It took a moment for Mia to catch on, but she reached out and took the jeans from my hand, balling them up. “We’re alone.”
It was like she read my mind.
I felt my whole body shudder and relax.
I had no intention of jumping her bones. Well, maybe I had a few ideas, but I had some restraint. I just hoped I had enough of it.
“Come on.”
I followed her creamy thighs, yep, I’d looked while I’d scooped up my stuff, down the hall like a puppy on a leash. A puppy that was doing everything he could to try and hide just how happy he really was.
If I thought for a minute trying to control my imagination and body was difficult as I shuffled towards Mia’s bedroom, then right now I was in hell. Why I’d ever agreed to this, I’d never know. One day I might, but right now, right now I was fucking clueless. I was sitting on Mia’s bed, surrounded by her scent, wearing nothing by my socks, jocks, and a grey t-shirt that shouldn’t really be seen in public. One sleeve the thread had come loose, and the hem had fallen down, while the bottom sported a white spot where I’d obviously spilt something. I was a freaking embarrassment. Mia was either completely oblivious or she was too polite to say anything. I hoped for the first.
When Mia shifted her head, I sucked in a breath and held it. The TV in the corner of her room was on some crime show, with the volume low. To be honest, even after half an hour of watching it, I couldn’t tell you what the hell was happening. I couldn’t even remember the chick who died. I mean, how could I? Lying on her side, with her head on a pillow in my lap, was Mia. She was tucked in a tiny ball. Up against me, her warmth set my skin on fire. For ten minutes, I’d argued with myself where to put my hand. In the end, Mia had taken the indecision away from me. She’d grabbed my hand, placed it on her hip, and held it there. Fuck, it felt good. It felt like it belonged. My fingers itched to move, but I fought the compulsion. My hands anywhere on Mia’s scorching hot body was enough. For now.
“Stop watching me,” Mia admonished.
My mouth fell open and I was surprised Mia didn’t lift her eyes at the sound. “How did you know?”
“I just did.”
There was an honesty in her answer I didn’t understand, but couldn’t help but to admire.
The episode ended and another began. My eyes felt heavy. I needed to get my shit sorted out. Mia was becoming too important too quickly. It was scary as fuck. I wasn’t in a position to deal with that. Not after the letter that had arrived yesterday. I refused to make promises I wasn’t sure I could keep. Especially when Mia came with her own baggage. She hasn’t said a lot, not yet…she didn’t have to. The signs were there. The gym that was like a fortress. Her odd living situation. Her reluctance to let people in. Let men in. Let me in. After spending more than five minutes with her, you could tell she was closed off and hiding. I just had to figure out whether or not she was worth the fight.
One look at the pixie in my lap and there was no question.
She was worth it.
Every day of the week.
Every. Fucking. Day.
I couldn’t help it. I leant down and kissed her forehead. There was something protective about it. Fuck if I know why I did it, or where it came from, I just couldn’t stop myself.
“What was that for?” her voice came, soft and sleepy, and it was sexy as hell.
It took me a minute…longer than it should have. Longer than was acceptable. I shrugged my shoulders. “I…I don’t know.” It was the god’s honest truth. I had no idea what the hell I was doing.
“Oh, okay.” Mia yawned, stretched…she looked like a cat. A soft mewl passed her lips as her eyes fell closed. My girl was sleepy. Without a word she wriggled around, smacking me in the face with her pillow until she was lying beside me, her thigh thrown across mine. “Can you turn off the light?”
I was whipped. Without arguing, I reached out and clicked off the light before trying to slide out from under her, but she wasn’t making it easy. In fact, she was making it hard. Rock fucking hard.
“Stop moving and go to sleep.”
“You want me to stay?” The shock in my voice was evident for all to hear.
My heart was pounding. This woman couldn’t be serious. I barely knew her. Hell, I was barely dressed. And I was in her parents’ house. Who knew when they’d be home? For all I knew, they might have already come in. Shit! My palms were sweaty and I was panicking.
“Derek!” her voice grabbed my attention. “Lie down. Shut up. Go to sleep.”
“I can’t stay, Tinkerbell.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
I’m sure it was a trick question. There couldn’t be a right answer. I’d bet money on it.
“Shouldn’t. Mia…”
