When Arik came out a few minutes later in a pair of shorts, no shirt, she had all she could do to pull her eyes away.
She hadn’t planned this out that well.
Was he teasing her? Testing her?
Trying to light the sheets on fire? Because the way her toes were curling and squirming around, she was positive the cotton was going to ignite in seconds.
And that smirk on his face. Yeah, he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
On purpose most likely.
Two could play at that game. She could remove her shorts but wouldn’t.
That’d be childish.
Just like him grabbing the pillow from the other side of the bed and tossing it on the couch that barely fit the two of them sitting on it.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “This bed is plenty big enough.”
“What?”
“We’re both adults and have slept with other people. I mean, I’m assuming you’ve spent the night with another person, but maybe I’m wrong.”
“I have,” he said. “Many times.”
“Stop bragging,” she said, smiling. “Get in bed. It’s huge. We’ve been on a few dates, we aren’t strangers, and if it makes you feel better, we can put a wall of pillows up between us. I’ll stay on my side, I promise.”
His reaction was exactly what she’d been going for.
Wide eyes, mouth open, then lips tilting to the side.
“Okay, okay. If you promise to keep your hands to yourself, then I suppose I can sleep on this side, hanging off the edge.”
“Don’t be a wuss.”
He laughed and pulled the covers back, sliding in next to her with his shorts, that he had to lift and shift down.
She’d bet anything he wasn’t used to sleeping with as many clothes on either.
“Anything you normally watch before bed? Or do you read? Talk to yourself? Meditate?”
“TV is good,” she said. “I don’t care what. I try not to watch anything that will get my heart racing; otherwise it defeats the purpose of lulling me to sleep.”
“Guess porn is out,” he said.
He wanted to play some more. “Porn is good. That puts me right to sleep. Go ahead.”
The stare he sent her had the laugh bubbling up her chest and escaping out in a snorting sound, which caused his eyebrows to rise higher.
“You’re pulling my leg, right?”
“I can’t pull your leg way over there,” she said, grinning, then fluffing her pillows and lying down. “Put on anything you want. I’m not fussy.”
“It’s only eight thirty,” he said. “Do you normally go to sleep this early?”
“No. I get ready around nine, then watch TV for an hour or until I fall asleep. But unless you want to talk, there isn’t much to do here. That couch isn’t all that comfortable either. Or maybe you’re used to living in hotels and can relax easier than me.”
“Depends on the place. I guess you’re right. I’m used to looking at it as my home and entertaining myself.” He yawned and then stretched. Not even exaggerated. “But it’s been a long day, so TV is good. Tomorrow I’ll spend most of my time back here apologizing to you for my family’s behavior.”
