Page 31 of Changing the Play

I’m debating the merits of waking him up and then running out of my bedroom like my ass is on fire when he groans and rolls to his back.

A strange mix of relief and absolute disappointment washes over me.

Mission accomplished, though, I guess. At least now, he’s not going to wake up hating me for… whatever the fuck is happening to my dick right now.

Chapter 10

Darcy

Iwake up to slight movement under me and shallow breaths. Panic fills my entire body when I realize what’s going on. I’m sprawled across West, my face tucked against his neck, my hard dick pressing into his hip.

Oh crap. Oh this is not good at all.

With an annoyed groan, I roll to my back, trying to pretend I’m not awake. That I didn’t somehow fall asleep in bed next to West. Thatthisisn’t happening at all. Maybe if I just don’t move and pretend I’m still asleep, I won’t have to face the reality of what I’ve done.

I almost break when I hear West whisper, “Oh holy fuck.”

I only barely resist cringing. I am so stupid.

His voice is raspy in the morning, and that’s something I truly didn’t need to know about him. Maybe if I just sit up, I can pretend it didn’t happen. Doubtful, though.

I’m still debating what I should do when there’s movement beside me. I force deep, even breaths, trying to keep up the facade. I’m seconds away from opening my eyes and forcing myself to face the reality of my current life when something brushes my cheek.

I only just barely keep my face neutral. I think my shock more than anything makes it possible. I tune in to West’s deep breathing when there’s another slight touch along my cheekbone.

Oh God. Is he… is he touching my face?

There’s a shaky inhale, and then the pads of his fingers drift from my cheekbone to my temple and then down to my jaw. I work impossibly hard to stay still and not react.

It’s made even more difficult when he breathes out a near silent, “Wow,” and moves. I can feel his breath on my jaw and my stomach tightens, a slow curl of heat spreading through me at how close he is.

I was hard when I woke up. That was out of my control, I’d venture to guess, but this is no longerthat. And is definitely a problem that is getting worse by the feel of his gentle breath against my skin and the warmth of his fingers.

I want to open my eyes and look at him. I want to see the expression on his face, but I’m scared. Terrified, actually. There’s a brush of fingers against my throat, entirely too close to where my pulse is fluttering wildly.

West makes a frustrated sort of sound and pulls away. I can’t see his face, but I can almostfeelhis reluctance to stop touching me, and I’m not sure what to make of that. He sits up, exhaling hard, and before I can process what’s happening, his weight is gone and he’s leaving the room.

Now what? Do I jump up and try to run away? Do I sit up and pretend I just woke up? I have no idea what the protocol is, but I know I can’t lie here and pretend to sleep anymore. So when I hearhis approaching footsteps in the hall, I force my eyes to flutter open slowly, stretching my arms above my head.

I never was a great actor, so it’s anyone’s guess if he buys the act. I can only hope he’s too preoccupied with whatever he’s got going on to pay too much attention to me.

West stops in his tracks as his eyes lock on mine. We just stare at each other in silence for a few minutes, and I have the almost overwhelming urge to apologize. I sit up, tossing the blanket off myself before climbing out of bed.

“Where are you going?” West asks, breaking the silence, and I nearly jump out of my skin.

“Uh, home?”

He blinks at me a couple of times. “Oh. Okay.” Why does he sound so disappointed? Not doing good things to my heart at all. “I was hoping we could go get coffee. Well, I guess tea for you.”

My heart skips an actual beat. “Okay, yeah. I’m good with that.” It looks like he almost sags in relief. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable last night,” I force myself to say.

“What do you mean?” he asks carefully. Too carefully. He knows exactly what I’m talking about.

“Well,” I start, swallowing hard and dropping my eyes. “I—uh, didn’t mean to fall asleep here last night. And I know I can be a bit of a koala in the middle of the night. Parker hates sleeping with me because of it.”

“Parker?” West’s voice sounds a little choked, so I look up, and he’s staring at me, jaw clenched tight, the fingers of his left hand tapping against his palm. “You’ve slept with Parker?”

“Yes? Multiple times.”

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