By the time we made it back home that night, Kay and I both were exhausted. I barely had the energy to walk up the stairs. But when Kay went to head to the guest room, on instinct, my arm reached out, stopping her. I pulled her to my room instead.
“What’re you doing?”
“I don’t like sleeping alone.”
She lifted a brow. “Since when?”
“Since now,” I answered, kicking the door closed, slamming it.
Kay must’ve been too tired to ask anymore questions because when I pressed a quick kiss to her lips and walked her to the bed, she climbed in, allowing me to climb in right behind, spooning her. We fell asleep in less than five minutes, in each other’s warmth.
Chapter Nine
Kayla
A heavy weight over my legs prevented me from moving out of the warm, soft comfort of the huge bed. The bed was unusually inviting that particular morning.Just a few more minutes,I thought behind my closed eyelids. I could sleep just a little while longer. Snuggling my head deeper into the plush pillows, I wiggled my hips to get closer to the warmth that was behind me.
“You keep moving like that and your chances of leaving this bed anytime soon are slim to none.”
My eyes popped open at the deep rumble of his sleepy, morning voice. My heart began racing. I wasn’t in bed alone. The last time that’d happened …
I waited for the panic to set in but it never came. The same feeling of being wrapped up in safety that I’d felt with my eyes closed persisted.
Joshua.
I was in bed with Joshua.
I sat up. Panic may not have set in, but the guilt was starting to creep up in its place.
“We slept together,” I stated, looking down on him, but I had to turn away. His eyes were half mast, dark hair resting over his forehead, and those damn freckles looked good enough to lick.
“Unfortunately, that’s all we did,” he grumbled, turning over to glance at the clock. “Seven fucking o’clock. You ready for your lesson?” He turned over, staring up at me.
I blinked, trying to remember what lesson. “Oh, self-defense. We can skip it—”
“Absolutely not. I’m up now.”
“But you just got in yesterday and had a late night.” My hand reached out and I ran my fingers through his dark mane. Smooth and silky.
“And don’t think that means I’m taking it easy on your ass either.” He sat up, giving me a pointed look before winking and exiting the bed. “Meet me downstairs in five minutes,” he stated, entering the bathroom.
Since his tone had brokered no argument, I hopped out of the bed and started for the doorway to go to the guest room to change. Suddenly his bathroom door popped open.
“And make sure you brush your teeth. You’re cute as shit in the mornings but not the morning breath.”
I gasped and quickly grabbed a pillow from the seat of the armchair in the corner of the room and tossed it at the bathroom door, aiming for his head. He was lightning quick, slamming the door before the pillow could make its way to its intended spot.
“Goddammit!” I yelled thirty minutes later as I found myself pinned down on my back, yet again, Joshua’s big body covering mine. “You’re cheating!”
He chuckled and I thanked God for the sports bra I was wearing that concealed my hardened nipples.
“You weren’t watching that time,” he answered, standing and reaching a hand down to help me up.
I inhaled sharply when his extended hand pulled me in flush against his body. For a long while he stared down into my eyes, searching for something. When his head started to lower, I saw my chance.
I abruptly did a spin move he’d taught me, putting my back to his front. With his arm that was holding me, still tucked into my arm, I crouched low, causing him to bend low with me. I moved my left foot around his, tripping him and causing him to topple over onto his back. I thought I’d won that round but quick as usual, Joshua recovered, and somehow I was again pinned on my back, Joshua on top of me.
“I see I’ve gotta keep on my toes with you.”
