Page 64 of Finding Kenna
“Then sleep,” he said.
“I should get up,” she protested halfheartedly.
“Why? The swap meet doesn’t close until eleven. We have plenty of time. That’s what you said.”
“But you’re here, and I want to spend time with you,” she said.
Aleck fucking loved hearing that. “You are. Sleeping in my arms,” he said quietly.
“Is this weird?” she asked.
“No.”
“Okay. Wake me up in an hour. I’ll get up and shower and eat the food you brought—which smells amazing by the way—and then we’ll go.”
Aleck nuzzled her temple but didn’t answer. He wasn’t going to wake her up at seven. There was no need. He’d let her sleep as long as she wanted to.
“Marshall?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“I needed this.”
“This?” he asked.
“You. Hugging me.”
Closing his eyes in gratitude that Kenna was as forgiving as she was. And that she’d done what he’d asked and talked to him when she’d heard about his lie by omission, he took a moment to compose himself before he responded. “I should’ve come over last night,” he whispered.
He felt Kenna shrug. “You’re here now.”
Yes, he was. And he wouldn’t take her for granted. “I am,” he agreed. “Sleep,” he told her.
“Bossy,” she muttered.
Aleck saw the smile on her face though. He leaned over and kissed her temple and soon she was fast asleep once more.
Aleck was a man who didn’t necessarily like to sit still. He liked to be doing something at all times. But at the moment, he couldn’t think of anything he wanted or needed to do more than he needed to lie there with Kenna. There was something immensely satisfying about her trusting him enough to hold her while she slept. She was extremely vulnerable like this, but Aleck would never hurt a hair on her head. The day she’d jumped into the ocean to save him was the best day of his life, he just hadn’t known it at the time.
At seven forty-six, Kenna stirred in his arms. Aleck had dozed lightly a time or two, but mostly he’d stayed awake, just enjoying the intimacy of being with her.
She mumbled something under her breath, then her eyes opened and she looked up at him sleepily. “What time is it?”
“Almost eight,” he told her softly.
Her eyes widened. “Eight? Shit! I meant to get up an hour ago.”
Aleck held her tight when her body tensed as if she was going to leap up. Not that there would’ve been much leaping out of the beanbag.
“Easy, babe. It’s fine. We’ve got three hours to browse the market.”
“But the good stuff’ll be gone,” she sighed, settling back against him.
Her T-shirt had risen up while she slept, and Aleck could feel her bare legs against his own. But he wasn’t feeling horny, exactly, just wildly content.
“You okay about last night?” he asked gently.
Kenna sighed, and Aleck felt her warm breath against his neck above his shirt. Goose bumps broke out on his nape. It was a surprising reaction, but he merely smiled.
