I Pretend You're Mine

13. Advice

Lucy woke up and thought she might still be dreaming when she found herself curved into Tim's side. One of her arms was across his stomach, her head on his shoulder, her legs mixed with his, and one of his arms holding her in place. She inhaled his scent and let his body warm her up for a few seconds, but then she had to pee, so carefully as not to disturb him, Lucy tried to move away from him.

The biggest problem with her plan was that Tim was already awake and only pretending to be asleep to keep her in his arms. So when Lucy started trying to shuffle away from him, he said in a low, raspy rumble, "Trying to hide the fact that you're a barnacle?"

His morning voice is SO sexy. "Stop! I am not a barnacle!" She whined and scooted her hips away. Adorably, Tim tightened his hold around her back to keep her close.

"I never said I hated barnacles," he noted and brushed his lips on her hair line.

She smiled. "I have to pee, but I'll be right back," Lucy promised. She dropped a kiss on his shoulder, seeing his lips form a smile and his eyes stay half lidded. "Stay right there!" She called once she stood up.

With one eye open, Tim watched her scurry into the bathroom and dropped his head back onto his pillow. It was really happening. After all this time. He really had Lucy- a thought that made him happier than he had ever been.

He looked so cute sleep rumpled and laying in bed, and she practically jumped back into the bed to return to his side. "Good morning, my beautiful barnacle," he murmured when she returned to his arms.

"That nickname better not stick."

"How about Goat Whisperer? Should I bring that one back?"

She swatted his chest and buried her face in his side. "That's enough."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," he grinned and tried not to laugh as she lifted her head up to look at him again with a less than amused expression.

"You should be," Lucy teased with a pout.

He pecked her lips and hummed happily.

His fingertips danced on her back, sending sparks everywhere. "Tim?" She asked softly.

"Yeah?"

"If you're looking for something to call me...you can call me 'baby'...if you want."

Lucy's blushed cheeks were adorable. "Okay, baby," Tim replied fondly and raked her hair away from her face.

Her stomach swooped. She couldn't resist the urge, so she angled her head to kiss him softly.

Tim could not kiss her for very long as his smile overtook his face. "I don't want to leave this bed," he sighed happily.

"Me neither, so let's just stay here forever," Lucy squeezed his midsection.

"I can't. I told Dave I'd help at the bookstore everyday that we're in town."

"You'd rather spend your day in a bookstore than with me?"

One of his hands found hers where it was on his stomach and loosely interlaced their fingers. "I never said that. And besides, you can come to the bookstore with me."

"I guess." She kissed him again.

Kojo leapt onto the bed, making them both laugh.

"Come here, buddy," Lucy said happily and moved away from Tim slightly so that the dog could climb into her lap.

"Are you kidding?" He asked in disbelief, watching her unclasp their hands to pet the dog instead.

"What? Are you jealous?"