Worth It (Damie)

Part 10

A/N: I'm prepared for your reactions *sigh* Thanks for your love and support of my writing! You all feed my creativity, and I am beyond grateful! Xo

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I feel a weight on my chest when I wake. My eyes flutter open to the image of Dakota lying across me, gently snoring. I smile to myself and run my fingers through her hair, undoing the tangles it's acquired overnight. The sun is peering in, glistening off the pool. Southern California has captivated me easily. As much as I miss the familiarity of London, I don't miss the rain. I'm grateful for this eternal spring, because Dakota and I can spend time outdoors doing activities we both love. But right now, like this, I don't mind being inside.

I wrap my arms around her small frame and cuddle her tighter. She nestles into my neck, kissing the side of it. I trail my fingers lazily up and down her back as she wakes. I feel her small breathy laugh against my skin before she rolls on top of me. She brings her hands under my back to hug me equally as tight.

I kiss the top of her head. "Good morning, beautiful."

She hums her contentment. "Morning, baby."

"Sleep okay?"

She nods. "I love this bed, and having you in it."

I chuckle, twisting my fingers in her hair to massage her scalp. "I was thinking the same."

"Can we lay like this forever?" she asks, kissing my shoulder.

"Yes."

So we do, continuing our embrace as we touch and kiss each other's skin in the early morning light. The rest of the world is scurrying about their routines, but neither of us has a single worry in this bed, our bodies intertwined.

She rubs her foot up my veiny calf. "What's on your agenda today?"

"This."

She giggles, her lips pecking a path across the side of my neck to my cheek before landing on my mouth. I hold her there, letting the kiss linger.

"Will you be home then?" she breaks us to ask.

"I can be, don't have anything major going on. My agent wants to get together before the end of next week, but no rush."

She moves her arms to rest them beneath her chin as she peers up at me, her blue eyes bright for a favor. "Can Mom drop Zepp off?"

Zeppelin has been staying with Mel since before we flew to London and Finland. It was easier for her to keep him while Dakota moved than have him in the way and confused. He was used to Mel's pets and house. It'd be interesting to see him adapt to this one.

"No problem, baby. I'll be here. Guess you're going out?"

She nods, sticking her bottom lip out. "Sorry to dump him on you, but mom is planning a girls weekend to Tahoe and I don't want to go get him in my Porsche. I promised Nick I'd meet him for lunch before he leaves to film."

"Nick who?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"Braun. You know Nick." I can tell she's trying to read my reaction as her eyes bounce between mine.

"Mmm." I lift my chin. "Who else is going?"

"Just us. Is that okay?"

I shrug. "Sure thing."

She sighs. "Convincing."

"What do you want me to say?" I ask.

"I don't know maybe, 'no problem, baby, have fun.'"