“You’re going to regret a lot of this in the morning.” He sounded amused, as his thumb rubbed circles on my collarbone. I took a few sips of the drink then sighed dropping my head back on the pillow. With my eyes closed I heard him put the cup down on the table and then he slid into the bed with me, his bare skin so warm and hard, a shield against my back. I sighed happily when he gathered me to him like I was something fragile and precious.

“I thought my favorite place on earth was that bakery in the Upper West Side,” I mumbled as I snuggled tightly into him. “You know, the one that sells the Ferrero Rocher cruffins.” He made a curious sound behind me and I smiled remembering those rushed mornings when I’d stop by so early the employees would give me one for free because I “clearly needed it.”

“I used to go there after getting you your coffee.” He made another one of those wounded bear sounds, but I was already drifting.

“The bakery isn’t your favorite place on earth anymore then?” He asked the question like he already knew the answer. I turned my head until I could see him, and gazed up at that face that I’d fallen in love with even before I knew the kind of man that Theo Ganas really was.

“I like it here better.” I pressed my nose right into his shoulder and he sucked in a breath like I’d punched him. That had to mean something important, something I should probably ask him about, but sleep was coming for me like a lion.

“You made my bad day better,” I whispered to him, or to myself, I wasn’t sure, then took his hand from where it was flat against my belly. I pulled it up to my mouth and kissed his palm. “Thank you.”

“Fuck, Alba.” Theo sounded wrecked, out of breath, and I almost asked if he was tired too, if Chase’s shittiness had gotten to him like it had me. But I just couldn’t stay awake. I’d ask tomorrow.

“I know the rule is that we sleep together when we have sex, but don’t go until I fall asleep, okay?” At my request, another one of those pained sounds came out of him.

“There isn’t a force in this world that could make me leave this bed tonight.” His voice was rough, like he was ready to stand guard for me. I should’ve told him he didn’t have to. That I knew how to take care of myself. But tonight, I wanted Theo more than I wanted to be strong. The last thought I had before I fell asleep was that what Theo had done for me today felt a lot like love, and for the first time that idea didn’t scare me at all.

Theo