Page 5 of Fired Up (Alphas Forever 2)

Anthony

As usual, I can’t get to sleep that night. But this time, it’s for a new reason. I can’t get Layla out of my head. There’s just something so fucking magnetic about her. She’s gorgeous, yes, but it goes deeper than that. She’s also really smart, sweet, and kind.

As crazy as it probably sounds, I think I’m in love with this girl.

I’m so restless right now. So wide awake. I’ve gotta do something with all this pent-up energy. Of course I wish that I could expend it with Layla, but that’s apparently not going to happen. The look she gave me when I started to make a move to kiss her made that clear.

I guess I’ll do the next best thing—exhaust myself with a run. I change into shorts and a t-shirt and throw on a pair of running shoes. Minutes later, I’m outside, pounding the pavement. It feels really good to move, to get fresh air in my lungs.

I push myself, running faster and farther than usual. When I reach the waterfront, I stop just long enough to catch my breath. Then I turn around and run back the whole way, ignoring the stitch in my side and the burning in my lungs.

I grunt and sprint the last half block, finally coming to a stop in front of the apartment building. I’m spent. This was good, though. This is what I needed. I think I’ve got the restlessness out of my system—at least for tonight.

I let myself into the building and hit the up button on the elevator. Christ, I’m wiped. I can barely see straight. In the elevator, I punch my floor number and rest my head against the wall as the elevator carries me up. When the doors open, I step out into the hallway and dig my key out of my pocket.

When I get to my apartment door, though, the key doesn’t work. I stick it in, try to turn the knob, but it refuses to budge. What the hell? I take the key out, then stick it back in. But it doesn’t unlock this time, either.

I’m about to try it a third time when the door opens on its own.

“Anthony?”

I blink, confused. Why is Layla in my apartment? And why is she in her nightgown? I mean, I’m not saying I don’t like it. She wears the nightgown damn well. Her curvy bare legs are exposed, and so are her shoulders. Her nipples are faintly visible through the peach-colored fabric.

But what is she doing in my apartment?

Suddenly, though, I realize that this isn’t my apartment. In my exhaustion, I must have hit the wrong button.

“Right,” I say. “I’m an idiot. I got off on the wrong floor.”

She smirks. “Yeah, right. Nice try.”

“No, I’m serious,” I say.

I explain the situation—how I went out for a jog, how much it wore me out, how I must have hit the wrong button in the elevator. As I talk, Layla’s expression changes from disbelief to concern.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

I nod. I am; I’m just tired.

“Are you sure?” she asks. She frowns. “Maybe you should come in.”

It’s not like I need to. But an invitation to spend more time with her? Fuck yeah, I’m going to say yes.

I enter her apartment. The place is dimly lit, the only light coming from a lamp in her living room. It smells sweetly floral in here, which I don’t remember from earlier, when I was here eating dinner.

“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” I ask. The thought of her being with someone else makes me clench my jaw.

But Layla shakes her head. “Nope. If you’d come a few minutes earlier, though, you would have. I just got out of the bath.”

Naturally, the thought of her soaped-up body turns me on. My cock stirs in response. Down, boy, I think. These are the worstkind of shorts to get an erection in—there’ll be no hiding it if I do.

Layla takes a seat on her couch and motions for me to sit down beside her. It’s not a big couch, and I pretty much take up the rest of it, but I make sure to leave some space between us. I don’t want to overstep any boundaries. As badly as I want her, I’m going to be respectful, too.

Layla hugs one of her pillows to her chest. “I’m guessing you went running because you couldn’t sleep?”

“Yep,” I say. “Figured I’d try something other than pacing around my apartment.”

Layla smiles. “Well, as your neighbor, I appreciate it.” She smoothes her hands over the pillow. “Do you want to talk about it?”

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