Page 99 of The Off-Limits Play

“Nylah? You okay?” The voice is male and almost panicked.

What?

Pulling my headphones off, I get out of bed, hobbling over to the door and unlocking it.

I crack it open to see who’s standing there and nearly buckle with relief when I spot Carson.

He’s resting his palms on the frame of my door, water dripping off him and creating puddles on the polished floor beneath his scuffed black boots.

My eyes track up his body as I struggle to take my next breath.

He is one sexy man, and I swear I’ve never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life.

Flinging the door wide open, I drink him in, my insides melting when his gruff voice rumbles, “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Instant tears line my lashes, my lips rising into a grateful smile as I jump into his arms.

He catches me against him, and I wrap my legs around his wet body. It hurts a little with my knee at this angle, but I so don’t give a shit.

“I’m okay now,” I whimper against his neck and hold on tight as he walks me into the room.

When the door click shuts behind us, I know I am.

In fact, I’m more than okay.

Because Carson’s here.

And he’s all I wanted anyway.

CHAPTER36

CARSON

She’s holding on to me like she’s definitely not okay, and I make sure she’s secure in my arms as I scan the room, trying to figure out which bed is hers.

The one in the corner is neatly made, a pink Piglet stuffed animal resting against the pillow next to a porcupine soft toy.

O-kay.

I dart my eyes to the other bed and spot the open laptop,Back to the Futurepaused on Michael J. Fox’s confused expression and aRaiders of the Lost Arkduvet cover crumpled beneath it.

There’s my girl.

My lips twitch as she shifts in my arms, still clinging to me like a spider monkey.

It’s only then that I fully register what I just walked into.

Holy shit.

“Are you here all by yourself? Where’s your roommate?” My tone is snappy, irritation coursing through me as I think about the fact that she’s been dealing with this fucking storm alone.

Nylah leans back to check my face, her eyebrows dipping as she licks a tear off the side of her mouth and murmurs, “She’s staying with her boyfriend tonight.”

“I hate the idea of you being alone like this.” I gently place Nylah down, swiping her tears away with my thumb.

Her lips tremble, then rise into a closed-mouth smile. “Thanks for coming.”

Her eyes are so big and vulnerable right now.

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