“The couch is longer, so would that be better for you since you’re taller?”
His shirt stretched across his back, his muscles pulling firm, and my mouth dried up.Damn wine.I took another sip of water, to be healthy of course, and let my gaze move toward his ass. The fabric hugged his glutes tight as he bent over and made sure the air mattress was set up.
He really was delicious.
“What?” He turned, eyes wide and focused on my mouth. “What did you say?”
“I think I asked about the couch.”
“No, theotherthing you said.” He seemed tight enough to break. His shoulders tense, his chest all thick, and his arms.Mm.His hands were fisted, and the movement caused his forearms to bulge.
“Uh,” I said, licking my lips to get moisture on them. “You’re tall?”
“Elle.” He stepped toward me, his nostrils flaring.
“I didn’t know I said anything else. To be fair, I’m tired and tipsy and you’re really hot. Oh! Did I say you were delicious out loud? Shit. I thought I’d thought it in my mind. Oops.” I giggled, the wine preventing any shame or embarrassment. That would surely come later. Cal looked in pain. I took pity on him. “Don’t worry, Mr. Three-Night Stand, I’m not hitting on you. Just admiring your body.” I gripped his forearm and squeezed.“These bad boys are dangerous. All these cords and muscles?” I traced one with my pointer finger, and he shivered.
Interesting.
He sucked in a breath. His skin was so warm to touch. “Elle, please.”
I wasn’t sure if it was a plead to continue to or to stop. There was fire dancing in his eyes, and I really wanted to explore that. But he stilled my hand with his and dropped it to my side. The fire disappeared from his gaze, and his mouth was set in a firm line, like he was pissed.
My stomach sank, and theoh shitsblasted through the wine filter. I felt stupid. My throat got tight, and my eyes almost prickled. The removal of my hand was pure rejection. I wasn’t even sure what I was offering, but it was a hell no from him, and I didn’t know how to handle that. With a shaky breath, I focused on getting pillows. “Uh, I’ll search the closet.”
“Elle, look—”
“No, it’s okay. It’s great. Please don’t.” I didn’t want to hear his thoughts. Not right now when I still felt the tingling from his touch only to be cooled down by the look in his eyes. The closet faced away from where he stood, thankfully, and I used the second to settle. Gabe legit had just warned me that Cal would hurt me.
Iknewbetter, but the pained expression on his face did me in. Did I think maybe, secretly, that I was different? Ugh, how fucking cliché. I wasn’t. It was the same with my family… I wasn’t extraordinary. I wasn’t one to break the mold or be an outlier when it came to a writing career.
Damn wine made me spiral in self-doubt. That was what this was. I sighed, took a few deep breaths in the safety of the closet, and grabbed two pillows and cases. There was an old gray sheet that would fit the air mattress, and I got that too. “Decide on where you want to sleep?”
“You take the air mattress.” He neared me and took the sheets out of my hand. “I’ll make it for you.”
If he looked at me, I wasn’t sure because I focused on the pattern of the pillow. It wasn’t fancy at all. God, I was tired. The constant working at the bar, then getting Lizzie’s room ready, then the wine…and the emotions I got around Cal. It was a lot. Gabe had two fuzzy blankets that he’d totally stolen from our parents’ house, and I grabbed the dark green one. I wanted to burrito myself and pass out.
“Here. Your bed is ready.”
“Thanks.” I ducked my head and fell onto the mattress, letting out a little oomph from the pressure on my chest. It wasn’t the coziest place to sleep, but it would work for a night. I fluffed my pillow and got comfortable. I was a stomach sleeper most of the time, and I made sure to face away from the couch.
Cal shuffled around for a bit before I heard him sink onto the couch. He was heavy so the springs creaked, and he exhaled, loudly, like something was on his mind. I sure as hell wasn’t gonna ask. Nope. I couldn’t handle being rejected twice in ten minutes. A girl only had so much confidence.
“We’re at your brother’s place, Elle,” he said, a few minutes later.
My eyes were closed and my breathing relaxed, but my mind wasn’t near ready to fall asleep. And then he’d said the most obvious statement ever.
“Yes, great observation.”
He laughed. “Wow, the attitude. I kinda like it. I meant,” he paused. “You touched me, and I fucking loved it. But we’re here, and your brother…doesn’t approve.”
Split right in the middle. I was thrilled to know he loved my touch, but I was annoyed at the excuse of my brother. “I wasn’t gonna strip down and fuck you, Cal. And, if Ididwant to do that, it should be up to me. Not my brother.”
Damn. That was bold. I smiled into my pillow where Cal couldn’t see. Maybe the lack of filter had a time and place. Normal me would’ve come up with that line hours or even days later. Plus, I was pretty sure I’d stunned him into silence. Five minutes had gone by without a response. The silence grew, and the hum of the fridge and the weight of the day got me sleepy. I could figure out the emotions I had, or didn’t have, for Cal tomorrow.
For now, I needed sleep.
CHAPTER
