Page 102 of Trusting Tanner
“What the fuck is this?”
Oh shit. Juliana scrambled off the couch, but it was too late. Tanner had seen the one thing she never wanted him to. Grabbing the doorknob, she attempted to close the door, but he slapped his palm against it, stopping her.
“Are you sleeping on the floor?” His gaze darted from the pile of pillows and blankets on the bedroom floor to her.
Her shoulders sagged. “It’s no big deal, okay? I really don’t want to talk about it.” She tugged on the doorknob, and this time he didn’t stop her.
“It is a big deal. How long?” He crossed his arms.
She averted her gaze and chewed on her lip. A bolt of lightning could strike her down where she stood and it would hurt less than the judgment she heard in his voice.
“How long, Jules?”
“Since we broke up.” Could she be any bigger of a loser?
“Why?” His tone was softer, concerned.
“Because my bed still smells like you, and I just can’t sleep there, okay?” She was not going to tell him that every time she pulled back the covers, she could see him lying there, naked, desire burning in his eyes. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him that every time she was in her bed, she’d wake up in the middle of the night calling his name.
She turned and headed back to the living room. A moment later, Tanner joined her. He didn’t press the issue any further, and they settled into silence. She barely made it through the first thirty minutes of the movie when her eyelids became heavy.
…
Juliana awoke slowly, eyes burning from all the tears she’d shed. She attempted to stretch when an arm tightened around her midsection, drawing her back against a warm, hard body. Her eyes snapped fully open. She was in her bed. How the hell had she gotten in her bed? Panic knocked the breath from her lungs, and her body tensed. Last thing she remembered was falling asleep on the couch.
“Don’t you dare get out of this bed.” Tanner’s sleep-laden voice sent a shiver through her. “It’s way too early.”
She glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. “It’s almost nine o’clock.”
“Exactly.” He snuggled in behind her, his face buried against her neck. “Too early.” His hot breath tickled the sensitive spot below her ear, and she groaned.
She had to admit, she’d slept better last night than she had in weeks. Probably because her bed was a hell of a lot more comfortable than the floor, but mostly it was because of Tanner. Having him here with her made all the difference.
His fingers tentatively eased under the hem of her sweatshirt, brushing feather soft across her stomach. Her skin broke out in goose bumps, and she let her eyes close. “You stayed,” she mumbled.
“Mm-hmm.”
His soft, throaty hum was a direct shot to her libido, and there was a sudden, sharp ache between her legs. Her breaths became harder.
“You fell asleep on the couch, and I wasn’t going to leave you there, so I brought you in here. You asked me to stay.” His fingers inched up, grazing her rib cage. “I’m pretty sure you were talking in your sleep, but there was no way I could say no to that invitation.”
She was pretty sure she didn’t talk in her sleep and that was a bunch of bull, but she wasn’t about to call him out on it. “Always a gentleman,” she teased, wiggling closer to him.
“Jules,” he warned. His hand shot down to the curve of her hip, his grasp firm. And then he moved the lower half of his body away from hers. “If you don’t remember what it’s like when I wake up with you in my arms, then this is about to get really fucking awkward.”
Her breath caught. He always woke up hard and ready for her. Twisting around so she was on her back, she gazed up at him. Thick lashes hooded his dark eyes, but they couldn’t hide the familiar sizzling lust burning hot as ever between them. She reached for him at the exact moment he lowered his head, and their mouths crashed together. Her fingers threaded in his hair, and his answering groan rattled around in her mind, silencing her thoughts for the first time since she’d broken up with him.
Tanner tore the blankets away from them and settled on top of her, his kiss deeper and more passionate than she’d ever felt before. She hooked her legs around him, and he rocked his hips forward, pressing his erection against her throbbing clit. She gasped, but he didn’t give her time to draw in a breath before his tongue was expertly exploring her mouth again.
Had he kissed Rebecca with this much desire and desperation?She forcefully shoved the thoughts away.
His hand slipped inside her sweatshirt again, flicking his thumb over her nipple. She moaned and arched into his touch, craving so much more. “Fuck,” he growled and moved his lips across her jaw. “God, I’ve missed you so damn much.” He rotated his hips into her, grinding against her in all the right places. Then his mouth was back on hers.
“Tanner.” She put her hands up his shirt, dragging her fingernails down the length of his back. He trembled in that way she loved so much.Had he reacted the same way when Rebecca touched him?She whimpered at the unwanted thoughts.
“You feel incredible.” He showered her neck with kisses. “I need you, baby. I need you so fucking bad I can’t function.”
Had he said the same things to Rebecca?
