Page 47 of Mistle-Ho

“You mean like inviting me for a sleepover?” I try to make it sound like sarcasm but fail epically. Even when I’m joking I sound serious, but this time I’m not making an attempt at teasing.

It’s actually insecurity running my mouth. Gavin’s a player. I knew that going into this and was fine with it. But Gavin doesn’t seem to be playing, and I don’t know what to do with that.

“I’ve spent way too much time imagining you in my bed to claim I haven’t thought this through, Al.” Gavin’s gaze swings my way, devouring me as we wait at the light to turn onto the road where he lives. “It might be the first thing I’ve thought through in a long fucking time.”

My belly flips at the sincerity in his tone, fluttering around my insides as his dark eyes hold mine. I’ve been ignoring the connection pulling us closer and closer. Pretending this was only some fun little fling. Just a couple of people making each other feel good. Scratching itches.

But it’s not. And as the light switches to green and we start moving, my little SUV slowing as we reach our destination, I have to consider my brother might not be the only one in over his head.

It’s dark enough outside I don’t get a great look at Gavin’s building, but it doesn’t take more than a glimpse to tell it’s nice. I knew where it was located, but since it’s on a dead-end road, the multi-story structure isn’t in a spot I’d need to pass. And, even though I was curious about the place Gavin called home, I had the willpower and self-restraint to keep my nosy ass to myself.

It seems like that’s the extent of what I possess where Gavin is concerned though, considering I always end up naked when we’re alone together.

We pull into the underground garage before I see much more than the sleek reflection of giant windows spanning the six or seven floors. Gavin slides my SUV into the spot next to his Hummer, then shuts off the engine.

He turns to me. “Ready to face the dinosaur?”

“Uhh.” I glance toward the elevator. “I thought you had something you wanted to show me.” My eyes narrow. “It’s not just your damn lizard, is it?”

“It’s not just my lizard. I really do have something to show you, but we need to secure the premises first.” Gavin gives me a wink as he opens his door. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.”

I trust him—really I do—but the dinosaur comment has me... Concerned.

By the time we’re standing in front of his door my stomach is in knots. My parents aren’t really pet people, so I haven’t spent much time around the cute cuddlies most people have in their lives.

Let alone the ones with scales.

“I’ll go in first.” Gavin punches a code into the fancy keypad on the door. “Stay behind me.”

I balk. “I thought you said it was locked in the bathroom?”

As much as I want to see Gavin’s home—and take him up on that cuddling offer—I’m regretting my decision to tag along.

“It should be.” Gavin gives me zero time to prepare before opening the door.

Fear has me latching onto the back of his shirt, using him as a shield as I follow him inside. My eyes dart around the space, but I’m not really seeing anything. Not when I’m worried a freakingdinosauris going to jump out at me any second.

I stick to Gavin like glue, white knuckling the cotton fabric stretched across his broad back. When we come to a stop, I peek around him. My stomach clenches at the sight of what must be the door to the bathroom in question.

“Ready?” Gavin lifts a brow at me.

“No.”

I don’t have to think about it. When my friends find out I willingly came within ten feet of a lizard, they’re going to take me to the hospital, sure I’ve been concussed.

Gavin grins. “Too bad.” He opens the door without doing a countdown or anything, and I get my first glimpse of his dinosaur.

“Holy shit.” The thing is almost as long as I am, but way better at climbing, because it’s currently perched on the shower curtain rod. Its head turns our way, revealing a scarred mess where one eyeball should be. A collection of additional scars are scattered across its muddy green hide. “Was it in a fight?”

Gavin slowly walks into the room and I have no choice but to follow. “I think it was someone’s pet and got too big so they set it free. It’s probably been on its own for a while, and there’s no telling what happened to it.”

“Awe.” A pang of sympathy hits me for the huge green monstrosity watching us with a squinted eye. “Why would someone do that?”

“People suck, Al.” Gavin stops in front of the tub/shower combo. “They bite off more than they can chew and walk away when it gets to be too much.”

I gasp when the lizard reaches one taloned hand toward Gavin. Then I gasp again when Gavin reaches back, gently collecting the reptile into his arms.

“Should you be holding it?”

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