Evelyn
“It’s time to wake up, baby,” Jacob peppered my face with kisses, rousing me from sleep. I groggily turned, burying my face into the pillow. His lips found my bare back, prompting an involuntary gasp to escape my lips.
“Don’t annoy me, Jacob. Let me sleep…” I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut to evade the intrusive morning light seeping through the window. He’d even drawn the curtains aside! Sometimes, I really wanted to despise him even though I knew it wasn’t possible.
“I’m afraid I can’t, love,” he chuckled, brushing my hair aside and nuzzling the back of my neck. “You wanted to visit my office, remember? Today’s the day.”
“I’ll go some other day. Let’s sleep for now,” I mumbled, rolling over and tugging him onto the bed beside me. “We got back so late last night. Let’s catch up on sleep!” As he nestled into the crook of my neck, I tenderly massaged his scalp, attempting to coax him back to rest. But a telltale chuckle emanating from him shattered my efforts, echoing through the room. It was clear as the day that my persuasive tactics had failed.
God. When would I ever win from this man?
“It’s not working, baby,” he insisted, rising from the bed and pulling me up alongside him to sit. “We have to leave. Come on, let’s get you freshened up.”
“No, I just want to sleep!” I protested, attempting to recline once more, but his arm around my waist halted me mid-motion before he hoisted me up again.
What the fuck!
“You can sleep once we’re at the office,” Jacob chuckled, lifting me effortlessly and making a beeline for the bathroom without delay.
“You’re so cruel,” I cried out, feeling utterly defeated by this relentless wake-up call. He was being exasperating, yanking me out of bed like this. Did he not have a heart? Was I in love with a fucking heartless man?
“And you’re like a child in the morning,” he teased, settling me beside the sink. Still half-asleep, I tried to maneuver myself to slip away and dart back to bed. In my mind, I had the whole escape planned-a strategic retreat where I’d return to the warmth of the covers and lock him in the bathroom, granting myself a precious extra half-hour of sleep. But my grand scheme crumbled instantly because the moment my feet touched the floor, Jacob scooped me up as if I were a mere doll, swiftly placing me right back where he’d seated me a moment ago.
Okay. I hated him-For today.
“Stay,” he motioned with a finger, indicating for me to remain seated, and a frown etched across my face.
“Are you fucking ordering me now?!”
“Yes, I am,” he chuckled, a note of amusement in his voice as he turned on the faucet, dampened a towel, and positioned himself between my thighs, gently dabbing my face with it.
Ah, the cool water against my skin and eyes felt too good-as if my body had been silently yearning for this. Okay, my hatred had already been reduced to half.
“What would you do if I acted like a child?” he queried, now dabbing my eyes with utmost care, being careful and gentle. “I bet you’d resort to violence.”
“Shut up. I’m very kind.”
“Yeah, yeah, too kind,” he replied skeptically.
Did he not believe it? Man…I swear to god I’d kill him.
“Hey, what unkind thing have I ever done to you, huh?” I retorted, swatting his hand away, resting my hands on my hips, and shooting him a glare, feeling offended. I noticed his attempt to suppress a smile.
“So it’s gone, huh?”
“What?” I was puzzled; what was he referring to? “What’s gone?”
Was he crazy?
“Your sleep. It’s gone,” a grin spread across his face as he set the towel aside and rested his hands on the mirror behind me, effectively trapping me between his hands and his compelling gaze. God, I loved his eyes-they were the most perfect shade of green I’d ever seen.
“It doesn’t matter. I’d still much prefer to sleep,” I retorted, trying to stay put on my stubborn attitude despite knowing it wasn’t going to last long, but Jacob merely let out a small laugh.
“Evelyn, you’re still behaving like a kiddo,” he teased, nuzzling my nose before giving me a quick peck on the lips and moving to the side of the shower. “Now, cease your little tantrums and get ready. You were the one who insisted on seeing my office, so you can’t change the plan now. The sooner you get ready, the sooner we can leave.”
“But I’m hungry…” I sought out another excuse. “Why don’t you just order something while I take a tiny nap?” I pulled off fake puppy eyes, noticing a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
He approached me, his hands settling on my thighs as he leaned in, locking eyes. For a moment, my thoughts wavered, but I chose to focus on deciphering the expression on his face. However, as expected I failed.
“I regret to inform you, Evie, that even this excuse of yours is about to fail-the breakfast is ready on the table. You can go and satisfy your hunger,” a mischievous grin danced on his lips. “And if you want me to satisfy mine, you’re welcome to stay. I could do with that, you know. A man’s always hungry when he wakes up.”
My eyes widened slightly, and a blush crept up my cheeks.
“F-fine…” I found myself speaking almost instantly, “I’ll go and take…”
Before I could finish, Jacob interrupted, “You know what? I’m about to take a shower. Breakfast can wait, can’t it?” A smirk played on his lips.
“No, I’m hungry!” I blurted out, attempting to get off the counter, but he effortlessly lifted me up once again and headed for the shower.
“Jacob, this isn’t fair. I told you I’m hungry!”
“Only one of us can have their breakfast at a time, Evie. So let me have mine first, and then you can have yours. Besides, I know how to make you just as hungry very soon,” he slapped my arse and it made me gasp, then disappeared into the shower, closing the glass door behind him.