Page 57 of Hard to Take

She stifles a laugh at my appearance.

“What?” I protest as I glance down at the borrowed pajamas that are comically short on me.

“You’re definitely taller than Jay.”

“Six-four.”

“And a half.”

I grin.

“Is Waffles okay?”

"Yeah. He’s out cold in the guest room. Thanks for the hospitality." I try to keep my tone light, even as my pulse quickens. I'm hyper-aware of how close we are, how easy it would be to reach out and touch her.

"I should thank you. You gave me a place to stay all month."

"Why didn’t you move in here?" I ask, even though I'm selfishly glad she didn't.

She cringes. "That would mean living under my mom's expectations, her rules. I wanted to call my own shots and you gave me that.”

She takes a step backward, and I follow.

"And thank you for having my back."

The look in her eyes is a confusing mix of emotions. I want nothing more than to pull her close, to show her how I feel. But I'm acutely aware of where we are, of her family sleeping nearby, of her brother down the hall.

“It’s a damned privilege to have your back. Not only because it looks every bit as good as your front.”

Before I can talk myself out of it, I capture her hand and tug her toward me. The house is silent except for the heater running, dark except for the soft glow of holiday lights through the curtains. I'm lost in her eyes, so beautiful and earnest.

I kiss her.

She inhales in surprise, but her hands skim up my abs to my pecs.

I groan, desire warring with caution. "Princess, we can't do this here."

“You started it,” she breathes.

“Fuck. I know.”

I can't resist her.

I pull the door closed behind me.

Then I'm kissing her again, my hands diving into her hair as I tip her face up to mine. She tastes like mint and something that’s only Brooke.

"I don't know if I can handle you in my brother's pajamas," she whispers.

"I'll take them off," I murmur back as I kick them down my legs with a grin. “Please handle me.”

Her laugh against my mouth is the best fucking feeling in the world.

We stumble across the carpet, and I unbutton her top and push it off her shoulders. The shorts are next, falling in a heap at her feet with a tug from my fingers.

I lift her and wrap her legs around my hips to carry her the rest of the way to the bed.

"Where are you going?" she demands as I set her down and take a step back.

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