Page 32 of Only Ever Yours
“Jase.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Screwing up my nose in frustration, I let out a long exhale. “I think we should get some sleep. It’s been a long day. ‘Night, Hollis.” Placing the most platonic kiss I could muster on her forehead, I withdrew from her embrace, turned my back on her, and snuggled down under the covers, wrestling with my feelings.
After a moment, I saw the light go off and some shuffling next to me as Hollis settled. “’Night, Jase. Thank you for today. It means a lot.”
For me, too, Princess.
Chapter Twelve
Hollis
As I snuggled against the muscular body next to me, a contented sigh escaped my lips. I shifted slightly to be met by what I could only describe as serious morning wood. My hand flew to my mouth, stifling the strangled sound that replaced the contentment.
We shouldn’t be pressed together this close in bed with his dick that hard.
Sure, since I’d been back in Maplebrook, Jase had been a good friend, and theremayhave been a little bit of flirting. I deserved some fun after everything that had happened with Gil.
I couldn’t deny his body felt good against mine, though; we fitted together almost perfectly. We’d slept in the same bed before when we were younger, staying over with our friends. It hadn’t mattered back then because I didn’t feel the same way about him as I was starting to now.
Jase stirred, his arm tightening around my waist. I knew if I didn’t move out of his embrace, things might escalate. While it was a nice thought, it didn’t feel like the right time, even after everything that had happened yesterday.
Wriggling out of his grasp, I grabbed my clothes and escaped to the bathroom, hoping I hadn’t disturbed him too much. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my cheeks flushed, eyes bright, and looking a hell of a lot happier than I had last night.
How much of that had to do with Jase?
Shaking the thought from my mind, I had a quick wash and brushed my teeth. We needed to get back on the road and home, not hang out in a motorway services motel room all day. When I went back into the room, Jase was propped up against the headboard, apparently engrossed in his phone.
“Morning,” I said. “Did you sleep okay?”
He glanced up, barely acknowledging me. “Yeah, not bad. You?”
Well, that was hardly a warm welcome from the man who not twenty minutes ago had pressed his arousal against me. Then I had a sudden shock of realisation. Maybe he hadn’t been dreaming about me. Maybe he’d been thinking of Felicity. And now he was messaging her, saying how much he missed her. I shook my head.What was I thinking? He can’t be serious with Felicity because Ella would have said something. And he wouldn’t have hadthatreaction to me.
“Fine. Thanks.” I forced a smile. “Do you want to get a shower and something to eat before we head off?”
“I think we should hit the road as soon as we can.” He pushed the duvet back, and my eyes fell to his crotch encased in tight boxers. I swallowed. “Why don’t you get us coffees and snacks we can eat on the way?”
At least I could escape for a while and try not to overthink everything. “Sure. Do you want anything in particular?”
The corners of his mouth tugged up in a small smile. “Surprise me.”
I grabbed my bag and headed out of the door, relishing the brief respite from the awkward atmosphere in the room.
In complete contrast to the previous day, the weather outside was glorious. Sun warmed my already overheated body, and I wished I had sunglasses with me. I popped into the main part of the services and bought two coffees, a bottle of water, and an assortment of sweet and savoury pastries, not exactly sure of what Jase might like. Hopefully, it would keep us going until we got home.
Home.
It had been years since I’d thought of Maplebrook in that way. The last few weeks had really cemented it. I had enjoyed living in London, but the pretences that went on there—the keeping up appearances, the one-upmanship—simply weren’t me any longer. The work I’d started with Finn on the two family businesses felt far more important than the clients I’d worked with in the past. It meant more, and I cared more. I couldn’t wait to get back for good.
When I got back to the room, Jase had dressed and was perched on the edge of the bed, seemingly waiting for me. The green Hollister T-shirt had been folded and placed on top of the box he’d brought in from the van last night. I stifled a smile. Perhaps he hadn’t been thinking of Felicity after all.
“Here.” I held up the bag. “I got options. Do you want something before we go?”
He jumped up from where he sat. “What do you think? Don’t you remember how crabby I get in the morning if I haven’t eaten?”
The easy tone was back, and he seemed more relaxedthan when I’d left. All that worry over nothing. He stepped towards me and took the bag from my hand.
“Oh, I love you. A bacon and cheese croissantanda custard Danish.” Jase’s eyes lit up. “You can get me breakfast every day.”
