[Reece's POV]

My heart was calm when I woke up the next morning. My skin burned, but after last night, I wasn't complaining. Having Camila in my home, in my bed, right beside me was worth it.

The last time I made a spontaneous decision like this, it wasn't a good look. But it was something I knew from the start. That woman and I met on looks alone, lust alone, and after two struggling years, I was the one to call it quits.

Never trust a big butt and a smile, right?

Camila was different. Big butt, definitely yes, but her smile was genuine. When she spoke, I heard her; her passion was louder than the words said. The glue to the moment, the connection, was that when I spoke, she listened. I knew I was more than a man she could fuck on occasion; she came to me for help, guidance, and conversation.

Did I want more out of this? Yes. Would I force it? Hell no. She agreed to be my girl and that was step number one.

Step number two—slipping out of this bed without waking her up.

As I slowly moved, I looked back at Camila curled up in the blanket. Parts of her hair covered her face. Her mouth was open, and she let out the cutest snore. I smiled. I could get used to this.

But first, business. I walked around the bed, went to my dresser, and pulled out a fresh pair of boxers and jogging pants. The bathroom was next. A quick brush, and splashed water on my face, I was awake enough. So much so, that reaching for my phone, swiping through my contacts, and calling Mama D was a breeze.

Until I yawned right when Dolores answered.

"Well, don't you sound tired, Reece. Are you coming in?"

I cupped my hand over my mouth. "I'm sorry?" Blinking, I stared at the shut curtains next to my bookshelf. "I'm off today, Dolores."

"You didn't see my text message?"

I didn't. But I pulled my phone away from my ear to double-check. Sure enough, there was an unopened text notification. I quickly swiped it down and read it without opening it.

Mama D—I know you're off today, hon, but Sonja called off. Can you help?

I pulled the corner of my mouth down as I cringed. "Dolores, I—"

"Hm." She chuckled on the other end of the call. "Did you have a long night?"

Sliding my tongue over my bottom lip, I walked past my small kitchen table and went over to my desk. I touched my rough draft; my second completed novel. "I may have had a long night," I said.

"Oh?" I could hear the smile in Dolores' voice. "Was it with Camila?"

I chuckled, hummed, and bit my lip. Thinking about her had me grinning. "It was," I said. There wasn't a reason to lie to Dolores.

"Were you safe?" Concern draped over her words. "You know, I always say—"

"Mama." I rarely called her that but I should. She took in the struggling teen who frequented the library after school, but she told me then, that I didn't have to call her mom or mother or anything of that nature. She'd said, "Taking you into my home and into my life is my love and care. Your mother is still out there. And maybe one day, she'll find you."

My mother never came, but Dolores was always there, always supporting my dreams.

I cleared my throat and quietly laughed. "We were safe, I promise."

"Good." The sound of a chair rolling echoed from Dolores' end. Papers followed. Something hit a desk. "Well, I won't pull you away from that. I can handle the day."

I bit my bottom lip. I hated it if she was there by herself without any help. She was older and I wanted her to be careful. "I mean is it busy now?"

"Boy," she snickered, "it's nine in the morning."

"Okay?" I raised my brows and opened the curtains. Peering out into the street right outside my window, I watched a man walk his small dog. "Kids can't study in the morning?"

"No," she said. "They're in school right now."

Shit. She was right. Closing the curtains, I looked back into my apartment.

"You don't even know what day it is, do you?" Dolores sighed. Judging by the movement I heard, she shook her head.

"I do," I said. It was Tuesday. But after the night we had, there was no way today was a weekday.

"So, why were you calling then if you didn't look at my text message?" Dolores said, curiosity ringing in her voice.

I walked back to the table. The tacos we had ordered last night were there, cold and uneaten. I cringed at the sight of them. Good food down the drain. Or maybe a microwave could fix it.

Scooping a taco out of the bag, I unwrapped it and put it on the plate. No, this wouldn't work. "I was calling to see if my shipment came in."

"Oh! The big box!" Her chair rolled. I heard her happy breaths. There was fumbling, another pen falling, but I knew she had it when her hands slapped against something hard. "Yes. I have it. When do I open it, again?"

I snorted through my nose, deciding the tacos weren't salvageable. It hurt to throw them in the garbage, but at this point, it was what it was. I wasn't going to go back in time to change what happened last night. Tacos were my fallen casualties.

"In two weeks, give or take," I said. "Just store the box somewhere under the front desk."

"That's fine," Dolores said. "I'll scan them into inventory until then. After, we can plan a table and little cards. Oh! I can't wait to make them."

I smiled, and as I approached my opened bedroom door, seeing Camila still sound asleep, I bit my bottom lip. Should I wake her up? I could think of ways to do it.

"Reece." Dolores sounded so pleased on the other line.

"Yeah," I turned, walking back into my kitchen, "what's up?"

"Do you remember when I first approached you?" A soft smile pulled at my lips. Of course, I remembered. I spent days in the library, trying my hardest to sit at those tables until they closed the doors. That was when Dolores noticed and asked if I was hungry; offered me food, water, and a place to sleep.

I never knew how she figured out my struggles; I was a quiet teenager who only wanted to read and write my pain on paper. But she saw me. She saved me. And I was forever thankful. "I do, I always do," I said. "Why?"

"I just want to say how proud I am of you. How very proud I am of you."

When she said those words, I leaned against the table. I wiped my face, but my smile only got wider. "You helped me get here," I told her.

"No, no, no," she said, "you did this. You and your creative brain. All I did was feed you."

I'll always remember that sandwich, Mama D.

"And that, forever, means a lot to me."

***

[Camila's POV]

Nothing prepared me for Reece's love. He knew what to do, where to put me, and how to guide me through our night. I wanted to get points for following him so perfectly, landing on his thrusts with victory, but it was a team effort. He was more than I ever had before.

And that love, care, and pleasure followed me into the night. My dreams were sweet and warm, and I heard his voice over and over.

"You're so beautiful, Camila."

"I'll take it slow."

"If you want me to stop, just say the word."

We didn't just have sex. We connected. We became one. And when I woke up and opened my eyes, I was prepared to see my other half.

He wasn't there. His imprint in the bed was. The sound of his voice carried throughout his apartment. I heard it like a quiet echo; a conversation I wasn't supposed to hear. But I was curious by nature and needed to know. I would've moved quickly, yet once I peeled the blankets away and saw I'd fallen asleep naked, I knew that wasn't an option.

Remembering that Reece was clean and organized, I found my clothes folded and neatly placed on his nightstand. Jeans were optional in the morning. After our wild night, I didn't think he'd mind. I slipped on my shirt and underwear and stepped out of the room.

I heard him say, "You helped me get here."

I slowed. Biting my lip, I wished I could hear who was on the other line. Who helped him get where? Pressing myself up on my toes, I got closer. The muscles in his back were beautiful in the dim, morning light.

"And that, forever, means a lot to me," he continued, completely oblivious.

He didn't notice me until I stood directly behind him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He shot me a glance and a grin; a twinkle sparking in his auburn eyes. "Mornin', Boo," he said. Then inched his head closer to his phone "I'll call you later, Dolores. If you need help, lemme know."

This time, because I was so close, I did hear Dolores' sweet voice on the other line. Kind of muffled, but there. "Okay, Reece. Have a good day with your new boo."

He hung up the phone, but I was smiling. Dolores knew about us. Word was already spreading. Next up, I had to bring Nancy in the loop, without the details, of course.

Reece put his cell on the table and turned, so he could hold my hips. "How are you feeling?" His fingers caressed the skin above my underwear. "Did you sleep okay?"

Did I? Most definitely. My legs still trembled, and my heart ramped up a bit at the sight of him. But sleep was blissful and if I could go back, I would. If I did, I wanted him to come with me.

I placed my hands on his chest and traced his pecks. "I did sleep okay. What about you?"

"Oh, I slept great," he said, then leaned back with a lip bite. "And you look great. Any reason why you popped out of the room half naked?"

I giggled. I couldn't say that I rushed out of the room to listen in on his conversation. Wouldn't be a good look after the first night. But knowing it was sweet old Dolores, and judging by the context, something was happening at the library—there was nothing to worry about. Old scars resurfaced so quickly that a small part of me only needed to hear to be sure.

But I was sure he was right and would be good for me.

"All I have are jeans," my hands slipped up his neck, "and that's a lot to do right now."

"I feel you," he laughed. He lifted one of my hands over my head and twirled me around, so my ass was against him, and the heat of his chest was on my back. "So, I had an idea for today."

My belly tightened. Was he already thinking about round two? "What's that?"

"Well, we need breakfast. I forgot about last night's tacos. Sorry." He added his apology quickly, but I laughed. Honestly, I forgot about them, too. I was hungry and he fixed that without food.

"Are we ordering breakfast?" I whispered, turning my head so that I looked into his eyes. I caught the shimmer as his lips lifted into his sexy grin with his single dimple. Swooning, I leaned in closer and laid my head against his shoulder.

"No ordering," he said. "I'll make you breakfast. So, after you freshen up, do what you got to do, we can enjoy a small meal."

"You're going to cook for me?" I had to turn around. I caressed the back of his ear "What'chu going to make?"

"Well," he leaned back, rubbing his lips together, "probably some bacon, pancakes, eggs if you want." He lifted a finger and touched my nose. "Then we could have some energy to curl up in the blankets—"

Uh-huh?

"Shut the curtains—"

Uh-huh?

"And figure out what's next in your story?"

I smiled. My brain went straight to the naughty, but I had to appreciate Reece's focus. Two days ago, I asked him to help me with my story, and instead, we did everything else but work on it. My clock was ticking for this deadline; Reece hadn't forgotten.

"We can do that," I said.

"Cool," he grinned, "because I don't want to be the reason you stay distracted. I said I'd help you do this. And I can't let you give up on your dream."

My heart swelled. To hear him say he wouldn't let me give up. No one ever had that focus on me.

"Then," he swayed and held my hips so I'd follow, "after you submit into the contest, we can catch up on all this good loving." He slowly ground his hips against me.

I laughed. The look on his face, him biting his lip with a goofy smile. I gently smacked his chest. "Boy, stop." I moved back. "Let me freshen up, so we can eat."

His brows shot up. "So, you wouldn't want this good loving after?"

Of course, I did. I'd take love as a victory gift and as a daily treat. I'd want it for any moment, any second, and this was more than sex. When he said loving, I knew he meant the entire package—hugs, kisses, cuddles, moments of just lying on the couch with a good show to watch. I wanted this to develop into something. And if we waited until after I completed a rough draft to work on it, I couldn't be upset.

He said I couldn't give up on my dream.

"Yes, I do." I walked to his bathroom and sighed happily. "But until then, like you said," I looked back at him with a soft smile, "I need to focus on my story."

He cupped his hands over his heart and gave me the perfect beautiful boyish grin. "And I'll make sure you get there, baby."