Page 157 of Switched

I saw the looks she was exchanging with Rueben up here before he was practically dragged away out of the room to give us some time alone with each other.

I can’t lie. I’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t need anything like that with me.

It won’t be a big surprise, but it’ll still hurt.

I’m used to being picked last in teams.

I’m used to being overlooked and underappreciated.

The wing man, the middle brother, the bronze medallist.

I go back into Sapphire’s room with low expectations and an open mind.

I find her sitting up in bed in an oversized shirt, lamp on her nightstand the only light in the room.

“Aren’t you going to be warm in all that?” she asks, motioning to my T-shirt and pajama bottoms.

Closing the door behind me, I take off the shirt. “Is that better?”

Her eyes drift down my body, and I can tell she’s interested.

Not at all like Scarlett.

Not one little bit.

I smile as I approach, dropping my T-shirt on the carpet.

She moves in a little, giving me room, before she flips back the duvet to reveal the empty mattress beside her, and, coincidentally, most of her bared leg.

It looks like she isn’t wearing underwear under that baggy shirt.

“If you’re not tired …”

“Oh, I’m tired,” I assure her, before I take the plunge and get into the bed beside her.

The mattress creaks a bit, but the frame is decent enough.

She pushes the cover over me and lies down facing me.

“Will you hold me?” she asks as if she’s desperate to be held.

I lie down and wrap my arm around her middle.

She snuggles up closer, until her perfume is all I can breathe in, and it’s the sweetest, purest scent I’ve ever smelt. I hold her close, and I close my eyes.

She feels like she’s mine, like she belongs to me.

The one woman on this planet who’s meant for me.

My true mate. We’re fated to be together.

Nothing can change that.

Chapter ninety-three

Sapphire

I fall asleep wrapped up in Scout’s arms, and I wake up the same way. Well, almost. The one item of clothing I was wearing has gotten pushed up around my arms which are at the side of the pillow, so I might as well be naked.

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