Yeah, his heart fucking sped up, and he hated that.
On the way home, neither of them spoke, and the silence was tense. It was probably the longest he’d ever witnessed Aspen not speak before.
They were almost home when he shot a glance her way. “You’re not talking to me now?”
She leaned her head back. “I’m tired, Jesse.”
When he pulled into his driveway, he turned off the car and looked at her, only to see the even rise and fall of her chest.
“Aspen?”
Silence. She was asleep.
He reached over and slipped a lock of hair behind her ear, grazing the smooth skin of her cheek. A small hum slipped from her lips, and the sound shot right into his gut.
With tight muscles, he climbed out of the car and crossed over to her side.
She was soft in his arms as he carried her inside. And warm. And she kept making those sexy little humming sounds.
It was killing him. All of it.
He went straight to her room. A room that had been empty a couple months ago, but now there were pink bed linens, a fluffy purple clock, photos… It was all Aspen.
Gently, he laid her in bed and removed her heels before pulling the covers up.
Her eyes opened, a small frown on her brow. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.”
She rolled to the side, pulling the sheets over her body. “You still mad at me?”
“I could never be mad at you.”
She gave a soft laugh, holding up two fingers and showing the smallest gap. “You were a little mad. I forgive you too.”
“Good. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep otherwise.” Then he did something stupid. He leaned down and kissed her temple. He even let his lips linger. “Good night, Aspen.”
There was a slight shift in her breathing before she whispered, “Good night, Jesse.”
Without looking back, he left the room, almost damn well running to get away from her.
CHAPTER 7
Aspen’s stomach rolled and her eyes shot open.
She was going to be sick.
She slid out of bed, almost falling on her face in the process, and on her first step, stubbed her toe on the bedside table.
She cried out and scrunched her eyes, hopping and grabbing her toe.
Jesus freaking Christ.
Her belly rolled a second time, and she ran, ignoring the pain in her foot.
Damn her bedroom for not having an attached bathroom.
She’d almost made it to the bathroom when a very large, dark shadow appeared from seemingly nowhere, stopping in front of her.
