Stay

“Considering everything, would you be that surprised if she wasn’t home?’

“No.” I sat up. “That’s probably a good idea.” I stretched, determined to push away the exhaustion this time. I hoped the magic would wear off on its own, but I knew deep inside it wasn’t going anywhere. Everything felt off.

“Your color is back.” Toby smiled.

“Yeah, maybe I just needed lots of sleep.” I wasn’t going to worry him anymore than he already was.

“I’m still worried. If we can’t track down your mom on our own, we do have another option.” He stood up from his place kneeling on the floor in front of the couch and sat down next to me.

“Who?” I asked, although I was pretty sure I knew who it was. There were only so many people who knew my mom.

“Eric. He’d know more than we would. Besides Georgina did say there were bears who might know what to do.”

“Do you think we can trust him?” He wasn’t my favorite person, but he also seemed to care.

“I think we can. I don’t see any other options.”

“We could try Rhett.”

He looked away.

“Toby?”

“I already tried him. He’s off the grid.”

“How is everyone off the grid?” I groaned. “It’s starting to become a pattern.”

“I know.” He kissed my forehead. “What do you say we go and grab some coffee once the sun comes up?”

“Show up at Coffee Heaven?”

“Yeah, it’s crazy.” He leaned in close. “My favorite barista isn’t even working today.”

“I guess I never called in to Marv.”

Toby laughed. “I have a feeling he understands.”

“I need the job.”

“No you don’t.” He pulled my legs onto his lap.

“I appreciate your willingness to pay for everything, but I really don’t want you to.”

“It’s not just my money. You’re a Laurent. You’ve got even more than me.”

“It feels weird to touch that money.” Except for tuition. Robert and Georgina could pay for that. I don’t know why, but taking the money for that reason felt completely different than taking it for spending money.

“Either way, you don’t have time to work right now. You have to take off. We need to find your mom if there’s even a chance she can help us.”

“Thank you.”

“For what exactly?” He watched me expectedly.

“Not running off. For sticking this out with me.”

He pulled me onto his lap so I was straddling him. Then he took my face in his hands. “I’m never running from you. I’m never leaving you to handle things alone.”

“Even when I can handle them?”

“You can handle everything, but I want to be there for you. Wouldn’t you do the same for me?”

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “But so far I’m the one who keeps getting in over my head.”

“I’m sure it won’t always be that way. Besides, you’ve helped me more than you know.”

I brushed my lips against his. “I can’t wait until things go back to normal.”

“They’re never going to.”

“Ok, maybe not back to normal, but I’m ready for them to at least settle down.”

“That’s going to happen, and when it does we’re going to get some quality time together.”

I slipped my hand under his t-shirt. “Our shower was quality time.”

“It was.” He smiled. “But it wasn’t all it could have been.” His expression let me know exactly what he was implying.

“Trust me, I want you too.”

“I know.” He grinned. “That’s what makes it easier to wait.” He ran his hands down my arm. “But we can’t wait on everything else. Let’s run by your place so you can get clothes before we pay a visit to Eric.”

“You mean I shouldn’t wear this?” I gestured to the oversized clothing I’d borrowed from him.

“You aren’t wearing any underwear.”

“How do you know?” I arched an eyebrow.

He lifted me up just enough to grab my ass. “Because I do.”

I laughed. “I guess I can’t sneak that kind of stuff by you.”

“No… and it’s kind of taunting me right now.”

“Do you really think I’d hate myself if we had sex?” I was asking seriously. I was so stressed out I couldn’t even think straight, but Toby’s body was calling to me the way it always did. We couldn’t go back to the cave. Getting back into the hands of the boss would make all of our effort pointless, but there were other things we could do. I hated that my Pteron side made me think about sex at the wrong times.

“What would Vera tell you to do?” His eyes locked with mine.

“She’d tell me to take off your clothes and have my way with you.” I laughed. “She always said sex with the right guy was worth it.”

“And I’m the right guy?” He pulled his shirt over his head.

“Yes.”

“We’re doing this for stress relief, and because I don’t think we can work together right now until we do.”

“I love how you’re making excuses.”

“I don’t want you being hard on yourself.” He pulled my shirt off.

“I want you.” I unbuttoned his shorts and tugged them down. I followed that up with his boxers.

“I want you too. I always want you.” He pulled down the gym shorts, leaving them at my feet.

“Any preference for where?” He cupped my breasts.

I moaned. “Here. Right here.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

The rug was soft underneath my back when Toby laid me down on the floor. His mouth went right to my breast, teasing my nipple while his hand moved between my legs.

I took him in my hand and stroked him gently. “I’ll never get enough of you.”

“Good. I don’t plan on letting you.” He kissed the spot right between my breasts. “I’ll be right back.”

I waited impatiently for him to return with a condom. He put it on before positioning himself over me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He thrust into me with such force that he left me breathless. He wasn’t careful with me, and I liked that. I liked that he didn’t worry about me being too fragile.