Page 42 of Never You

“Do you hear me?” Bodi repeats.

“Yeah. Yeah, I hear you.”

“I’m gonna get us some coffee and save her the embarrassment of waking up hugging you like a damn koala with an audience. I’ve brought her bag to our room.” He points at the weekender now sitting on the floor. “I’m gonna see if I can buy us some clothes. I’ll be back in thirty minutes, yeah?”

He gets up, then gives me a mocking salute before he disappears through the door. The door closes with a heavy thud and Rae startles before she slowly stirs awake, now twisting and turning in my grip.

Her golden-brown eyes look up at me in confusion, then take in the room, before she quickly sits up, her cheeks turning pink.

“Oh, shit. I’m so sorry!” She pulls the sheets to her chin, even though she’s dressed, and a chuckle comes from my throat when I look at her flush of embarrassment.

She looks fucking adorable.

“Hey.” I place my hand on the small of her back. “It’s okay.”

“No. No, it’s not. You shouldn’t be cuddling with other girls! Your mom will hate me if she finds out.AndEmily.” She shoots me a look full of doubt.

I smile. “True. But there were ghosts, Rae. I couldn’t leave you unprotected, could I? Besides, my mom hates pretty much everyone.”

She snaps her head, meeting my gaze, before slapping my chest. “Shut up,asshole,” she scolds, though I can see a smile trying to creep in.

“Look, don’t worry about it. Just let me pick the hotel tonight, okay?”

Her lips purse, looking at me like they need to be kissed, and I move my attention back to her eyes to distract myself from the desire that’s lurking inside my body like the Big Bad Wolf, dying for a taste of Little Red Riding Hood.

“Yeah. Okay, that’s fine,” she complies, then gets out of the bed, making the sheets send a cold breeze over me. “Where is Bodi?”

“Getting coffee. It’s almost time to hit the road. He brought your stuff.”

I point to the bag, and a grateful smile slides into place on her face.

“That’s so sweet of him!” She grabs the bag from the floor, beaming.

Her hair is messy, and her face free from makeup, like a blank canvas. My dick appreciates her modest curves being hugged by her dark blue pajama shorts, and I flex my hands hard to get rid of nerves that run through them.

“I’m gonna go and take a shower, okay? I won’t be long.”

I nod my head, absently. “Yeah, of course.”

I watch her prance toward the bathroom, shamelessly checking her out.

Fucking hell, if this is how the rest of the week is going to be, I’m in serious trouble. She’s hot as fuck, and her perky little attitude only makes it more fun to get under her skin. But as much as I try to get under hers, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t compare to how badly she’s getting under mine without even trying.

Bodi is right.

I have a lot of shit to figure out.And I’m not sure if having Rae Stafford around me for the rest of the week is going to help me find peace—or if she will unleash the fury that might be waiting for me at the end of the road.

She might become the death of me.

But looking at her right now, it makes me believe I’d die a happy man.

“Jensen?” She twists her body around, meeting me with her fiery eyes, and I swear my heart stops for a split second when our gazes lock.

“Hmm?” I muse, licking my lips.

“Thank you,” she says, shyly, “for last night. I owe you one.”

My mind instantly goes into the gutter, wanting to take her up on that with her naked body pressed to mine. I tilt my head, narrowing my eyes at the thought of having her at my mercy.

---