tip up in a smile, as I realize just how much of a pleasure it’s going to be to keep her on her toes.

Just as she’s keeping me on mine.

And fuck if that isn’t sexy.

***

It’s early when I let myself into Alecia’s room. She’s still in bed, under the sheets, curled into a ball on her side. The gentle rise and fall of her delicious curves are outlined with the white sheet. Her honey-blonde hair is fanned out behind her on the pillow, her cheeks are pink with sleep, and her rosy lips are parted and wet.

She’s an angel.

I set the breakfast tray on the table beside the bed, tether my iPhone to her wireless speakers via Bluetooth and press play on the new Alecia playlist. It’s full of soft, moody music like Sarah Bareilles and Adele. Unable to resist, I pluck the pink tulip from its vase and slip under the sheet next to her as Adele begins to sing Chasing Pavements. I’m still wearing my gym shorts. I’d rather be naked, but I’m not even sure she won’t scream the house down when she realizes I’m in bed with her.

I inch close to her, drag the petals of the flower, then my fingertips, down her soft cheek and grin when she presses closer to my touch, as if even in sleep she’s drawn to me.

“Alecia,” I whisper before pressing my lips to her forehead.

“Mm.” She frowns in her sleep.

She’s adorable.

“Alecia,” I repeat and kiss her nose. “Wake up.”

“No.” She opens one eye half-mast, snags the flower and snuggles it next to her cheek, sniffing it, then wiggles down further into the covers.

I chuckle and wrap my arms around her, drawing her against my chest. Ah, that’s better.

“I brought you breakfast.”

“Why are you in bed with me?”

I smile against her head and press a kiss to her hair as she wraps her arms around my waist and holds on sleepily.

“Because it’s morning; I didn’t sleep here as you asked, and I needed to see you.”

“I can’t resist your charm when I’m half asleep,” she murmurs and kisses my chest sweetly. “If you brought me tea, I’ll let you live.”

“Tea and fruit and some other delicious things.”

“Strawberries?” she asks.

“Do you enjoy strawberries, sweetheart?”

“Yes. I like it better when you use the Italian words.”

I chuckle and pat her ass through the sheet. “I’ll remember that.”

“I thought you were mad at me,” she admits with a small voice. I tip her head back so I can look into her deep brown gaze and shake my head.