Page 44 of Hold You Close
“Well,” she sighs as she lies back on the pillow. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”
Anything for you.
I push that thought out of my head. I can’t seem to pull myself back anymore. All the feelings that were dead and gone have been resurrected. I want her. I’ve always wanted her, that was never the issue. It was that I’ve never been good enough for her. London is the sun, the stars, the light at the end of the tunnel that I’m so desperate to reach, but know I’ll never touch. I have to remember that she dislikes me for good reason. If only she didn’t look so beautiful in my bed . . .
“Goodnight.”
I look over, shake my head, and shove the thoughts from my head. “Goodnight, London.”
I hear the sheets move as she gets comfortable, and I need to get out of these fucking clothes and out of my head.
That’s the one thing about nightlife in Vegas, you reek of it. It clings to you, reminding you of the booze, smoke, desperation, and perfume you enjoyed hours ago. I used to love that smell, but now, I want it gone.
I enter my closet, so I can put the light on and get what I need to shower. A laundry basket is sitting on the floor there. What the hell? I take my shirt and pants off, toss them in there and go to grab clothes.
Okay, this is fucking weird. My very neat and organized drawer has a pair of underwear in with my shirts. My housekeeper would never do that, and I was in here before work and this was not how things were.
I look around to make sure the sex toys are still in the kick drawer and untouched. Lord only knows what kind of questions I’d be facing in the morning if it was the kids.
Thankfully, nothing in that drawer was touched.
But still, I feel like some Goldilocks-and-the-Three-Bears-type shit is going on here.
I exit the closet and when London moves a little, I can’t help wanting to know what the hell happened while I was at work.
“Did the kids come in here?” I ask London.
“Not that I know of,” she mumbles, turning on her side. “Why?”
What kind of a babysitter is she if she doesn’t even know if the kids came in here? We’ll discuss that after we get to the bottom of my closet issue.
“Someone’s been touching my clothes.”
“What?”
“My shit is moved.”
“You’re insane.”
“No,” I correct her. “I’m right. Someone was snooping in my closet today because things aren’t where they should be.”
“Need sleep, Ian. I can’t deal with your crazy right now. Bed.”
“Okay, you want me to come to bed? Move over.”
She leans up on her elbow, probably to chastise me, but then she covers her eyes with her hand. “Ian! You’re naked!”
I look down. “I have boxers on.”
“Well, get dressed.”
“I will after I shower. Unless you’d like to get undressed and join me?”
London covers her face with the pillow and then groans. “Such an asshole.”
I chuckle and decide this is too great of an opportunity to pass up. I climb up onto the bed, hovering over her, and start to tickle her sides.
“What did you call me?”
