“Yeah, no problem.”She looks around, confused.“I didn’t see her leave.”
“I think she’s with Mason, but I want to make sure.”
Breanna’s mouth twists.“And interrupt?If she’s with Mason, they might be…”
Gen is the last person to have casual sex at a party.I’m certain I won’t interrupt anything like that, but there’s a wide range in between.I hate to ruin Mason’s moves, but I’m not in the mood to trust anyone right now.
“I’ll cover my eyes before I walk through any doors.”
Breanna laughs.As we part, she turns to say something to Adam a couple of feet away, but he’s talking to a different girl this time.Breanna spins in the opposite direction and slams back her drink.
I do not see that relationship lasting.And I wouldn’t blame Breanna if she were the one to end it.
After making my way to the second floor, I round a corner and a hand reaches out, pulling me inside one of the bedrooms.“Gahhh!”
“It’s me.”Jaeger chuckles near my ear.
Nice.He thinks this is funny?He almost stopped my heart with that maneuver.
“What are you doing?”I punch him in the stomach, which only bruises my knuckles.
He looks down and shrugs it off, then guides me through the dark room by the shoulders.It’s small—a second bedroom that seems to serve as an office, with a couch against the wall.
Before I know what’s happening, Jaeger plasters me to his chest and falls backward onto the couch.
I’m sprawled on top of him, legs sliding off his waist in an inelegant partial straddle.He lies there with a goofy grin on his face, his arms loosely draped over my back.
I could get up if I wanted, but I don’t.“Well, this is”—I glance pointedly at my position atop him—“interesting.”
He squeezes me lightly.
Jaeger is enormous compared to most guys, but I’ve never felt afraid with him.In fact, lying on top of his warm, utterly masculine body is amazing, and oddly comforting.
I study the unguarded look in his eyes.He’s not as rumpled as Mason, but, by my estimate, he’s three sheets to the wind.“How many beers does it take to topple a giant?”
Jaeger squints and raises one hand.His fingers flick as if he’s counting.After an absurdly long time, in which I yawn and examine my nails while lying on my hot man-chaise, he finally says, “Twelve?No, fourteen—we downed two this morning.”
“Fourteen!How are you even conscious?”I press my fingers to his neck, pretending to check for a pulse.
His baseball-glove-sized paw captures my hand and flattens it against his chest, his eyes closing contentedly.After a second of hesitation, I lay my head below his chin and consider how strange this moment is.I’m on Jaeger, in a loverlike pose, only he’smy friend.And yet this is the only place I want to be.I won’t analyze that thought too closely.
After a minute, Jaeger’s breathing changes.
What the…He did not just fall asleep.We may be friends, but I’m stilla woman, and, I like to think, fairly attractive.
I squirm a little to test my theory.
He doesn’t move.A light purr emanates from his throat, growing deep and steady.
Goddammit, he fell asleep!
Great.Just great.What does it say when a guy passes out with a girl plastered on top of him?The hits to my ego just keep on coming.
I press one ear to his wide chest, listening to him breathe.After a while, it grows creepy—on my part, not his—so I roll off my man-chaise and stand, collecting the remains of my dignity.I wouldn’t mind cuddling longer, but in Jaeger’s unconscious state, that would make it weird.
After exiting the room quietly on a frustrated sigh, I close the door behind me.This party was just getting fun, hanging out alone with Jaeger—until he passed out.
Down the hall another door opens.Gen walks out, followed by Mason.She sees me and relief washes over her face.
