Page 16 of Catching the Heiress

Her red-stained lips had been fuller. She has the kind of lips that make you think about sex. Her eyes too. No one's eyes should ever be that dark of a blue. It was a stark contrast to her pale skin.

Everything about her is perfect, including her heart-shaped face and her small nose that is slightly upturned. Her cheeks are full, making her look oh so innocent.

“Oh yeah, there is only one bed,” she reiterates.

“And you can have it.”

I’m a bastard. I’d taken the spare bedroom bed out and stashed it in my shed.

“I can’t take your bed. I’ll take the couch.”

“You’ll be in the bed whether you get into it willingly or I put you in it.”

Paisley licks those strawberry red lips. “You’re kinda bossy.” She leans close, dropping her voice like someone else might hear her. “I like it.”

“Good.”

I take her empty plate. “Go get ready for bed. I put your stuff at the end of the bed.”

“Okay.” She starts to get up but snags her foot on the leg of the chair. I catch her before she can faceplant. Her soft tits press against me. “Oopsy daisy.” Paisley presses a kiss to my chin. “Thank you.”

I release her from my hold before I do something I can’t take back. Then she’ll wake up and hate me. I might have been a bastard with the motel and bed, but I can keep my hands mostly to myself.

She takes off toward the bedroom. Tigger follows after her. I clean up the kitchen before shutting the house down. When I enter my bedroom, Paisley is already passed out. Her shorts are on the floor next to a bra. The only thing she has left on is her white cotton panties and her shirt.

I run my hand down my face. This is either going to be the worst night of sleep or the best. Either way I don’t give a fuck.

One day back in Cottonwood and I already have my little princess right where I wanted her.

In my bed.

10

PAISLEY

“Princess.” A soft touch runs down my jaw. “Need you to wake up, babe. Only for a few seconds.” My eyes flutter open at the deep voice. They lock with Jackson’s. I thought maybe I’d dreamed him up. Nope, he’s standing over me with a concerned expression on his handsome face. The night before comes flooding back to me.

“Hi.” I sit up quickly, almost knocking my head into his, but he’s quick and moves back out of the way. “I, ah—” I brush my hair out of my face. I bet I look like a total mess while he on the other hand looks like he could be on the cover of a military promo to recruit. Why does he have to be so damn handsome?

“Your sensor is going off.” He holds up one of my insulin injection pens.

“Oh.” I search for my phone, pulling the blanket back. My phone always gets lost in bed with me. When I flip the blanket back, I quickly pull it back over me. Heat rushes to my face knowing Jackson saw me in my underwear. They’re not even good underwear! I suddenly wish I could pull the covers over my head and become invisible. When the hell did I ditch my shorts?

“I already saw it. No point hiding it now.”

“Oh God.” I cover my face with my hands. “I’m sorry,” I try to say. I think it comes out muffled, but Jackson understands it.

“Nothing to be sorry for. I wasn’t going to complain.” I peek through my fingers at him. He’s got my pen in one hand and my phone in the other. The sensor alarm is dinging again. “Need you to take your meds, babe.”

That’s two babes and one princess. Are these pet names or something he calls everyone? I get a sour feeling in my stomach that I blame on the drinks from last night and not jealousy. Because having jealousy over Jackson would be nutty. He’s not mine. I don’t even know him. How could I be jealous?

I drop my hands from my face to take the pen from him. He hands me my phone too so that I can check my numbers for myself before I take the injection. Once I’m done, Jackson takes the pen back from me.

“How’s your head?”

“It’s actually fine.” I say. Surprisingly, I feel pretty good today. That’s when I remember him feeding me and having me drink water and take Advil last night before I crashed.

“All right.” He nods to the nightstand. “I put some water there if you need it.”

---