Page 41 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

Tessa sat on the chair, a toiletry bag and some folded clothing on her lap. She scanned my pajamas. “I see your love of roleplaying games extends to your sleepwear.”

I glanced down at the D20s printed on my pajama pants and my T-shirt with the words,This is how I roll.I thanked my past self for tossing my nerdiest sleepwear into my bag. No one could be turned on by tabletop gaming. The tension in my shoulders eased, and even my erection flagged. I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a geek, twenty-four seven.”

Was that another smile that teased her lips? I’d seen more smiles from her this evening than in the two months we’d worked together.

When she disappeared into the bathroom, I hung my suit in the closet. I grabbed the extra pillows from the top shelf and took them back to the bed. It was big enough for two if I took precautions.

Leaving one pillow at the head on each side, I lined up the spares in a double layer down the middle. I pulled back the covers on the right side, the one farthest from the bathroom and closest to the door, and lay down. All I could see to my right was pillows. Good.

I left the lamp on so she could see when she came out and closed my eyes. The sound of the shower was soothing as long as I didn’t picture her in it. Naked, soap suds trailing over her freckles.

Groaning, I pulled the pillow from under my head and smashed it over my face. I’d never get to sleep if I thought about her naked body. Or our kiss. Or kissing her in the shower.God!

I flipped, turning my back to the bathroom. I picked up my phone from the nightstand. I double-checked my alarm, then I switched to my messaging app. I’d text Andrew to keep my mind off my new, temporary roommate.

Hey

I waited a minute. Then I checked my email and responded to a question from Yujun. When I switched back to my messaging app, there was no response from Andrew. He was probably snuggled up with Carly. Maybe they were having sex.

Ugh!I scrubbed the image from my mind.

“You built a…pillow fort?” Tessa’s voice behind me made me jump.

Without turning, I said, “It’s safer.”

She chuckled. “Safetyisyour thing.”

“Of course it is.” It had been even before Simon’s accident. I set my phone face down on the nightstand and bunched up the pillow under my head.

Behind me, the mattress rustled, and there was a slight tug on the comforter.

“This pillow is too flimsy,” she muttered.

“No, it’s not,” I lied.

“Look, I’m too old to sleep with my head at a weird angle. I’m going to take a pillow from the bottom of the bed. I promise not to kick you.”

“Fine,” I muttered.

More rustling. “Turn off the light?”

I reached up and flipped the switch. But the darkness only made it easier to imagine her slender curves on the other side of the pillows. What was she wearing? What position did she sleep in? I hugged the pillow tighter, willing it to inflate to support my neck.

It didn’t. I sighed.

“Wishing we were fucking right now?” she asked.

Pretending to be halfway asleep, I grunted.

She sighed. “Me too, friend. Me too.”

Idreamed I was in a bed of roses, without thorns and spiky leaves, only the blooms. They were soft, pillowy, and so fragrant that when I woke, the scent of roses lingered in my nostrils.

So did a tickly bit of hair. I blew it off my nose.

Then I realized my face was buried in Tessa’s hair, and it was what smelled like roses.

I forced myself to remain still as I assessed the situation. My heart rocketed when I realized I was pressed against her from chest to toes. One arm was flung across Tessa’s middle. She wore something satiny that felt smooth against my skin. My other arm, numb and unresponsive, was shoved under her pillow. My knees were pressed up to the back of hers. And my dick? It was anything but asleep, nestled against her ass.

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