“Aw, c’mon,” Dean muttered as his cheeks flushed. He couldn’t help but grin too, but ugh it was embarrassing. During those rare times when he was in a relationship he did love to cuddle and be affectionate, and it felt like it had been decades since he’d fallen asleep spooning someone, or had his hair petted, or anything like that. Not that he expected that stuff from Bailey, and given her reaction he suddenly felt stupid for bringing it up. “Nevermind,” he said, rolling onto his back. “I know you’re like, Bailey Badass, hardboiled detective, way too cool for that shit.” He kept his smile on so he didn’t look like a whiny little bitch about it. At least he knew now not to touch her while she was sleeping. Dean kept rolling to put his back to her, reaching for where his jeans had landed on the floor to fish his phone out.
The blush on his cheeks was kind of cute and Bailey chuckled softly at his obvious embarrassment. But she didn't want him to feel like he couldn't get comfortable, or suddenly want to leave. "Hey. I don't want to forget you asked," she said, snaking an arm over his stomach beneath the blanket to pull him back from whatever he was doing. Maybe he wanted to spoon or something. Was that snuggling? Would he laugh at her if he knew she had never really snuggled with anyone? Her ex-husband definitely hadn't been a snuggler and she hadn't even had many boyfriends before Pierce... or after. She had one night stands, or the occasional fuckbuddy that barely lasted beyond a few meetups. Maybe she did come across as too cool for this shit, or some ice queen or whatever it was he thought about her, but Bailey couldn't help it. Defensive walls were there for a reason.
"For the record, I'm only Bailey Badass because I don't really know how to be anything else. I don't... I haven't snuggled with anyone before. What if I'm some kind of body furnace and you pass out from the heat? What if I elbow you in the face in the middle of the night? What if I snore? I haven't shared a bed with anyone since I got divorced, so for all I know, I may be a really terrible snuggle partner."
Dean didn’t let her pull him back until he had his phone in hand, but then he turned onto his back again, looking at her once more, one brow raised. He wondered for a second if she was fucking with him -- who hadn’t ever snuggled with anyone in their life? Especially someone who’d been married? But Bailey’s tone sounded sincere enough. Maybe her ex had been a giant dick for multiple reasons. “Really? Never? That’s ... well I’m a good teacher, if you’re interested,” Dean offered with a little chuckle. “If you get too hot I’ll just shove you over to your side again, it wouldn’t be the first elbow I took to the face, and I’m used to snoring. You should hear Grady sawing logs. And I’m not --... I was just thinking like, spooning or something. You’ve really never done that before?” What kind of freak was she married to who didn’t want to cuddle up to his woman’s ass at bedtime on a chilly night?