He shook his head. “I already died. She carries me through this afterlife.”
I disagreed. Tap had never died. He’d just put himself in a medical coma to survive. He was waking up now, and I was happy to be a part of his reanimation plan. “This is your Valhalla?” I asked.
His eyebrows arched. “I had no idea you were such a nerd. It’s like you keep getting hotter.”
“Just wait until you see my Star Wars collection.” I had a light saber and a Yoda plushie I won as a kid. It wasn’t much of a collection, but I’d sure buy more if it turned him on.
“Stop, or I’m gonna jump you right here in the living room.”
“Maybe that’s my evil plan. Maybe I’m jealous of this other woman and wanna make sure you’re riding me more than you ride her.”
“Oh?” He sauntered over and threw one arm around my waist, tugging me against him. “After everything shakes out and we clear your name, I’ll put your fine ass on the back of my bike, and you can ride her with me.”
“Kinky.” I settled my hand on his chest, thoroughly enjoying the feel of the hard muscle beneath his shirt. “You know, I like to ride big powerful things.”
“Come on. There’s something powerful I wanna show you in my bedroom.” He took my hand and led me up the stairs.
I was all too happy to follow him.
Tap
EVER SINCE JOINING the military, I’ve had trouble sleeping. When I moved to Seattle, I dropped almost two grand on a king-sized Puffy Lux mattress that Mama saw onEllen,because she swore up and down it would help me sleep. I tried to tell Mama that the problem was in my mind, not my mattress, but it was less painful to spend the money than to argue with her. Besides, the bed was comfortable. I still don’t sleep for shit, but at least now it feels like I’m lying on a goddamn cloud while I stay up all night staring at my tablet and trying to convince my mind to shut the fuck up and go to sleep.
Insomnia is some stupid shit. No matter what I’ve accomplished, it somehow manages to make me feel like a failure because I lack the ability to master this one normal bodily function necessary for survival. It doesn’t matter how many techniques I try, how often I meditate, how many hours of relaxing sleep music I stream, every night is a wrestling match with my brain. Because of this, my bedroom is my least favorite room in the house.
Or, it was until Sasha tumbled onto my bed naked—her body and hair still damp from our shower—spread her legs and arms out like some X-rated snow angel, and said, “I claim this spot.”
“The whole bed?” I asked, enjoying the view. Her pale skin looked sexy as hell against my navy-blue sheets. Her dark pink nipples were still pebbled from the attention I’d paid them in the shower, and the idea of having full, unrestrained access to her body was making me painfully hard.
She closed her eyes. “Yep. You’re gonna have to sleep around me.”
“I was thinking more along the lines ofinyou.”
“I suppose that could work, too. I mean, if you insist.” She grinned.
It was all the invitation I needed. I crept up her body slowly, kissing every inch from her ankle to her knee. Then I started at the other ankle and didn’t stop at the knee. As I worked my way up her thigh, she giggled and squirmed.
“Your whiskers are tickling me.”
I sat up. “That’s it. I’m gonna go shave them.”
“No!” She grabbed my arm to stop me. “I like it. Do you ever grow a beard?”
I nodded. “I had one before Mama shaved it off to disguise me for that gig at Buzz’s house.”
Her eyes softened. “That was a good night.”
“Good night? You got the shit beat out of you.”
“Yeah, but I met you.”
I hadn’t expected her to say something so sweet, and it kind of knocked me on my ass. Her expression was so damn serious as she watched me watching her. Lying there naked, spread wide and vulnerable, she waited for my reaction. There was no way in hell I’d leave her hanging. “It was a great night, but tonight’s better. You look damn good in my bed, babe. Almost look like you belong there.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Almost?”
“Yeah. You need something to complete the look, but I can’t quite put my finger on what.”
Her eyes darkened. “Then you should try your tongue.”
