Page 12 of Tease

Moving back over to her, I pulled the blanket from her and picked Rina up. She murmured in her sleep but didn’t wake as I carried her over to her bed. It took some manoeuvring on my part to get her up the ladder and into bed. I tucked the covers around her, wanting to make sure she was comfortable.

I wandered out of her room to get ready for bed myself. No one else was up at this hour. When I entered her bedroom, I changed into something more comfortable before turning out the lights. I probably shouldn’t get into bed with her. It was a fucking gamble on my part because if she got upset when she woke up, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. Somehow, I knew it would be okay. She’d told me she wasn’t afraid of me, and we were just sleeping. Besides, I didn’t want to disturb the rest of the household.

I climbed up the ladder and slid in next to her. Rina had curled up on her side, her fingers clutching the pillow and her brow furrowed. I uncurled her hand from the pillow, wanting to soothe her, and linked our fingers together. After a few minutes, her face relaxed and her breathing was steady and even. It reassured me she was okay and allowed me to fall asleep by her side, knowing I would keep her safe. I’d always keep Rina safe and protected, no matter what happened between us. This precious girl should be appreciated and worshipped. And I wanted to be the one doing it for the rest of our lives.

Five

Rina

The warm feeling of a body wrapped around mine had me letting out a contented sigh as I awoke. I was tucked up in my own bed, the familiar surroundings making me slow to realise there should not be another human with me. My eyes flicked down to the bare arm wrapped around my waist. Not wishing to make any sudden movements, I turned my head slowly until I saw who was holding onto me. I stifled a squeak when he came into view.

Am I dreaming?

Arlo was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling in time with mine like we were in sync. I tried to work out how this had happened, but the only thing I could remember was falling asleep in my reading nook. He had to have put me to bed.

Why hadn’t he taken me upstairs to Sofia’s room?

I wasn’t upset to be in bed with him. In fact, I’d been imagining what it would feel like to fall asleep next to him the whole time he’d been staying with us. Turning my head, I settled back down and stared at the wall in front of me. I didn’t want to wake him. No, I wanted to savour the experience of being in his embrace.

Was it wrong of me? Probably, but I didn’t care. I might never get to be this close to him again. It felt so right. He felt exactly as I’d always hoped. Like he belonged with me.

When he shifted against me a few minutes later, I almost stiffened. His hand flattened on my stomach, pushing me back against him as if he wanted me closer.

“Rina,” he murmured in a sleepy voice, nuzzling my hair with his nose.

I didn’t know if I should speak. My throat was all constricted so it wouldn’t be easy. He wasn’t fully awake, but he knew it was me he was holding. He knew and wanted me there. I told myself not to read into it, but there was a voice in my head screaming that Arlo liked me the way I liked him.

The hand on my stomach slid higher, brushing over my ribcage, avoiding my breasts and dusting over my neck before coming to settle on my chin. Arlo turned my face, forcing me to shift around to look at him. His brown eyes were open and alert. I could hardly breathe at the sight of him. I was short-sighted, so I had no trouble making out his features this close up without my glasses on.

He stroked his fingers across my cheek, watching my reaction to see if I would push him away. I didn’t want him to go anywhere. When I didn’t move, he came closer, his eyes focused on my mouth.

“Rina,” he murmured again, his breath dusting across my lips.

There was no way in hell I was speaking now. Not when he was in my face like this. I wanted him so much that my body ached with it.

He threaded his fingers through my hair, cupping the back of my head with such a gentle touch, I was scared I would come undone at the seams.

“I want to kiss you,” he whispered. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for years. I have no idea how you feel about me, so I’ve been afraid to tell you, but now… now all I can think about is kissing you until neither of us can breathe.”

I was so stunned by his confession I didn’t know what to do with myself. Arlo wanted to kiss me. He’d wanted me for years in the way I’d always wanted him. I had to be dreaming. This kind of thing didn’t happen to me. My cousin’s best friend couldn’t really want me, could he?

He does. He just told you he does, so stop being an idiot and let him kiss you.

I couldn’t speak or tell him with words I wanted it too. I was going to have to do something to make it clear he should. That I would whole-heartedly welcome his lips on mine.

My hand moved to press against his chest. My fingers gripped his t-shirt and tugged at it.

“You want me to?”

I nodded, my eyes fixing on his mouth and my lips parting on instinct. The anticipation of that mouth being on my skin, tasting me, made me half crazy. I couldn’t wait any longer. The years I’d spent hoping he’d see me and want me had finally come to fruition.

Kiss me. Just kiss me already!

I wanted to scream it at him as he continued to look at me rather than move. What was he waiting for?

“P-p-please,” I somehow rasped out, desperate to make him understand how much I wanted it.

That was all he needed because he was on me the next second. His lips were gentle and unhurried as they met mine. His hand around the back of my head tightened. A low rumble erupted from his chest, vibrating across my skin and making me melt into him. My hand left his t-shirt and dug into his hair, wanting him closer. Needing him to kiss me with the passion I could feel him holding back.

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