Page 52 of Obligation
Her breath caught, and as badly as she wanted to look away, to break whatever hold he had on her, she couldn’t. She was too mesmerized by him, by his heated, assessing gray eyes. By his full lips that were begging her to taste them again.
“Danny went home, to the party, and he’s there with another girl,” Carissa whispered. Shame and guilt swirled inside of her at admitting the truth so bluntly.
“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “You don’t deserve any of this.” He shook his head, his expression turning hard and angry.
But he wasn’t angry at her. He was angry because she was hurting. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. The knowledge was as solid in her mind as her own name.
“I really just want to go to sleep,” she said.
“Okay.” Bradley released her without complaint or argument. “I’m going to change, and then I’ll be back. Make yourself comfortable.” And then he was gone again.
Chapter Twenty
Bradley had no idea what he’d been thinking when he agreed to stay with Carissa until she fell asleep. He’d lost his damn mind. That was the only explanation he could come up with. Well, the only explanation he was willing to accept, because anything else and he’d have to face the fact that he wasn’t a very good guy. Then again, Danny was the one who’d put Carissa in this situation in the first place. If the asshole hadn’t left her…
Bradley curled his hand into a fist, then flexed his fingers. He was already pissed enough at Danny; no need to make things worse by dwelling on his anger. Right now, he needed—no, wanted—to focus on Carissa. She clearly needed someone to be with her, to listen and not judge or yell or anything else.
He hurried into the room he’d shared with his brother and dug out some of the clothes he’d left here. Snatching a pair of gray sweatpants, he sniffed them just to make sure they didn’t smell moldy or anything. Not that they would—his father employed a stellar cleaning service to come in once a week and clean the place.
After changing, he wandered back toward the master suite. Even though he wanted to rush to Carissa’s side, he didn’t. He took his time and tried to calm himself. But no amount of pep talks and deep breaths would prepare him for what he was about to do.
From the moment he’d met Carissa, he’d been attracted to her. And that kiss they’d shared… He stifled a groan and licked his bottom lip. The spark that had ignited between them when their lips touched had been intense, and unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. And he knew she’d felt the same thing, too. How could she not? Since then, they’d been dancing dangerously close to the edge, flirting but not really. Teasing one another in what he tried to convince himself was simply two friends joking, but he knew better.
And now he was supposed to lay in bed next to her and not touch her? He had to be a serious glutton for punishment.
Reaching the door to the master suite, he knocked, and she called for him to enter. He took another deep breath, and with his heart racing, he opened the door and walked into the room.
Carissa was in bed already. She was on her back, hands folded on her stomach, staring up at the ceiling, much like she’d been in the lounge chair on the roof. She’d changed, too, and from what he could tell, his sister’s clothes fit Carissa well.
“Comfortable?” he asked, gently closing the door behind him.
“Mm-hmm.”
Her throaty hum had desire sizzling through his veins. Slowly, he strode across the room and eased onto the bed, careful to keep a respectable distance between them.
“Um, you’re sleeping in that?” she asked, turning her head to glance at him.
“What’s wrong with this?” He settled onto his back.
“You’re half naked.”
He laughed. “Normally, I’m fully naked when I sleep. Count yourself lucky I put pants on.” He turned his head to look at her, too, and her cheeks were a delicious, delicate shake of pink. “If you’re uncomfortable with me being half naked, you’re welcome to get half naked, too. You know, make it fair.”
A strangled sound of disbelief tore from her throat, and then she barked out a shocked laugh. “I don’t think so.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said.
“This is probably the softest bed I’ve ever been in,” she said, her voice heavy with sleepiness. “It’s like heaven.”
“It’s the best bed in the house.” He shifted slightly, but he was far from relaxed. His muscles tightened with tension, and nervous energy thrummed inside of him.
What would he do if she tried to make a move? Would he stop her again? That would be the smart thing to do, but he wasn’t sure he’d have the strength, not when every cell in his body screamed for her.
“So, do you come here often?” she asked.
He momentarily froze, then laughed. “There’s really no need for cheesy pick up lines. I mean, you’ve already got me in bed with you. What more do you want?”
“Shut up.” Carissa laughed and shook her head. Then she rolled onto her side so she was facing him, hands tucked beneath her cheek. “I meant the penthouse. How often do you stay here?”
