Page 33 of Up in Flames

But not tonight.

I have a girl in bed that I’d rather spend my time completely naked and pressed up against. So I step through the parlor of half-naked women, out through the paint bucket door, and back to my car.

I drive as fast as I can without being pulled over and return to the apartments before four in the morning. I just hope Makaylie hasn’t woken and wondered where I’ve gone. But with how heavily she sleeps, I assume she hasn’t. Pulling my car into my reserved spot, I jump out of the car at lightning speed and rush to the elevator.

Her keys jingle as I pull them from my pocket, the little unicorn key ring making me chuckle as it dangles effortlessly from the silver keys. “Fucking hell, she’s so damn innocent,” I murmur to myself as I walk to her apartment.

Quietly, I unlock the door. Stepping inside, the apartment is silent as I close the door and place the keys back where they belong. I look to see signs of her roommate, Joey, but I can’t see anything of his anywhere. I find it odd, but I head back to Makaylie’s room, and she’s still sound asleep like a fucking angel when I look in on her. My chest tightens, seeing her cute button nose. I walk in, close the door, start undressing, then slide into the bed behind her. She’s so warm compared to the frigid air outside, and I smile, wrapping my arm around her.

Makaylie feels like home.

And I’ve never had this before.

It scares me.

It comforts me.

It alarms me how much I like being with her.

But even more alarming is how I would give up everything to see her happy.

This woman is dangerous.

A danger to my sanity.

A danger to my career.

And a danger to my black heart.

But I amfarmore dangerous to her.

I should keep away.

I know that without a doubt.

I’m putting her at risk, but I don’t have the strength to walk away.

MAKAYLIE

The Next Day

The morning sun glimmers through the window, sending rays of sparkling light into my room. Dust motes float like tiny fairies through the air as I open and close my eyes, trying to adjust to the morning light. The coldness I felt last night is replaced by warmth, and Cain is wrapped around me, his front to my back, with his arm tightly pulling my body to his. His legs entangle with mine, making the brisk morning feel warmer in the coziness of my bed.

I must have dreamed he wasn’t in bed last night.

A smile creeps onto my face as the feeling of waking up with someone—well, not just anyone—fills me with happiness. My hand moves to take his resting on my stomach, and in doing so, he wakes and nuzzles into my neck. I giggle as he pulls me into him further if that’s even possible.

“Morning,” he murmurs with a sleepy voice as he continues to nuzzle into my neck, kissing it gently.

“Good morning,” I reply as I turn in his grasp to face him.

Cain smiles brightly as I gaze into his bright blue eyes, which are brimming with lust as he stares at me. His hand embraces my cheek, and I smile, turn my face in his hand, and kiss his palm. He returns his palm to my cheek, pulls my face toward him, and leans in for a morning kiss. Our lips meet, and I feel him smiling as our lips come together. His legs entangle with mine as he moves every inch of his body in line so we’re touching in every possible way.

“I could get used to this,” he murmurs, parting our lips.

“Me too,” I reply as he kisses my forehead.

“Well, considering you now belong to me, I guess youhaveto get used to it,” he says with a broad, cocky smile. My face crinkles at the phrase ‘belong to me.’ I know he said it last night while we were in the heat of the moment, but I was too caught up to worry about what he wasactuallysaying.

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