Page 6 of While You Sleep

He leaned in now and pressed his lips to mine, taking me by surprise. He’d done the same after our date last Thursday as well. Just when I was about to walk away, he swung me back to him and planted one on me before I realized it was going to happen. I wasn’t a big fan of the sneak attack or making out on the street in front of everyone. His hand crept higher, and he swiped his tongue over my lips. I kept them firmly shut—because, good god, so much saliva—and grabbed his hand, stopping its steady progress.

His mouth went to my ear and he chuckled. “You don’t have to be shy, Soph. Besides, I want everyone to know you’re mine.”

His? I wasn’t so sure about that. We’d only been on two dates. Yes, I’d been trying to convince myself he and I should be a thing, but I wasn’t quite there yet, despite how nice and normal he was—how different he was from my father and the men who surrounded him.

He lifted his head and looked down at me, a kind of wild look in his eyes. “You know what happens on the third date, don’t you, baby?” he said, his voice all deep.

It took me a minute to work out his meaning, then the light bulb flicked on.

Oh shit. He thought we were going to have sex.

He winked and smirked at my dumbfounded expression. “I’ve gotta go, but I’ll pick you up at seven.” Then he sauntered off down the street.

I stood there, not completely sure how things had progressed this fast. We’d literally only kissed a couple of times and now he expected sex? A car horn blared, jolting me out of my stupor. I took off, speed walking in the other direction. Is that what I wanted? Did I want to have sex with Brian? Last week I would have said yes, now…I wasn’t as sure.

And that’s why you’re still a freaking virgin.

Fiona said I was too picky, but she was wrong. It wasn’t like I’d been saving myself for Mr. Right, it just hadn’t happened yet. Yes, I was shy, but I’d been working on that. Backing out of this date would be taking a giant step backward, wouldn’t it? It wasn’t exactly my fault I was so inexperienced. It was hard to meet a guy you could get serious with when you had a family like mine. It wasn’t like I could take him home to meet my father. Then there were my sleep issues. I’d have to tell whoever I slept with that I might give them a black eye in the night or scream suddenly or make some other weird noise. They’d have to put up with me napping or randomly falling asleep, and always sleeping in. The only other option was sending him packing as soon as the deed was done so as to never fall asleep around any guy I had sex with.

Would Brian run for the hills when he found out what my family was? When I told him about my sleep disorders? I wouldn’t blame him.

I needed someone who loved me enough to see past all of it, someone who’d take me away from this city and start a new life. Failing that, someone strong enough to protect me from the world I was part of, but I wasn’t sure a man like that existed.

I shook my head as I pulled my phone from my pocket. I was way ahead of myself. It was just a few dates, we were so far from meeting the parents, if it ever even came to that. I checked the screen and smiled.

Dean: How was your day?

I’d dropped my wallet at the bar last weekend and was frantic when I realized I’d lost it. Dean had found it at the table we’d been sitting at, and he’d used my driver’s license to look me up on Instagram, then messaged me, saving my ass completely. We’d struggled to find a time to meet up, so I’d asked Sharon, who owned the coffee shop, if he could leave it there. She’d happily agreed. It turned out Dean was a really cool guy and funny. We’d been talking most days for almost two weeks. I guess we were friends now.

Me: My client loved the web design. I’m starting to actually believe this could be a career for me.

Dean: Yeah, it could, and if anyone says different, I’ll take them out.

There was a water gun, a bomb, and a snake emoji at the end. I laughed, shaking my head.

Me: Good to know. If I need anyone taken care of, you’re my guy.

Dean: Don’t you forget it. Customer just drove in. Talk later.

Dean was a mechanic. The garage had been his father’s, and after he died, he and his brother had taken over. He’d shared that with me during one of our late-night texting sessions.

I got in my car and headed home. I had more work to do before I got ready for my date. I’d been designing websites and making graphics for people since I was in high school. I hadn’t wanted to spend years in college, so I’d taken some design courses after graduation, building on what I already knew. It was important to me to be independent, to make my own money, to show Dad I could do it on my own.

I thought about Brian again and my belly churned, and not in a good way. What the hell was wrong with me? I had a good-looking, sweet guy interested in me. My virginity wasn’t the freaking crown jewels. I didn’t need to keep my hymen under lock and key for a special occasion. What I did…who I did, was my own freaking business. I needed to break the damn seal, grow the hell up, and get on with it.

* * *

Several hours later, I’d finished the graphics I’d been commissioned to do and stood in front of the mirror, studying my reflection.

I felt as if I were playing dress-up. Fiona loaned me one of her dresses. It was short and low cut, and I wasn’t sure I could pull the look off, but Fi didn’t think anything of mine was sexy enough for the date, and I knew she was right. My stomach gripped. Walking around like this would send my father into a rage.

He wouldn’t know, though, how would he? Plus, I had a long coat to cover myself until we got to the restaurant.

Slipping on my sandals, I checked my lipstick, then popped it in my bag. I wasn’t sure where we’d end up tonight, if he’d come back here or if we’d go to his place. I still wasn’t completely convinced, but if things between us did progress, I planned to be safe. I took the unopened box of condoms from my drawer and tore one off. Would one be enough? I had no idea. I grabbed a strip instead and shoved them in my purse. I’d be honest, explain I had a sleep thing, and that I wasn’t comfortable sleeping over yet. Though, I wondered if perhaps it’d gotten a bit better recently. It’d been a long time since I woke with an injury. It used to be most mornings I woke with bumps and bruises, occasionally a cut or two. In the last year, it’d only been maybe once a month.

My phone chimed.

Dean: My brother’s having a party and some fucking amateur just puked outside my bedroom door. Gonna have to crack some skulls.

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