Page 32 of Beauty Sleep

“Mmm?”

“I’m proud of you.”

That’s it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to hear.

Any tension I had left—hell, any tension Ieverhad—melts away. I can’t manage words, but a soft, happy moan slips free.

“Sweet dreams, Beauty.”

Maybe my life is the good kind of fairytale after all… and it’ll have the kind of ending I’ve always wanted.

Chapter

Twelve

BRIAR

I’m proud of myself.

My roommates left an hour ago for pre-drinks and the Vibes party, and I’m exactly where I want to be.

And this time, I told them. No moremaybeorummmorwe’ll see. JustI don’t want to come tonight.Which is only true for one of the definitions of the wordcome… but they don’t need to know that.

Despite the rain outside, my window is cracked open enough to be pushed the rest of the way. And I left my bedroom door unlocked, too. That way, Prince has his choice of entrances… so to speak.

Thump.

The front door slams open and hits the other side of my bedroom wall. My whole body twitches with surprise like a fish marooned on the rocks, and then I catch myself.

Damn it, I’m supposed to be asleep!

I collapse into the pillows again, flailing around as I try to artfully-yet-casually arrange all my limbs on the mattress.

“Briiiiiar!”

My heart instantly sinks.

Shit. That’s not Prince. It’s Robby, and he’s hollering at the top of his lungs, hammering on my bedroom door.

“Hey, old man! Wake up!”

Shit. Did something happen at the bar? “What? Give me a second!” I call back, worry rising in my throat as I scramble to find my boxers.

It’s only been an hour. What the hell could have happened for him to come back? For me, of all people? Among the many other things I’mnot: a first aider, legal expert, or bondage professional.

I’m just tugging my waistband into place when I hear laughter echo in the front hall.

“Assholes,” I grumble, marching for my bedroom door. I can’t believe I was actually worried for a second. They’d better have a good reason for interrupting my private time—er, I mean,sleep—tonight, of all nights.

I wanted everything perfect and ready for Prince… including me. And thanks to these dumbasses, my hard-on has basically fled to start a new life abroad.

“You’ll wanna hear this?—”

“Hear what?” I demand, yanking open the door. I’d like to think I’m glaring at them, but I’m really just blinking like an owl into the blinding hallway light.

“This!” Robby shoves something into my hand. They’re suddenly all quiet—or as quiet as they can be when the air is crackling with excitement.

“It better be a winning lottery ticket,” I grumble as I squint down at the paper in my hand. It’s a flyer for tonight’s party—and it’s weirdly sticky.

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