Page 28 of Saving Jared

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“Mmm.”Willa stretched her arms out in front of her, then rubbed her nose with the back of her hand as she slowly opened her eyes to the still-darkened room. Then she shifted her shoulders against the solid, heated weight at her back, before running her fingers over the muscled, hairy arm banded around her, holding her snuggly in place.

Jared.

And if realizing she’d had sensuous, mind-blowing—how would she ever live without it again—sex couldn’t wake a girl up, nothing could. And she was now most definitely awake. But she shouldn’t have fallen asleep in his bed. Kinsley tended to rise early and, knowing her best friend, she’d be coming into Willa’s room as soon as she got up. God, if Kinsley ever found out about this, she would never let Willa hear the end of it.

“What time is it?” she murmured.

“Almost five,” came Jared’s sleep-roughened voice.

"I’m sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." She tried to keep her voice low as she listened for any signs anyone else was up. Jared probably wasn’t too keen on anyone knowing she was in here either. And lord knows what Jude would have to say.

Nothing good.

This must be how all those awkward mornings afters she’d heard so much about started.

"That’s okay." He stretched behind her then dragged her closer, pressing all kinds of wonderful—naked—things along her back and parts lower.

"Oh god. I’m naked and in bed with Jared McComb."

"Mmm-hmm," he murmured nuzzling into her hair. "You are. And I like it." How much he liked it was evident from the hard ridge pressing into her butt and the way his hand took possession of her breast like he owned it. After last night, maybe he did. Just like he now owned the rest of her body. The question was, did he want to keep it? Keep her?

"I didn’t mean to say that out loud."

"I’m glad you did. Hmm…" His fingers traced around the swell of her breast.

"What?"

"I don’t feel it. I thought I’d at least be able to make out some of the flowers."

"My tattoo?"

"Mmm-hmm. I have to ask, why did you get it?"

"My mom." His fingers stilled as she quietly continued. "Hyacinths were her favorite flowers, and I wanted something close to my heart that would honor her."

"It’s beautiful," he said, tracing over it again—his fingers almost unerringly following the pattern on her skin. "It surprised me."

She chuckled. "It surprised my brothers too. The only person who knew about it was Kinsley, but she was there when I got it too. So…" Maybe she shouldn’t have said that.

"And why doesn’t that surprise me. Wait." His hand stilled in its exploration of her breast. "Did she get one too?"

Willa grinned. Kinsley had gotten a tattoo that day as well—sisters in solidarity and all—but in a much more interesting place. But that wasn’t something she was about to divulge to her brother. "I think you need to ask her."

"She did." His deep sigh scrubbed his scruffy chest against her back. "Do I want to know?"

"Probably not," she said on a quiet laugh. "And please don’t let her know I let the cat out of the bag."

"I won’t," he said, once more taking his time playing over her breast before moving his hand down her abdomen, sending her senses on overdrive. But as much as she wanted to spend more time with him, time wasn’t something they had a lot of.

“Jared, I think I’d better get back to my room.”

“Why?” His broad hand spread over her belly and rubbed over her sensitive skin.

“Well,” she said, running her fingers down his arm and laying her hand on top of his. “There’s your brother whose room I have to pass, and I bet he’ll be getting up soon." Willa traced his rough fingers and marveled at how gentle they could be. “And don’t forget Kinsley’s room is right beside mine. I don’t want her to hear me.”

“You weren’t worried about anyone hearing you a few hours ago.”

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