Page 52 of When We Were Us

"I love you too," he replied softly, his footsteps fading as he left the room.

The warm sunlight streamed through the terrace windows, bathing my face in its gentle glow as I succumbed to sleep. Sometime later, I stirred to the feeling of Oliver snuggling up next to me, his hand sliding under my breast as he pressed his body against mine.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fox," I mumbled, a lazy smile spreading across my face as I leaned into his embrace.

Oliver's warm breath tickled my ear as he whispered. "I was wondering when you were going to wake. You've slept almost four hours." His fingers traced lazy circles on my hip, sending a shiver down my spine.

I blinked groggily, trying to orient myself. "What time is it?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

"Almost 3:30," he replied, glancing at his watch. "You must be famished."

Realization dawned on me, and I sat up abruptly, the sheets pooling around my waist. "You're letting me sleep my birthday away?" I accused, a hint of disappointment coloring my tone.

Oliver's brow furrowed as he reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "It's not intentional," he assured me. "I have things planned for tonight. I wanted you to get some sleep."

I studied his face, noticing the faint shadows under his eyes. "How can you not be tired?" I asked, genuinely curious.

A wry smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Who says I wasn't tired? I took a nap in the living room."

"Why?" I pressed, my hand finding his. "Why not here?"

"I didn't want to disturb you," he explained, his thumb caressing my knuckles. His eyes searched mine, concern evident in his gaze. "Why are you getting upset?"

I sighed, leaning into him. "Because I want you near me," I admitted softly.

Oliver's arm snaked around my waist, pulling me closer. "I want to be near you," he murmured, his lips brushing my temple, "but being near you is dangerous, don't you agree?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "If you would behave, it wouldn't be a problem."

"So, it's my fault," he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I seem to remember you starting something last night."

Heat rushed to my cheeks as memories of our passionate encounter flooded back. "We both had a hand in our lovemaking," I countered, my voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Would you like another round?"

Oliver's breath hitched, but he regained his composure quickly. "I thought we would have a bite to eat and a late dinner on the beach," he suggested, his voice husky.

My eyes widened with delight. "Really? That sounds lovely."

"I have crab salad," he tempted, a knowing smile spreading across his face.

"Yummy," I practically purred. "I'm starving."

Oliver's expression softened with concern. "You didn't eat much yesterday, and you've had nothing today."

As if on cue, my stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl, causing us both to burst into laughter.

"Let's head down to the kitchen," Oliver suggested, standing and offering me his hand. I took it, allowing him to pull me to my feet and into a tender embrace.

As we made our way downstairs, hand in hand, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement for what the rest of my birthday might hold.

I leaned back in my chair, feeling pleasantly stuffed after devouring crab salad, sipping champagne, and nibbling on grapes. The combination of flavors danced on my tongue, and I savored the lingering taste, unsure when I'd feel like eating again.

"I want to walk on the beach," I said to Oliver, my eyes drifting towards the window where I could see the sun-kissed shore beckoning.

Oliver quirked an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice. "If you didn't sleep the day away, we could've gone swimming."

I waved my hand dismissively. "We have two weeks to do that. I want to work on my tan."

A look of mischief appeared in Oliver's eyes as he leaned closer. "All in due time. I'm considering not letting you out of the bedroom."

Source: www.allfreenovel.com