Page 21 of One Spicy Summer

How can I say no to this girl?

Easy… I can’t.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I make sure her door is locked. I don’t need Rafe or her parents walking in to find their daughter pressed up against me, because that’s exactly where she’s going to be.

So close you won’t be able to tell where I end and she begins.

She weighs nothing, light as a breath, so it’s easy to peel the covers back with her still in my arms. I lower her gently into bed.

“What do you want to put on?” I ask.

She nibbles her bottom lip in that way I like but says nothing. Her eyes flick to my shirt.

Yeah… that one. The one I’m still wearing.

I’d give her my skin if she asked for it. “Use your words, Princess.”

She huffs and mutters, “Can I wear your shirt?” Rolling her eyes like I’m the problem.

“If you wanted it, all you had to do was ask, but it’s wet.”

“Ididask. With my eyes. You’re the one who needed tohearit, Ry and I don’t care if it’s wet.”

That sarcastic tone always gets me. Always makes me grin.

“In case you haven’t noticed, I like it when you do what I say... like the good girl I know you are,” I tease, pulling the shirt over my head and handing it to her.

She takes it, pressing it to her nose like she needs it to breathe. “Intoxicating,” she mumbles, slipping it over her head.

“What’s intoxicating?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“There you go again, Rygaard. Always needing me to say things out loud. Newsflash: I’m not your obedient, little submissive,” she says, falling back onto the bed with a dramatic sigh.

“You will be,” I murmur. “Right now, you’re just my mouthy, Little Hellion.”

“And youlikeit. So shut up,” she shoots back, scooting over and patting the space beside her. “Are you getting in, or what?”

“You’re really cute when you pretend I annoy you,” I say, climbing in beside her. I grab a few pillows and start stacking them between us.

She glares. “Why are you doing that?”

“I thought you didn’t like me touching you?”

“I need physical contact to sleep, smartass.”

I smirk. “If you’re sleeping, how do you know you’re touching anything?”

“Oh my God, shut up and open your arms.”

No hesitation. I settle back, arms open. She slides in close, adjusting herself like she’s trying to melt into me.

“You good?” I ask when she finally stops moving.

“Peachy,” she whispers.

I breathe deep, content. Like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

“Ry?”

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