Chapter 24

Hannah After my friends have left, I sneak into Tobias’s bedroom. It’s where we both sleep, but I still don’t consider his mansion mine. The contract between us prevents me from seeing us as equals, so when I look at things-the couch, the bed, or the Tesla-I see a tag with Tobias’s name. However, that isn’t the point or related to what I’m doing here.

I’m here because my hands are itching to touch Tobias. Not in the “sexy I’m yours” way, but in an “I miss you and I’m embarrassingly in love with you” way.

Ugh, did I really admit that I’m in love with him?

Gag.

Thinking about how I feel makes me feel utterly pathetic, like a schoolgirl pinning for her hot teacher, but I can’t waste this chance-Tobias is sleeping, and now is the perfect opportunity to get close to him.

He won’t see this coming, literally.

I sneak up to the bed. Tobias is sleeping on his side, face turned against his bedside table. There is a faint sound from his deep breaths, and longing fills my chest. I really wish to hug him, touch him and just be close to the man.

Can anyone blame me?

With his brown hair falling into his face and his eyelashes fanned out over his flawless cheeks, he is breathtaking to behold. Sure, he might be curled up like a cheese doodle, but he is still beautiful!

As quietly as possible, I shed my clothes on the floor. I then get under the covers and slide closer to Tobias. My heart thuds faster in response, and I hesitate. Am I a creep for hugging him in his sleep?

Probably, but who cares?!

I slink an arm around Tobias and press myself to his warm skin. He is huge and smooth, and I try not to giggle at the hilarity of my size. I’m like a backpack on him!

The realization makes it impossible not to giggle, and Tobias stirs in his sleep, speaking in a tired voice,”

What is so funny?”

I freeze in my spot, plastered against Tobias’s muscular back. He sounds half-awake, and my breathing quickens. What if he points out that I’m weird for hugging him? What if he hates my touch and will soon get mad at me for plastering myself to him?

“N-nothing is funny…” I mumble into the nape of his neck. He shudders in response, and I hope that is a good sign.

“Then why were you laughing?”

“Oh, I was just… thinking funny thoughts.”

“Like?”

I swallow thickly, hesitating briefly. “That I’m like a backpack on you.”

He actually chuckies. “That’s cute.”

Surprise hits me. “It is?”

“Mhm…”

I swallow thickly, hesitating briefly. “That I’m like a backpack on you.”

He actually chuckles. “That’s cute.”

Surprise hits me. “It is?”

“Mhm…”

“That I was thinking it or me? Which one do you find adorable?”

Tobias, way too tired to think, chuckles. “Both… I guess?”

“You think I’m adorable?” He must be exhausted if he is giving me compliments like this without the promise of sex.

widen “Yes, I do…” Tobias shifts position, and I’m shocked when he turns around. My eyes into what I imagine must be saucers when he looks at me with sleepy eyes, and then he… ‘hugs me?

I’m astonished, and my heart speeds up when I inhale his delicious scent. Today he is wearing a cologne that smells like sandalwood, and I feel small and delicate as he nuzzles me.

“I’ve been working way too hard these past few days,” he mumbles into my hair. My face is plastered to his chest, but I don’t mind. He is shaven, and his smell is lovely. “I want to do something fun tomorrow…

do you have a driver’s license?”

“No, I don’t,” I’m ashamed to admit that, and I place my hand on Tobias’s side while talking since I’m aching to touch him. He is so hard and fascinating to me. “I don’t have much money. and could barely afford my rent, so nope. No car or driver’s license for me, I’m afraid… is that a problem for you?”

“I see…” he chuckles lightly, and his chest rumbles in return. It makes me clutch him tighter since I love the sound of his laughter. “Well, scratch the first idea I had then… how about I teach you how to drive?”

His question has my lips quirking up in a smile. I might like Tobias, but that doesn’t change the fact that I also find him scary in certain situations. And having him teach me how to drive? I have a bad feeling about that. I imagine he would be intense and bossy.

“Hmm, I don’t know…”

Tobias kisses the top of my head and hugs me tighter. “Come on, Hannah. It will be fun. I promise to go easy on you and be a patient teacher since I know how clumsy you can be.’

Π I fake offense by gasping. “You actually called me clumsy!”

He chuckles. “Are you denying that you’re clumsy?”

“No, but you’re not supposed to tell me that I’m clumsy. You’re supposed to pretend that I’m perfect.”

“Oh, am I?” His chest rumbles with amusement.

“Yes!” I close my eyes because I’m embarrassed. I’m just messing around, but it’s nerve- wracking to do that with Tobias. Still, I continue to joke around with him. “As my husband, you should always think of me as perfect, even if I’m not. It’s what all newlyweds do. They look at each other through heart-shaped glasses.”

“Is that so?” Tobias sounds massively entertained, and I can feel his chest boom with some laughter again.

“It’s in the husband’s guidebook.”

“I might have to read that book…” Tobias yawns and holds me tighter. One of his hands is absentmindedly stroking my back, and it feels lovely. “I’m going to pass out again, but I’m definitely teaching you how to drive a car. We should start tomorrow.”

“With what car?” All his cars are ridiculously expensive. Driving one of those wouldn’t feel right when I know nothing about cars. You need to buy a trash pile car first. We can go and look at one tomorrow, though. I don’t mind. It will be a fun activity.”

“Nah, if you crash one of my babies, it will give me an excuse to buy myself a new one,” Tobias says.

I nervously laugh. “You’re joking, right?”

There is no answer, and I realize that Tobias has fallen asleep. It makes me smile. He fell asleep while holding me close-how sweet. There is something strangely endearing in having a giant of a man turn into a teddy bear around you.

A smile graces my lips, and I kiss his chest. “Good night, Tobias. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”