Page 49 of Obligation
She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek. His eyes fluttered closed at the feel of her soft lips and warm breath. All he had to do was turn his head and they’d be locked in a kiss, exactly like he’d done the night of the TOP party. But something held him back.
“Thank you, Bradley,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I would’ve done tonight if you hadn’t shown up.”
He nodded and cleared his throat. Then, without another word—because he didn’t exactly trust himself to speak at that moment—he escorted her back to the penthouse. After giving her the rundown of where everything was… towels, toiletries, etc., he stood in the master bedroom doorway.
“Need anything else?” he asked.
“No, I don’t think so.” She shook her head.
“Okay. Well, good night, then.” He turned to leave.
“Bradley, wait.” Her voice cracked, and he froze, his back to her.
Slowly, he spun around, brow raised. “Is something wrong?”
Carissa shifted on her feet, lowered her head, then glanced up. Her expression was tormented if not a little humble. “I have this thing… I have a hard time sleeping in strange places, and my emotions are already so messed up…” She once again hung her head.
He closed the distance between them and gently lifted her chin so she was looking directly into his eyes. “Whatever you want, all you have to do is ask,” he said. If she only knew what he’d be willing to do for her.
Her shoulders slumped. “Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?”
Chapter Nineteen
Carissa held her breath and waited for Bradley to answer. She couldn’t believe she’d asked him to stay with her. While her reason had been valid—and true—she shouldn’t have asked him. Not when she was still in a relationship with Danny. Not when she knew Bradley liked her. And definitely not when she had an intense and growing attraction toward him.
She should tell him never mind, that she didn’t need him to stay with her, that she’d be fine. But her lips seemed to be glued shut, and she couldn’t get a single word to form. She shifted on her feet. What if he said yes? What would happen then? She had no intention of doing anything with him, but simply sleeping in the same bed with him was crossing the line. If Danny did what she was about to do, she’d be downright pissed.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked after a moment.
Now was her chance to get out of the mess she’d created without any harm. All she had to do was utter one single word: no. Instead, she nodded. She was such a hypocrite, her body a traitor to her good sense.
“I mean, if it’s too weird…” She averted her gaze to her feet, then glanced around the room.
Maybe if she pretended she was staying at a hotel, she’d be able to get some sleep. Not that she slept well at hotels, but at least she handled that better than staying in a strange house. Besides, the penthouse was really nice, and she was used to being in nice places, surrounded by expensive things.
“It’s kinda weird,” Bradly said with a half-smile. “But what kind of host would I be if I denied my guest the one thing she wants?”
Carissa tilted her head, eyes narrowed. “So now I’m just your guest? I thought we were friends.”
His eyes darkened, and he took a step closer. “Are we?”
She sucked in a sharp breath, but she refused to move or back up. Bradley didn’t scare her; at least, not in the sense that she feared for her safety. Her sanity was a totally different matter.
“I would hope so.” She laughed nervously. “If not, then maybe I need to leave because I don’t make a habit of staying with strange men.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in the most sinful smile she’d ever seen. “A strange man?” He took another step toward her.
She continued to remain frozen in place, though she had no idea why. Fear of what might happen if she moved? Or a burning desire to know what would happen if she didn’t?
“Let me make sure I have this right. You have no trouble kissing a strange man, getting in the car with one and driving to an entirely different state, but you draw the line at spending the night?” He raised a brow, his expression a pure challenge.
Some of the tension inside of her eased at the knowledge that he was teasing her, but a new type of tightness squeezed her chest. Bantering with him was a thrill, one she’d never experienced with Danny, and as she stood here with Bradley, she realized just how much she craved this type of fun, easy relationship.
“Yeah, that sounds about right,” she said, her tone cool despite the heat spreading through her. “A girl’s gotta have limits.”
Bradley laughed, the sound wrapping around her in a comforting wave. “Alright. Let’s pretend I said yes to you. What’re your limits?”
Her heart slammed against her ribs, then took off like an out of control freight train. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Just sleeping. No touching,” she said, but her voice wasn’t very loud, nor did she sound very convincing.
