Chapter 190
Chapter 190
+25 BONUS
While Arthur dresses, I slip out of the bedroom. Miles is in the kitchen now, standing on his tiptoes trying to reach the cereal boxes on the top shelf. Scout curls around my legs, crying for his breakfast too as I make my way over to-
Miles.
“Here, let me help,” I say, retrieving his favorite cereal.
Miles eyes me curiously and wrinkles his nose. “You smell like Daddy.”
I feel my face heat up. “Well, um…” I busy myself with opening a can of wet food for the cat, if only to hide my blush, “Daddy spent the night. We had a sleepover.”
Miles looks wounded. “You didn’t invite me?”
“It was an adults–only sleepover,” I say with a soft laugh, ruffling his hair. “Next time, kiddo.”
He accepts this explanation easily, which I’m grateful for. pour his cereal and set it on the table, then feed the cat and start making coffee, hoping Arthur has managed to make himself presentable.
A few minutes later, Arthur emerges from the bedroom, wearing his pants but with his hair still deliciously rumpled–and shirtless, of course. Miles looks up from his cereal, eyes widening in surprise.
He doesn’t even notice when Scout jumps up on the counter and begins lapping at his milk. I shake my head and scoop the kitten up, holding him against my chest while he mews and squirms.
“Ooh, so that was your shirt!” Miles exclaims.
Arthur and I exchange a look, and I can see he’s trying not to laugh. “Yep,” he says, grabbing the cat and ruffling his ears as he passes. “Your mom stole it.”
Miles looks at me. “Since there’s three of us, can we have pancakes instead?”
I roll my eyes. “I just made you cereal.”
“Next time,” Arthur says, accepting the cup of coffee I hand him. The idea of a next time after the magical night we had makes my stomach flutter with excitement. “I’ve got to head to work soon.”
Miles looks a little disappointed, but doesn’t argue. While he eats his cereal, Arthur and I sip our coffee in silence, occasionally glancing at each other.
Each look sends fresh heat roiling through my veins, and at one point, as he not–so–subtly reaches over my head to “grab something“-even though there’s nothing to grab other than the edge of the cupboard–I have to press my thighs together to keep them from shaking.
It’s just like old times, and I want more of this. I don’t even care if it’s greedy of me. I want all of him.
But alas, it can’t last forever. We’ve both got responsibilities today, so, after I reluctantly give Arthur’s shirt back, he kisses me goodbye. With that, we part ways, promising to have another date soon–maybe one that involves Miles.
The rest of the morning passes quickly. I help Miles dress for the day, do a load of laundry, and meet with the Abbott director to discuss my current progress. But all the while, my mind keeps drifting back to last night and this morning–to Arthur’s touch, his words, the way he made me feel whole again.
By mid–afternoon, Miles and I are both restless.
On impulse, I decide to take Miles on a walk to my favorite coffee shop. We throw on hats and sunglasses to at least attempt to keep our identities hidden, and then head out with Emi trailing behind at a respectful pace.
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Chapter 190
+25 BONUS
The coffee shop is busy but not packed. I order my usual late and a chocolate croissant for Miles and I to share, adding a sandwich and a coffee for Emi–which she thanks me profusely for. She takes Miles to a table in the corner to settle in while I wait for our order.
As I’m picking up our food, I’m so absorbed with thoughts of my night with Arthur that I don’t notice someone approaching me. I turn, not expecting anyone to be there, and my body bumps into a sturdy chest. Suddenly, hot coffee is spilling across my blouse.
“Oh!” I gasp, jumping back.
“I’m so sorry, Iris,” a familiar voice says as a pair of hands move forward to dab at the stain with a napkin.
I look up in shock to see none other than Caleb Willford standing in front of me.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 189
