Free On Pins and Needles: Sierra Fox, Book 3 by Yolanda Sfetsos Page A

surprised I still had energy after the sex-filled night we’d enjoyed.  
    Afterwards, we were both fully awake.
    “Now that’s a wakeup call!” His breath was still coming in harsh spurts.  
    I leaned over and kissed him softly before climbing off and lying down beside him.  
    “I could definitely wake up to this every day.”
    “Me too,” I whispered, resting back into the pillows. The thought of waking up beside Papan in the morning got my pulse running and set my skin on fire.
    “Let me hold you for a while.”
    I turned onto my left side and he spooned me. I felt more relaxed than I had in a long time. When my eyelids fluttered open and I heard Papan’s breathing change, I groaned and reluctantly rolled out of bed.
    “Hey, don’t leave me yet,” he called.
    I stopped near the door. “You stay in bed. Don’t let me ruin your Saturday morning.”
    “No way,” he said, raising his body off the mattress and swinging his long legs over the side. “You’re not going anywhere without having some breakfast.”
    “Papan, it’s okay, you don’t have to—”
    He made his way around the bed and stopped in front of me. “You still don’t get it, do you?” He tilted my chin back so I was looking right into his eyes. “I might not have to, but I want to. There’s a big difference. And I believe I’ve already told you this before.”
    A smile teased the edges of my mouth and he ran his thumb over my lips, sliding over them until he cupped my jaw.
    “Thank you, Papan,” I whispered.
    “We should thank each other for the magic we made last night.” His dimples made an appearance and the butterflies inside my stomach fluttered. “Now, let’s go find our clothes and get back to your house to see what’s so important that you turned down my very alluring offer.”
    “Um, you’re coming with me?”
    “Of course I am…” His voice trailed off and he stared at me. “Unless you don’t want me to.”
    I closed the distance between us and gave him a hug.  
    “Yes, I want you to come with me.” I took a step back and nibbled on my bottom lip. “Actually, I think it’s time I tell you one of my deepest and darkest secrets.”
    “That sounds fascinating.” He turned to look at his alarm clock. “But time’s ticking, so maybe you should tell me over breakfast.”
    I nodded and returned his smile. As he turned around and walked out, I couldn’t help but linger in his room for a few moments. It wasn’t just because I was having such a good time checking him out.  
    My body ached in the best possible way, and I couldn’t believe that even though we’d sated our desire last night we both still had enough reserves for this morning. I was also shocked at what I intended to do.
    Last night, when he scared the shit out of me as I was leaving the office I’d promised myself that I was going to start this relationship the right way—with honesty—and Oren McKee was a secret hanging over my head that, until now, I’d had no problem keeping to myself. Sure, I knew the others wondered and suspected there was a reason why the old man and I seemed to be so involved in each other’s lives, but I hadn’t actually told anyone anything.
    Now, as I stepped out into Papan’s living room and spotted him already wearing a pair of jeans as he worked in the kitchen, I was determined to spill everything.
    My heart sped up as I approached him.
    “I left your clothes on the couch,” he called with a vibrant smile. “Though they’re optional.”
    I giggled. Yeah, this was the right thing to do.
     
     
    By the time we reached my front porch, the sun was already up and most of the clouds had scattered away, but a chill remained in the air. The heat of Oren’s very potent protection spell hit me immediately, a heavy weight like the force of water.  
    If I hadn’t been attacked so many times inside my own home already, it might have seemed a bit much. But I appreciated his efforts of trying to protect my house,