Page 13 of Always Heated

When I arrive at his house, I hesitantly open his front door. Since he told me he’d be asleep, I creep inside with dramatic tiptoe steps. I lock the door and slip off my shoes, leaving them next to his. I haven’t been here in a while. He has a new, dark brown leather couch with a matching recliner to the left of it. His TV is bigger than I remember, and I don’t recognize the coffee table. I vaguely recall it being glass, but this one is wood.

My eyes zero in on a note with my name on it sitting propped by a water bottle on the table.

Cass -

Please let Inferno in. There’s a bottle of white wine in the fridge, red is in the wine rack. Help yourself to coffee or anything in the kitchen. I’ll be up in a few hours.

Travis

A bark comes from outside, and I glance at the sliding door where Inferno is sitting. He’s such a good boy waiting for me, not pawing at the door as I approach. His manners disappear instantly as I let him in and he pounces on me as if he hasn’t been loved on in a year.

“Whoa, boy. Sit.” He listens immediately. “Good boy.” I scratch him behind the ear and I drop to one knee. “Want to have a reading date with me?”

I stand and Inferno rushes to his dog bed next to the couch, circling twice before laying down. There’s a rustling upstairs; Travis must be getting into bed. I walk light-footed to the kitchen and make myself a cup of coffee. At the beep of the coffee pot, Inferno pops off his bed and rushes for the stairs.

“Inferno!” I whisper-shout. “Get back here. Your daddy is trying to sleep!” I follow him up the stairs, hoping he won’t bother Travis; he had a hard few days with the fire and needs his rest. “Inferno, come here boy.” There are five doors, all open, and this mischievous dog could be anywhere. I peek inside one that is mostly storage, the next is a spare bedroom that’s void of any personality, another is filled with gym equipment. The last two are a bathroom and Travis’ room.

As I get closer, Travis is quietly talking to Inferno. “What are you up to, pup? Did the pretty blonde let you in? You know you shouldn’t be up here; my alarm hasn’t gone offyet. Off you go.”

Inferno comes happily barreling out of the room. I feel like such an asshole, and I step to his doorway, knocking on the open door. He’s in bed, shirtless, with the covers only to his hips. How this man has more muscles than a decade ago is beyond me. He got hotter, and my body got softer—it’s not fair. I should look away but I can’t.

Tongue tied, I manage, “Hey, sorry, I think the coffee pot sounded like your alarm.”

“That’s all right, I wasn’t asleep yet. Isn’t this your normal nap time? Want to join me?” Apparently, my seriously unattractive clothes aren’t enough to stop this man.

“You know that’s a terrible idea.”

“Why’s that?” Travis props himself onto his elbow and pulls back the comforter, revealing his gray sweatpants.At least he isn’t naked.Patting the bed, he teases, “Come on, it’ll be like old times.”

“Old times?” I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest. “You meanonetime.”

“Friends cuddle.” He pats the bed again. “I promise I won’t touch you. If you’d prefer, I can have Inferno join us, so you’re not tempted to kiss me. He’s a great cock block… or is it a pussy block? Either way.”

I’m fucking exhausted and his bed looks incredibly comfortable. What I wouldn't give for a power nap. “Fine. If you put a shirt on.”

Travis slides out of bed and crosses the room to his dresser, then flings open a drawer and pulls out two SLFD tees. His shoulders and back are sculpted from marble. Per usual, I can’t stop staring. He tosses one of the shirts at me and I catch it before it hits my chest.

“I’m already dressed.” I gesture to my sweatshirt.

Tugging on the tee, he mutters something about it being warm, but I only catch half of it muffled by the shirt. “I’ve seen you naked, but the bathroom is through there.” He thumbs to his ensuite.

I can’t tell if it’s a dare, but I’m not about to play whatever game this is. I rush past him to the bathroom and change into his shirt. It’s a mistake; it smells like him. Like a fucking weirdo, I pull the neck of the shirt to my nose and breathe it in. Friends can sniff each other’s clothes. It’s a thing. I’ve read about it somewhere.

If I keep to my side of the bed, everything will be fine.

Returning to the room, Travis is already under the covers, leaving me plenty of space to do the same. I slip off my engagement ring as I always do before I sleep or shower, and the moment my head hits the pillow, I can’t help the moan that escapes me—it’s the most comfortable bed I’ve ever been in.

“You can’t do that,” he growls.

I turn my head to face him. “Do what? You’re the one who told me to take a nap with you.”

“You can’t make sex noises in my bed, Cass.”

“Sex noises?” I bark out a laugh. “Should I avoid‘oh yes, right there’as well?”

“Yes.” He taps my ring finger on my left hand. “Until my ring is there, no sex noises.” Travis turns his back to me. “Night, wildcat.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You don’t get to casually drop that bit aboutyourring. You didn’t propose, you’ve never even asked me on an official date. This is the most we’ve talked in a year!”

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