Page 8 of Breaking Rules

Pursing my lips, I take a step back and quietly close the door.Shit. How am I going to explain what I was doing? I can always say I came to check on the noise but didn’t see anything. Yup, that’s what I’ll say.

I definitely didn’t see his dick.

My cheeks flare hot again.

Really, Bella?

As I force myself down the hall, a thought strikes me. Where is Jake? He wouldn’t have just given Xander his key so he could fuck in his guest room. My boyfriend must be somewhere in the house. I take a deep breath and head to the living room. Immediately, I’m met with loud snoring, and a mix of relief and annoyance swirls in my stomach.

Jake is lying on the couch, still dressed in his shirt and black pants from yesterday.

I cross my arms over my chest and take him in, wondering yet again what I’m doing. We dated in high school, and after he went to college, I rarely saw him. I was perfectly fine without him in my life. In this moment, I can’t remember why I took him back. It certainly wasn’t so he could dismiss me when I spoke or ignore me when it suits him and then expect me to play along and pretend to be a happy couple.

The past should stay in the past.Isn’t that the rule I’ve always lived by?

Foot tapping, I bite the inside of my cheek. Should I help him get to our room? Should I wait for him to wake up? Maybe I should leave him like this and go to lunch with Meg, just to unwind. He’ll be mad if he wakes up and I’m not here, though, so in the end, it’s better if I stay.

With irritation running hot in my veins, I slowly shift closer to the couch and remove his sneakers. He mumbles, turns onto his back, and continues sleeping as if nothing happened.

“What a great way to spend my morning.” I pull a blanket from the back of the couch and cover him with it.

Straightening again, I scan the room. I love this place. I love the decor. Jake had no interest in decorating, so I chose the dark blue throw pillows, the gray curtains, and the black coffee table.

I clasp my hands and rock back and forth on my heels. If I’m being honest, I agreed to move in with him in the hopes I wouldn’t feel so lonely. It was too quiet in my apartment, my mind too loud. Since I was a little girl, all I’ve really wanted was for someone to care about me. It’s a craving deep in my soul.

A sudden snore tears me out of my thoughts. With a sigh, I saunter to the kitchen, resigned to waiting for Jake to wake up. I might as well make breakfast. But first, I need coffee.

* * *

The rich aromaof freshly made coffee fills the kitchen. Closing my eyes, I take a sip and savor the bitterness with a dash of almond milk. Perfect.

“So, you like coffee, and you like watching people fuck.”

Eyes flying open, I gasp when I come face-to-face with Xander.

He stands in front of me with a cocky smile on his full lips. “Which do you prefer? Porn or?—”

“I prefer not to find random people having sex in Jake’s guest room, especially when I had no idea someone was here at all.” I glare at him.

Brow arched, he says, “Did you think it was Jake?” The asshole is shirtless, his tattoos fully on display, black pants hanging low on his hips.

“That’s none of your business.” With a slow exhale, I bring my mug to my lips again.Patience, Bella. Patience.

“If you thought it was your boyfriend, your reaction was pretty indifferent. I would’ve expected you to storm in and?—”

“He wouldn’t do that to me.” My conversation with Meg comes to mind, and I swallow hard.

“Wouldn’t he?” Chuckling, he stalks closer. He props a hip on the kitchen counter beside me, standing so close, his body heat soaks into me as my cheeks redden. “Is there any chance you can make me a coffee too?”

“A coffee?” I repeat dumbly, suddenly transfixed by his features.

The lights last night were gaudy and harsh. Here, in broad daylight, I finally get a good look at him. His tousled, deep brown hair is a bit longer on top and shaved at the sides. His dark blue eyes are flecked with green and dancing with mirth. Rather than a full beard, like Jake, his chiseled jaw is covered in a light stubble.

“Yes.” He breaks into a smile, his pouty bottom lip a bit fuller than the upper one.

Staring at him for this long is a problem. The more I look, the harder it is to take my eyes off him. He’s astoundingly handsome.

“You’re eye-fucking me again.”

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