“Hm?”
“Brie, are you okay?”
“Mm-hm.” I blink up at him through hooded, sleepy eyes. He’s still breathing heavy, mouth wet, cheeks tinged pink. If I weren’t about to be comatose, I’d need him againright now. My eyelids close on his image, too leaden to stay open.
His voice is in my ear. “Are you hungry?”
All I can do is shake my head one time. One motion from left to right.
His chuckle vibrates against my side as his arms snake beneath me. He picks me up and carries me somewhere even softer than the couch, draping a comforter over me.
He places a soft kiss on my temple. “So lucky I found you.”
CHAPTER 27
SAWYER
I slowly rousewith my favorite scent in my nose and a perfect ass in my crotch. I tighten my hold around the soft weight in my hand.
Blinking one eye open, I freeze. It’s Brie’s hair in my nose. Her ass presses against my hard-as-steel cock. My hand cups her boob.
Fuck. Just the memory of eating Brie out while she moaned my name has my dick flexing in my pajama pants.
Nope. Not coming in my pants a second time in twelve hours.
I slide my body back, watching for any sign she’s waking up, and slip out of bed. I started out last night sleeping on the couch, but it’s the same one I bought when I moved into my first studio apartment after coming back to Blue Ridge. My feet were hanging off one side, and I woke up an hour later with a crick in my neck. I moved to the bed, figuring I could stay on my side.
So much for that plan. I stop midway to the bathroom when I look back at Brie. She’s not on her side. She isn’teven in the middle of the bed. She is one-hundred-percent on my side of the bed.
My heart leaps.Shecame tomein sleep. A slow grin plays on my face and I walk into the bathroom with a bounce in my step as I replay every hot detail from last night . . . until I remember what she said.
Just once. We do this one time.
There I was, thinking I was making her mindless, and she had the wherewithal to lay ground rules.
If I had any self-control at all, I would have stopped things before they got out of hand, and had a real conversation with her. It was the ideal opportunity, stuck in this house with nowhere to go. But I just had to taste her, didn’t I.
My feelings for Brie have always made me foolish, but this takes the cake. The universe gifted me the perfect chance to set things right, and I squandered it.
I huff out a frustrated sigh as I look out the window. The snow isn’t blowing horizontally anymore, but it’s still coming down in big fluffy flakes. How much longer will we be held hostage together? Will she even speak to me when she gets up?
“You stupid idiot,” I say to my disheveled reflection.
This entire time, all I’ve wanted was for Brie to see me for who I am, not what I did. But last night wasn’t the way to do that. The truth is, she never would’ve come home with me if she had a choice. But she came because she didn’t, and I threw away my Get Out of Jail Free card because I have no self-control.
A one-time deal implies just that—one time together, then she’s done with me. Easily discarded, never to be thought about again.
I’m out of her system.
And, really, how can I blame her? I spent years tormenting her, the least I can do now is respect what she wants.
“Just be glad you had last night,” I mutter, turning away.
I have to respect herjust one timerule. I have to stay detached.
Even if it makes me crazy.
Even if I can still smell her.
