Page 43 of Untouchable

“This is worse than being alone, now you’re just watching me.”

I smirk at her remark. “And?”

“Andthat’s creepy!”

“It’s not different from any normal day when I’m watching you.” The slight change in her expression lets me know that it should have remained an inside thought. But it’s late and I’m tired, and whether she likes it or not, I won’t sleep until she does. I don’t want to offer to leave because she clearly won’t be able to sleep alone, but I don’t want to overstep either.

I sigh, resting my forearms on my thighs. “What would you like me to do?” She tucks her thick, blonde hair behind her ear, letting her gaze fall to her lap.

“I don’t know…would you—” she lets out a frustrated breath, straightening her spine as she looks up at me, much more confident than she looked before. “Would you just come up here and lay with me?”

“Katarina—” she cuts me off before I can even try to deny her—which isn’t what I was going to do at all.

“Look, I know it’s probably the last thing you want to do, alright? But I just… A warm body next to me calms me down when I’m anxious and can’t sleep, and since you wouldn't let me get Bodine—” I stand from the chair, making it to the side of the bed in a few strides, causing her words to die on her lips.

“Let’s get something straight.I’myour warm body now, Katarina. If you can’t sleep, you come get me. You need your mind cleared of the things that keep you up at night, you come to my bed. You want someone to make you laugh, or to play games with, or to smile for your pictures, you ask me. You may know Bodine better, but you’re on this trip with me.MyLittle Reaper,mybackpack, and I’m sick of you acting like you’re not.” Her eyes are wide, with pupils dilated so much it almost covers all of the blue from her irises. Then I see her throat work as she swallows and every fiber of my being wants to reach out and see what my tattoos would look like wrapped around her neck.

“So, you’ll lay with me?”

“Yes.” She moves to the middle of the bed without another word and I lay down beside her. We both stare at the ceiling, her arms are resting on her stomach, while mine are propped behind my head.

“Ace?” Her voice is soft, but not quite a whisper.

“Yes, Katarina?”

“Could you get the light?” I turn to face her and she mirrors my movements.

“Yeah.” I turn over and cut the lamp off, the street light from outside casting a single line of light into the room at the foot of the bed. “Goodnight, Reaper.”

“Goodnight, Ace.” I keep waiting for her to speak again, to pipe up and say this is too weird, and try to argue her way out of this happening, but the room remains silent. I’m almost asleep when I feel her shuffling next to me, and even though my eyes don’t open, I’m still very aware of everything she does, like scooting over until her ass is pressed against the side of my thigh and her head is right beneath where my arm is tucked behind my head.

Then I hear something that brings me an odd sense of peace. She lets out what my mom called acleansing breath. I remember her telling me when I would rock my baby cousins, that when they let out that breath they were finally comfortable enough to fall into a deep sleep. She had a bright, beautiful smile on her face when she told me it meant I made them feel safe enough to let their guard down and rest. While I always thought she said that just to make me feel good about getting a screaming baby to sleep, I now lay here wondering if there was a truth to her words—if I’ve made Katarina feel safe enough to let her guard down and finally find sleep. I hold my breath as she nuzzles her face into the pillow, and not long after the scent of her floral shampoo and the warmth of her next to me lulls me to sleep as well.

I’m woken up by the sunlight filling every corner of the room through the sheer curtains and the sound of voices outside Katarina’s door.

“I have no idea, his bike is still here but I checked up front and by the pool and I don’t see him anywhere.”

“Maybe he ran to the gas station?”

“For what? He doesn’t smoke.”

Jesus, there is no sound barrier in this place whatsoever. I blink my eyes open and it’s only then I realize how tangled up I am with Katarina. One of her legs is shoved between mine, her arm lays over my chest while her head rests on my shoulder. Meanwhile, my arms are wrapped around her, with one hand resting on her lower back, the other gripping the base of her hair. I try to ignore the fact that my dick is so hard it fucking hurts, but when she stirs awake and begins to stretch, her entire body presses harder into mine, making me want to do things to her that I have no business doing. Like sliding her sleep shorts to the side and sinking my cock into her until I’m relieved of this torturous erection. I slide my hand out of her hair and force those thoughts out of my mind just as she squints her eyes open.

“Morning, Reaper.” Her eyes widen and she pushes away from me, a look of embarrassment appearing in red across her cheeks.

“Oh my god.” Her hands fly to her mouth as she continues crawling away from me. “Oh my god.” Her hands cover her entire face now and I can’t help but smirk.

“Sleep well?” She peeks through her fingers and glares at me.

“This is so embarrassing. I practically crawled into your body to sleep!” Her head falls backward with a groan.

“Katarina.” My tone catches her attention and she faces me again. “Did you sleep well?” Her features soften and she gives me the slightest hint of a smile.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Good.” She runs her fingers through her hair, her lips parting like she’s going to say something, just as someone knocks on the door.

“Kitty Kat, you up?” She looks at me, slightly panicked, and mouths the wordswhat do I do?

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