Page 132 of Hale Yes
I think about that for a long while before speaking. “You’ve always encouraged me to stand up for myself, and this is me doing exactly that.” His face falls until I say, “But there is a glimmer.”
He’s full-on grinning now. “Say no more. If I overstep, you can tell me, but expect to be wooed, Nicolette. I mean, you need to seriously prepare yourself for the wooing.”
Laughing, I say, “I look forward to it.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I close my eyes, loving the feel and the scent of him way more than I should.
And then the wine kicks my ass, and I fall asleep with my head on his shoulder.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
My sister’s big fat disastrous wedding
Nicolette
I awaken in a strange bed and have a moment of panic, my body jackknifing to a sitting position as my head swings from side to side. Then I remember falling asleep in Helix’s hotel room.Damn wine.
Patting the covers beside me, I find no Helix, and the bed doesn’t look disturbed at all on that side. He obviously meant it when he said he was respecting boundaries. Then I look over and see my dress draped across a chair, and my eyes jerk down to find I’m wearing one of Helix’s huge T-shirts. Huh. So much for boundaries.
I can’t bring myself to be mad about it though because the shirt is baggy and comfortable, and he’s seen it all before anyway. Sliding from the bed, I tiptoe on bare feet into the hallway of the suite and find another bedroom with the door slightly ajar. I push it all the way open and see a large formsleeping on a much smaller bed than the one I woke up in. Leaning against the door frame, I watch him.
Helix is on his back, one arm thrown over his head and one leg cocked out to the side. His big frame takes up the entire bed, and the covers are pulled down to his waist, giving me a hint of the gray band of his boxer briefs and a whole lotta damn muscles. This man is devastatingly hot when he sleeps.
He makes a soft grunt and slides his hand down over his chest and abs before resting on a noticeable bulge beneath the covers. Then he squeezes it and moans.
“Thinking about corn dogs?” I ask, and his eyes pop open to find me as a sleepy smile creeps across his lips.
“I think the real question is, haveyoubeen thinking about corn dogs?”
Okay, he’s even hotter when he’s awake and flirty.
“Not really,” I lie, and he scoots up, leaning against the headboard. My eyes find the scar on his shoulder, but I quickly pull them away and up to his messy hair.
“Come sit with me, queenie.”
This is a dangerous proposition, but I do it anyway, resting my butt on the edge of the bed and tugging his shirt down over my thighs. His eyes follow the movement.
“For the record,” he says, “I put my shirt on you and then slid your dress down over your legs, so I didn’t see you undressed. I’m still amazed by how hard you sleep when the wine hits.”
“Thank you for that,” I tell him quietly because that was pretty damn respectful of him.
“Boundaries,” he says. “You set them, and I’ll follow them. Whatever you need.” I nod, and he holds his hand out, palm up, an invitation I accept. “Would you like to get some breakfast with me?”
I hesitate before agreeing. “Sure. Just let me go get changed.”
“Do you want me to walk you to your room?” The grin he gives me is pure cheekiness. “Or I could help you shower.”
“That’s really nice of you,” I say drolly, “but I believe I can manage.”
“Like I said, I’m here for whatever you need.” He pulls the covers back and slides from the bed, giving me an excellent view of his round ass when he stands and stretches. “I’ll get you some shorts to wear so you don’t have to put your dress back on.” Then he strides from the room, my eyes following him the entire way.
When he returns, my gaze is still in the same spot, and his penis enters the room first. I hear him chuckle because I am obviously staring at his, uh, corn dog.
“Shut up,” I whine, dragging my reluctant eyes away. “I can’tnotlook when it’s sticking out there like that.”
“You won’t hear me complaining. I’m here for your viewing pleasure.”
I stand and snatch the shorts from him before stomping from the bedroom. “I’ll be back in ten. Have some damn clothes on.”
