Page 47 of Hell of a Mess
More importantly, why did it make my dick hard? Because I was a fucked-up bastard and she was entirely too damn sweet.
Twenty
Lace
It was almost two in the morning, but I hadn’t been able to sleep. Giving up, I got out of bed and stood at the window overlooking the backyard. The moonlight was bright tonight, and I could make out the corner of the pool and a very impressive kid’s playset. It was like one you’d find at an upscale park.
For two hours this afternoon, I’d listened to Stevie tell me all aboutBluey, her favorite pizza toppings, Cree—her best friend in Ocala—and all the different things they’d done during their visit there. It had been a good distraction after Luther left.
He’d watched me eat the brownie, and then he took another one with him and left. When he didn’t come home for dinner, I started to worry that I’d done something. Or maybe he was already annoyed with having to make me eat. I replayed what I’d said and tried to think of what I could have done to make him leave and stay gone until I’d worked myself up too much to relaxand go to sleep.
I wasn’t even sure he was home now. It had been quiet since I’d come up here. I hadn’t even heard footsteps or a door open and close. That was the other reason I couldn’t sleep. I was afraid of my dreams and being alone. I’d always been alone. It shouldn’t bother me, but it did.
I shivered and glanced over at the throw that lay at the end of my bed. Jayda had brought me more clothes today. Panties, bras, jeans, tops, and the pajamas I was wearing. It was a satin lavender short set, which I’d felt pretty in when I looked in the mirror until I started focusing on my flaws.
The sound of heavy, booted steps snapped me out of my thoughts, and I spun around to stare at the door. He was back. Where had he been? Wincing, I thought about where he had found me. He had been there that night. Was that where he had gone? Or someplace like that one? If my mood could sink, it did. Which was silly.
I’d had a crush before, but it didn’t last long. Wayon had never flirted with me or encouraged my crush. We’d become friends instead. But this was different than that had been. Perhaps it was because I was an adult now. And Luther was a man. A very sexy older man. One who had rescued me and continued to show up when I needed him. He didn’t just give me butterflies; he made me warm and tingly all over.
The footsteps halted outside my door, and my eyes widened as I waited. My gaze dropped to the doorknob as it turned. Excitement shot through me at the idea of seeing him. Even if he had been at a club where people were naked and did sexual acts in front of others.
I was holding my breath as the door began to ease open. Then it stopped halfway before swinging wide as he came stalking inside. His eyes were on my empty bed before scanning the room until they locked on me. His stride faltered and his gaze drifteddown my body before snapping back up to my face.
“Why are you awake?” he demanded.
“I, uh…I couldn’t sleep.”
“It’s after two,” he said.
I nodded. I was aware of the time.
“Did you have a nightmare?” His voice lost its stern edge.
“No. I’ve not been asleep.”
“At all?”
I shook my head this time instead of answering.
He sighed and looked back at the bed. “Lie down. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
Although I wanted that very much, the way he’d said it sounded as if it was a chore that he wished he didn’t have to do.
“No, that’s okay. You need to go to sleep. It’s late.”
His eyes narrowed. “Lace, get in the goddamn bed.”
I tensed at his sharp tone. He was unhappy with me. I’d not meant to make him mad. I just didn’t want to be a burden. I’d felt like one all my life, and the idea of being one to Luther made me feel ill.
Instead of telling him that and sounding even more pathetic, I went obediently to the bed and pulled back the covers to climb inside. He waited until I was settled, then walked over and sat down on the other side. I watched as he bent down and pulled off his boots before putting his legs up and leaning against the headboard again. His gaze dropped to mine, and he studied me for a moment.
“You didn’t eat dinner,” he said.
I’d tried. “I did a little.”
He cocked a brow at me. “I wouldn’t call a bite of green beans a little. That’s nothing.”
“I took a bite of the bread,” I told him.
