Page 42 of Trust Me

“Yeah?” I ask, swallowing harshly. I want so badly to lie in bed with her, feel her heartbeat against my own, ensuring that she’s okay.

“What are you doing?” She yawns, propping up on her elbow. It’s then that I notice she changed into a gray tank top, with no fucking bra on.

I do everything I can to keep my eyes on hers as I reply, “I was checking on you. Go back to sleep.”

I’m about to leave when her raspy voice speaks up once more. “Wait.”

I turn my head over my shoulder. “What do you need?”

She folds her lips together, her eyes bouncing between mine. “It’s silly, but my dad would always lie with me when I was sick and read me a story. I’ve been alone all day and I…” she trails off.

“You want me to lie with you?” My words are clipped, afraid to show her how much I wish she meant them in a different way.

“Oh, God,” she lies back, throwing her hands over her face. “Forget I said anything. This flu is making me delusional.”

Seeing her so embarrassed has me moving before I can think it through, dipping onto the mattress.

She peeks at me through her hands at the feel of my weight on the bed. “You don’t have to. I know it’s probably weird for you.”

It’s not weird for me in the way she’s thinking. It’s weird because I want to touch and kiss her. To say to hell with that line we can’t cross.

But I’m finding myself caring less about the line these days. After seeing her like this, and the urge I feel to take care of her, it’s made me realize how deeply I long for this woman.

It goes beyond how any “friend” should feel.

I lie beside her, careful not to let our arms brush against one another. “Pass me your book. Let me read to you.”

“Not a chance.” She chuckles, the sound like a breath of fresh air after worrying about her all day. “Tell me about practice, and I’m sure I’ll be able to fall asleep.”

“Give me the book, Jasmine,” I demand, motioning for her to give it to me.

She surprises me by rolling over to her nightstand and grabbing the book that is on top of it.

I take it from her and open it up to where the bookmark is. “Ready? You’re tucked in and cozy?”

She rolls her eyes. “Just read the damn thing so I can fall back asleep.”

I begin reading in a soft voice. The male character is a hockey player, and he’s currently about to smash his girlfriend’s ex into the boards for being an asshole to her.

I find myself interested in the plot, wanting to know more. I also find it interesting that she’s reading a hockey romance novel, but I’m not going to tease her about it right now.

Jasmine’s breathing eventually turns soft and shallow, so I stop. Turning to look at her, I see that she’s fallen asleep. I want so badly to press my lips to her forehead, knowing damn well that I can’t.

The feeling confuses me, as I’ve never wanted to care for a woman this way. Not until her.

Ignoring it, I get up and take the book with me to my room. I spend the rest of the night reading, memorizing her tabbed pages until the early morning, finishing it around 3:00 a.m.

I was intrigued by the spicy scenes in particular, wondering if that’s the kind of thing Jasmine is into.

Obedient, rough, and dirty.

Because if so? She might be my perfect woman.

Chapter 20

Jasmine

I’m currently studying on the couch, the cats lounging around the living room with me. They miss Elio. That much is obvious. They’ve been less playful since he left yesterday morning for an away game the team has this weekend.

---