Lying on the floor, I reply. “Yes?”
“Why are you on the floor?”
“It’s much cooler down here. Plus, the floor feels great on my back,” I say sarcastically.
“Right,” she drawls. “Well, can you get up?”
Nodding, I decide that’s probably best right now.
Pushing myself off the ground, I stand over the bed and watch as Lainey’s eyes trail up and down my body.
Am I crazy, or did her cheeks brighten a bit when her eyes hit the bulge in my pants? There’s no way, right? Well, even so, I can feel myself hardening.
Lainey’s eyes meet mine, and I swear there’s a heat in them that I’m not used to seeing aimed at me.
“I’m sorry about last night. You didn’t have to stay and take care of me,” she tells me, and I immediately shake my head.
“I did,” is all I reply. I don’t know what made me stay all night. I don’t know if it’s because she’s Ellie’s best friend, if it’s because I feel a bit responsible for her or if it’s because it’s her and I think I’d do just about anything for her.
Something told me to stay and make sure she was alright, so I did.
Sitting upward, Lainey lets the sheet fall off her and watches my face for a reaction. I take a small intake of breath as I notice the peaked nipples underneath the thin fabric of her dress.
“Holland?” she practically whispers.
Without looking away, I say, “Yes?”
“I remember last night,” she begins, and I don’t know whether that’s a good or bad thing.
I nod slowly. “Okay… what exactly do you remember?”
She shifts, almost uncomfortably, her eyes darting down to the bed as she plays with the white sheet in her hands.
“Everything,” she says, peering up at me and looking like a god damn angel.
I swallow hard, knowing exactly what she’s trying to say. She’s referring to the kiss and my refusal to touch her while she was intoxicated.
“Okay…”
“You told me to ask you today, and now I am… asking you to kiss me,” she says, biting her bottom lip and causing my fucking cock to spring to life. Is she serious? Does she know what she’s asking for?
“You want me to kiss you? Me, Holland? The guy you practically despise?” I ask, because I don’t want her doing anything she’ll regret, or using this as a way to distract herself from her problems.
Lainey giggles, still biting that damn lip as her eyes search my face.
“I don’t despise you, Monroe. You have your quirks, and you did used to annoy the shit out if me, but I don’t know. I’m slightly less annoyed with your presence now,” she shrugs. I bark out a laugh, not meaning for it to be so abrupt, but her explanation caught me off guard.
“Slightly less annoyed, huh?” I ask, running my hand through my messed-up hair. Lainey nods, smiling slightly.
“Yeah, I mean, you’re still my best friend’s brother. You’re supposed to be a smidge annoying, right?”
“Right,” I nod. We haven’t taken our eyes off of each other, and I am physically holding myself back from attacking her and feasting on her body.
Taking a step forward, I stop right at the edge of the bed, right next to Lainey who has now moved over an inch to let me join her on the bed.
I take a seat, the bed dipping slightly under my weight. My arm brushes against hers and a spike of adrenaline rushes down my spine.
“You sure you want this?” I ask breathily. God, I hope she says yes, because at this point, I don’t think I could pull myself away.
