I snort, my eyes widening at her words. “Baby, I’m not inviting them to watch.”
“And you’ll explain being in my room, how exactly?”
Her room? What the fuck is she talking about?
She’s moved back over to her side of the car and is pulling on those sexy leggings.
“I won’t be in your room. You’ll be in mine, in my bed, in my house.”
“Reed, I live at home, with two very overprotective parents. How am I supposed to explain staying at yours?”
“You don’t tell them it’s my house, not yet. Tell them you’re with a friend for the weekend.”
“The whole weekend? Reed, that’s impossible,” her voice is rising with her agitation.
“No. What’s impossible is you thinking I’m going to spend a night away from you.” I’m getting pissed now. Is she honestly trying to tell me we’ll only spend the night together when we’re in San Francisco?
“Reed…” Her voice wavers. “What is this? What are we doing?” Before I can answer her question, she continues talking. “From what I’ve heard and seen, you’ve never been a relationship guy. What are we doing? Is this not ‘just sex’ for you?”
What the fuck? Is that what she’s thought these past few days? Is that what she wants?
Fuck! No!
“Is that what I was? Just someone to break you in?” My words come out harsher than I meant them to, but the thought of that being all this is, hurts.
For the first time in my life I want more, so much more.
“NO! Reed, no! I told you I’ve been crushing on you for years. I’ve wanted this for so long. I just don’t understand what’s happeningbetween us. I can’t get attached to you, Reed. Not if this is casual for you. I can’t start thinking this is more than it is and get my heart broken.”
Thank fuck.
This I can deal with. I can show her how serious we are, but her not wanting us? That would have destroyed me.
“Oh, baby girl. It might have taken me longer to get here than you, but I’m all in. I told you once I started this that I wouldn’t be able to stop. I’ll never get enough of you, Bella. Do you understand? You’re mine now, and I’m never letting you go.”
Chapter Twelve
Bella
I walk into my parents’ house to find it empty, not that I expected anything different. Dad will still be at work and Mom will be at some social event, or out shopping in preparation for her next one.
To say Reed was unhappy about me not staying with him this evening was an understatement. If a forty-three-year-old could throw a tantrum, he definitely would have. However, I managed to convince him that a night apart wouldn’t be the end of the world and that I needed to come up with a suitable reason to be away for the next two nights.
The girls are definitely going to need to cover for me; thankfully, both Mia and Harper have their own places. Ava, like me, lives at home. It was just her and her Dad until a few years ago when her Dad’snew wife, and Ava’s new step-brother moved in, but that is a whole other story.
Checking my wristwatch I note it’s dinner time and, as if on cue, my stomach grumbles.
I drop my bag by the bottom of the stairs, deciding that I’ll take it up once I’ve had something to eat.
Checking the contents of the fridge, I’m disappointed to not find any leftovers. It’s not that I can’t cook, it’s just that right now I’m super exhausted and just want something easy. Spotting the ham and a loaf of bread, I decide to make myself a quick sandwich.
I hear my phone ping from my bag in the entrance as I’m tidying up the kitchen. I take my plate with my sandwich and an apple and head upstairs, grabbing my bag along the way. I check my phone as I walk through my bedroom door, unsurprised to see who it’s from.
Reed: Tell me again why I’ve walked into my house all alone?
Bella: One night, it’s one night without me
Reed: One night too many
