Page 19 of Frog

Rolling over on my back, I looked up at him in the low light.

“You should get under the covers and go to sleep. You’re exhausted.”

When I lifted my hands to his face, he turned his head and kissed my palm. “Thank you for asking your sister to take pity on me.”

“I didn’t, you know I didn’t. She decided all on her own that you were to be trusted.”

“You’re mad.”

“Of course I’m mad. Because you won’t just stay with me and let me take care of you.” He squinted down at me.

“Nope,” I agreed.

He moved to pull away, but I held him tight, our eyes locked together.

“Let go.”

I shook my head and eased him down slowly until our foreheads were pressed together, the two of us now with closed eyes, just quietly breathing.

When I lifted toward him, his lips slanted down over mine, and I let everything fall away as I kissed him. Really, if I had anything to offer at all, I would lay claim to him, and no one but me would ever have him ever again. But as it was, all I could be was a diversion until he realized he could do so much better. He was a neurosurgeon. I was a homeless drifter, and this wasn’t a fairytale.

“Weber,” he gasped, parting our lips. “Stop.”

But this was what I had to offer, all that I was good for. “Doc,” I growled, tugging at his clothes. “Take these off.”

“No!” he yelled at me, yanking away, pointing toward the pillows. “Get under the damn covers so I can hold you while you sleep.”

I looked at him and was surprised to find no desire there at all, no lust riding him, simply furrowed brows and dark, flashing golden-brown eyes.

Moving fast, I got under the covers as the light was turned off and the room was plunged into semi-darkness.

“Come here, ass.” I laughed at him.

He was tangled around me in seconds, and as I tucked his head under my chin and held him tight, I felt him tremble.

“No one but you ever holds me like this.”

“Dumb fuckers,” I assured him. “They’re missin’ out on somethin’ great.”

“You’re the only one who knows I love it, because you’re the only one who ever made me do it.”

The man was a natural snuggler, loved to be cuddled and nestled in beside me. I had been surprised the first time when he had tried to squirm away. But as I held him pressed to my heart, I had felt him surrender, felt him clutch me back, tremble in my arms, and whimper softly.

“You’re the only one who had the balls to try and make me submit.”

“That’s right.” I smiled in the dark, rubbing my cheek in the silky waves. “You didn’t want to do this at all the first time, did ya?”

“No—” He sucked in his breath. “—because I was the dumb fucker back then.”

I chuckled, and he pressed tighter.

“Thank you for wanting to hold me, Weber.”

“Thank you for lettin’ me, Cyrus.”

His sigh of pleasure made me smile as my eyes drifted closed.

Chapter Three