As I lifted my head from the pillow, I glanced around the room and grabbed my cell phone.
It was after midnight.
Where did the time go?
Empty snifters scattered across the mahogany bar to my right. Drake and my brother were nowhere to be found. As usual, Tate tossed the discarded couch pillows onto the floor. Even Drake’s favorite Batman throw blanket was under the coffee table.
My brother was a mess.
To my left, dozens of monitors flashed with red code that looked like Greek. I understood nothing Drake did for work or The Devil’s Knights. Despite staring over his shoulder while he typed, I did not know how to write code.
I flung the blanket off my legs and sat up, stretching my arms above my head. A nice, long yawn poured out of me. Without Drake here, it felt wrong to stay in the Battle Cave. His high-tech hangout was a nerd’s wet dream, but it seemed weird to be here without him.
Drake had a meeting with The Devil’s Knights, which meant he wouldn’t be home until late. I tucked my cell phone into my pocket and headed toward the elevator. It was the only way out of the secret room hidden beneath the main house.
I once asked Drake what would happen if we lost power. He said not to worry. Because of that, I assumed he had a backup generator or another access point somewhere. A pragmatic man, Drake would not leave himself without an exit plan. His job and involvement with The Devil’s Knights were dangerous.
I rode the elevator to the second floor, which I shared with Tate and Drake’s mother. Bea was rarely home and spent most nights with her boyfriend. She never remarried after her husband died. Drake’s rotten bastard of a father added a clause to his will stating she wouldn’t get a cent if she did.
At this hour, Tate was asleep down the hall. I was feeling refreshed after dozing off for most of the night. I started my first day of work in five hours, and since I wasn’t tired, I headed into the hallway bathroom and turned on the shower.
The warm water felt amazing on my sore back. Drake’s couch was comfortable, but I’d fallen asleep in an awkward position. I rubbed my neck and upper back and then washed my hair.
After a long, hot shower, I towel-dried my hair and body and wrapped a towel around me. I flung open the door, stepped into the hallway and crashed into something hard. My towel fell off, and as it did, Drake stepped on it, accidentally pushing it behind him, leaving me standing before a wide-eyed Drake completely naked.
I attempted to cover my body with my hands, but my curves were hard to hide. The girl Drake had saved from starvation had grown into a thick girl who liked to eat. Drake’s eyes wandered over every inch of me as if trying to commit me to memory. I’d never felt so exposed and vulnerable.
“Drake,” I shouted to snap him out of his trance. “Go get my towel.”
“Oh, shit.” He turned his head, scrubbing a hand across his jaw. “Sorry, Liv. I was just?—”
“Now, Drake.”
As he turned his back, I closed the bathroom, keeping it half open. Nerves shook my limbs and slithered down my spine. I was self-conscious about Drake seeing me without clothing. The last time, I was thirty pounds lighter.
Drake returned with the towel, an apologetic look on his handsome face. “Live, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. I was coming back from the library, and I?—”
“It’s okay.” I pulled the towel around me and opened the door. “You meant nothing by it. Let’s just forget this ever happened.”
He chuckled as if that were the craziest idea. “I wish I could do that.”
I stood before all six feet three inches of him and looked into his eyes. A silent communication passed between us as he held my gaze and cupped my cheek. We’d known each other long enough not to need words to fill the void.
For years, we skated around our feelings for each other.
He was my first crush.
My first love.
The man I gave my virginity to until everything went to shit. Tate’s catching us in bed ruined everything. I knew the day Drake took us home with him I would fall for him.
How could I not?
I also knew he would break me.
And he did.
Our mouths were so close we could have kissed. I felt his breath on my skin and couldn’t stand the silence. We played this game too often.
