“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a code.”
She yawns. “Whatever. You’re shit liars.” She nudges her head back. “Play with my hair, please.”
Kenta obediently starts brushing through her blonde waves.
“Diva,” I mumble.
She just bats her eyelashes at me and pulls me closer.
We stay like that for a while. I can feel Briar slowly falling asleep on top of me, her breaths evening out and her body getting heavier. I stroke a hand slowly over her chest, feeling her heart beating under my fingers. There’s a kernel of emotion burning behind my rib cage.
“Shouldn’t someone be working?” Kenta mutters. “Smith. You got to eat dinner with her. Get up.”
Glen groans, heaving himself out of bed.
“No—” Briar rouses and reaches after him, but he presses a hand to the centre of her chest, pushing her gently back down onto the mattress.
“I’ve got patrol, lass.”
She tilts her head up for a kiss. He slips his hand under her chin, kissing her deeply, then pulls away, pressing his lips to her forehead. “Call me if you need me.” He steps to the door.
“Wait!” She cries out as he reaches for the handle. He pauses. “I need you. I’m horny again.”
He snorts. “Nice try. Carter, give her a kiss from me.”
I pull her into me, brushing my lips across hers. She sighs, snuggling up against me, and falls asleep again in seconds.
“Matt.”
I wake up in a hot, bright room, panting. My body is slick with sweat, my heart is pounding like I just ran ten miles, and my muscles are cramping.
“Matt,” someone calls.
I blink blearily around me. The reading lamp is on. Briar is sitting up next to me, watching me closely. Her blonde hair is falling around her face.
“Matt?” She says again, and I realise she’s squeezing my shoulder. “Are you awake? Or just creepily dream-staring at me?”
I blink hard. My eyes are wet.
Jesus.
I sit up and run my hands over my face. “Princess.”
“Hey.” She strokes through my sweaty hair. “You had a nightmare. I’m glad to inform you that nothing you just dreamt of is real, and you’re actually in bed with a beautiful naked woman. What an upgrade.”
My shoulders slump. “Shit,” I mutter. “I woke you up.”
She shrugs. “Not a big deal.”
“You’ve got a big day tomorrow. I should…” I start to roll out of the bed. Embarrassment is thumping through me. This is exactly what I was afraid of.
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, come back to bed, you little dipshit,” she mutters, trying to tug me back into her. “I’m not done hugging you yet. Here.” She takes my hand and slides it up to her breasts. “Touch my tits, that will make you feel loads better.”
I’m too tired to argue, so I just let her roll me closer, pressing my face into her cleavage. On the other side of the bed, Kenta shifts, reaching over and groggily patting my head. “You’re fine, mate,” he slurs, and Briar smothers a giggle.
The door cracks open. Glen glances in, taking in the scene, gun in hand.
“He’s fine,” Briar whispers.
