She turns to the check-in table and when I turn to grab my own bag, I run straight into a wall of muscle. My forehead bounces off of Luke’s chest and his hand grasps my upper arm to steady me.
“Whoa, easy there. You okay?”
No. Yes. I don’t freaking know.
I take a step away from him and rub my forehead. Good lord, who knew curlers had so much muscle anyway?
“I’m fine. You ready to go to our room? I’m suddenly exhausted.”
It’s only a little bit of a lie. I am tired after my game but my adrenaline is pumping at the thought of having this man in the same bed as me.
“Yep. I got your bag. Elevators are this way.” He motions to our left and signals for me to go first.
I make it two steps before I feel his hand on my lower back. Such a simple gesture and yet I’m nearly a puddle on the floor because of it.
Sharing a bed with Luke and not being able to touch him is going to be pure agony.
What the hell was I thinking?
I must be out of my goddamn mind.
Here I am, barely able to keep my shit together around Charlie, which by the way, is a new development I’m not too fond of. And now, not only did I agree to share a hotel room with her, we’re going to be sharing a bed.
Note to self: Google blue balls preventatives as soon as I’m alone. Because there’s no way I’m going to be able to keepthatsituation under control unless I figure something out.
Charlie steps into the elevator and I follow just behind her, hitting the button designated for our floor.
As soon as the elevator doors close, her scent envelops me like a warm hug. I can’t quite pinpoint what it is, it’s not something I’m familiar with, but at the same time it’s exactly how I imagined she’d smell. Something faintly sweet, maybe citrusy, with a hint of vanilla. It fills the space between us, clinging to the tension that’s already there. Every inhale, it sinks deeper and deeper inside of me and suddenly I’m all too aware of how close we’re standing together.
In just a few minutes we’ll be sharing a bed and I have to figure out a way to pretend that I don’t feel what I’m feeling. Desire. Want.Need.
I lace my fingers tightly together in front of me and focus on the glowing numbers next to the elevator doors, attempting to breathe in only through my mouth to escape her intoxicating scent. Except, I fail at that. I fail miserably.
As the elevator slows to a stop, relief and disappointment sit heavy on my chest. It’s sharp and aching. Part of me could’ve stayed locked in this space forever, drinking her in. And yet the rest of me was afraid the ride would never end.
The doors slide open, breaking the spell. Charlie exits first and the space immediately feels colder in her absence. I follow her out, carrying the ghost of her scent with me down the hallway. Each step is a reminder that the ride is over but we’ve barely even started.
Charlie looks over her shoulder at me. “Do you want me to grab my bag? Who knew this was the world’s longest hallway?”
I’m grateful for the distraction and her attempt to ease the tension, but all I can focus on is how much closer we are to that damn bed.
“I got it. We’re almost there.”
She gives me a smile and faces forward again. I stay half a step behind her, close enough to catch hints of that warm scent of hers and more than close enough to know how bad of an idea this is.
Charlie stops at the door and I stop breathing.
I was afraid I was the only one feeling this. Whatever the fuckthisis. I’m internally freaking out and yet Charlie has shown no signs of awkwardness or tension.
That is until she starts fumbling with her key card. She mutters a curse word under her breath and I can’t contain the bark of laughter that escapes me.
“Shut it, Lucas.” She glares at me and attempts to open the door again.
I’m standing behind her, too close if we’re being honest,but my body demands to be near her. I should take a step back. Ishouldbe adamant about sleeping on the floor.
One fucking bed. It’s all I can think about as she finally makes entrance into our hotel room.
“Holy shit. That was like breaking into Fort Knox.”
