Page 65 of Embody

Twenty-One

JT

NOT THAT Idon’t appreciate all their help, but damn am I glad the Squad’s finally gone. Bellamy and I, alone at last, in her new apartment. She’s acting strange, and I’m sure I have the pow-wow Skylar and Presley held with her in the bathroom earlier to thank. Lord only knows what those two put in her head, but I’m determined to get her mind off it.

“So, you like? Everything where you want it?” I sit beside her on her new couch and ask.

“Everything’s perfect and I absolutely love it. Thank you again,” she answers in a hushed voice, avoiding eye contact with me.

“I got you a housewarming present,” I reach around the end of the couch and grab the gift bag, made up all fancy-like by the lady at the store.

She peers over out the corner of her eye, fighting a smile, and gradually looks up to meet my gaze. “You’ve already done so much for me, why a present too? You shouldn’t have.”

“I wanted to,” I scoot closer to her. “Why don’t you open it?”

I set the bag in her lap, but she doesn’t dive right in, instead staring at it like something poisonous might pop out at any second. Not that I’ve ever bought a girl a present before, but I have seen the females in my family open plenty, so I was expecting more of a squealing, tissue paper flying everywhere type of response.

“Bellamy, it’s not a Christmas present,” I laugh, “You’re supposed to open it now.”

“Whatever it is, thank you,” she murmurs before slowly starting to take the paper out piece by piece.

I watch eagerly, for what seems like the forever it takes her to get to the gift at the bottom, and tame my chuckle when her cheeks blush charmingly.

“Uh…um…wow,” she sputters, lifting the white lingerie set out of the bag. I didn’t care what it was called, made of or cost—which the saleslady described in full detail anyway—it’s sexy as fuck and I knew it was perfect for Bellamy the second I saw it.

“Now you own lingerie,” I skim a fingertip along the outside of her thigh. “Did I do good?”

I hear her gulp before she all but whispers, “It’s gorgeous. I don’t know what to say.”

“Well you already said ‘thank you’, so not that,” I tease her. “You don’t have to say anything, I just hope you really like it. You’re a kind, beautiful woman, Bellamy. You deserve nice things. Keep digging though, there’s something else in there.”

This one I’m a little nervous about, but I simply couldn’t help myself.

She scrounges around and pulls out the notecard, and with her sweet face a bright crimson, reads it aloud. “‘This coupon grants the holder, Bellamy Morgan, the right to use Jefferson Kendrick as a sex toy, any place, time, or way she chooses.’ Oh. My. God,” she drops it and covers her face with both hands.

“Now you have a sex toy too. Also,” I tap her leg, “that bad boy never expires and I personally guarantee, will never malfunction nor will the batteries ever go dead.”

She doesn’t laugh.

Or uncover her face.

Shit.Too far, too soon.

“Bel-”

“No, no more talking,” she mumbles through her hands. “Just give me a minute.”

All I can do is sit and wait in silence, mentally berating myself during the several excruciating minutes it takes before she shows me her beautiful face. She looks right at me, but I have no idea what it is stirring in her emerald eyes, and my palms begin to sweat.

“I want you to be honest with me,” she says evenly.

“Of course, always,” I readily agree.

“Housewarming gifts usually consist of pots, pans, or a fucking candle! Why did you choose, instead, to get me see-through lingerie and a sex coupon?” Her brows fold and those bowtie lips purse as she asksnotso evenly.

“Because I’m a guy?” I hitch both shoulders. “You told me that you don’t own either, so I thought it’d be nice…cute. Fuck,” I groan, scrubbing both hands through my hair. “I’m sorry, Bellamy. I guess I wasn’t thinking. I just figured maybe you’d like some nice lingerie, and the other was meant to be funny. I’ve never bought a gift for someone I’m seeing before, which I now realize, was a damn good thing. How mad are you?” I lift my head to gauge her reaction, giving her my very best “forgive me” eyes.

Her own narrow disapprovingly and she scoots away from me, crossing both arms over her chest. “Did you pack a bag, hoping to spend the night here?”

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