Page 115 of One Big Little Secret

Until now, crumpled up on a fine plush mattress that feels worse than a prison bed.

It’s so dark I can barely see past my nose. The only light gleaming in comes from the distant stars on a moonless night. They all remind me I should be long asleep.

Instead, I’m here, flat on my back with Salem gently snoring away at the other edge of the bed, fighting a hard-on that could hit a home run.

Torture.

My brain sprints in a hundred directions, yet it always comes back to the same place, the same urge to take a great big bite of the forbidden fruit next to me.

If it wouldn’t wake her, I’d get up and creep down to the gym, where I’d beat my muscles to exhaustion and pass out in the locker room.

But I’m trapped here, staring at the goddamned ceiling with ten thousand dirty thoughts stretched out for miles.

And damn, the girl can sleep.

I know she wants me—the kiss she gave back told no lies, dammit—but clearly the thought of sharing a bed isn’t doing the same thing to her as it is to me.

Small relief. I think I’d be doubly screwed if Salem wanted it too, lying there wide awake next to me, but at the same time—

Fuck.

I try to wrench the oversized blankets from her, but sleeping beauty is apparently a lot stronger than any waking human.

She has them in a death grip, and yes, she hogs them all.

There’s no getting them back.

What the hell ever.

I’ll beam my frustration into the darkness, I decide, waiting for the sandman to show up and knock me out.

When I wake up next,it’s still dark and I’m warm.

Wait, why am I warm?

Velvety hair tickles my face. Notmyhair.

I blow it away from my mouth so I can breathe. When I open my eyes and my brain finally catches up with what’s happening, it’s a miracle I don’t yell.

Oh, no.

Oh, shit.

Salem Hopper.

She’s what’s happening.

Tucked up, invitingly warm, devilishly close Salem.

Maybe she’s just a cuddler by nature whenever she shares a bed.

Either way, she’s here now, up close and personal with her head on my chest and an arm slung over my stomach. She’seven hooked her leg over mine and my skin bristles under her smoothness.

Kill me.

This close, it’s impossible not to think of what could happen if either of us snapped right now.

It’s impossible not tosmellher.

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