My feet are heavy as I make my way upstairs, processing her warning. Why does she assume I’m going to hurt Rosalie? Obviously, she’s lacking some of the nuance and reasoning for why Rosalie is here, but am I really such a heartless bastard? Does she think I’m not good enough for her friend?
As I climb into the attic, Rosalie’s worried gaze greets me.
“She’s gone.” I force a smile.
“Oh, my God!” Instant relief floods Rosalie’s face. She sinks back into the sofa and presses a hand to her heart. “That was too close.”
“I agree.” I frown as I join her on the sofa. I can’t seem to shake my sister’s commentary. “Though, would it be the end of the world if she found you here?”
“Yes.” Her voice is exasperated.
“Oh.” I deflate into the opposite corner of the couch. “I didn’t realize I was such a loser.”
“What?” Rosalie sits up and her head shakes. “Jackson, this has nothing to do with you.”
I don’t see how that’s possible. “Why, then?”
She presses her thumbs against her temple.
“I’m too high for this conversation.”
“Sorry.”
This really did ruin our buzz. And more importantly, it ruined what we had just started. She and I are back to fully clothed, and that’s a travesty.
“It’s not your fault.” She sighs, her gaze eating up the space between us with longing. “Maybe this is the universe sending us a sign.”
“And what sign would that be?”
“Maybe it’s better we don’t.” She motions between us. “I mean, it’ll only get messy.”
Oh, no.There’s no way I’m letting her regret this.
“I wholeheartedly disagree.”
“Seriously? Your sister almost caught us in a compromising situation.”
“No way she would have come up here.” I don’t mention it’s because Maeve would’ve assumed I was up here with a lady friend. “She was raiding my kitchen. That’s it. No hidden message from the universe. Just a person who forgot a few items from her weekly shopping trip. Besides, if fate could talk, I’d think it’d want us to get naked.”
“Fate?” Her lips press together, almost as if she’s attempting to hide her smile. But I spot the humor in her eyes. “Not your dick?”
I scoot a little closer on the sofa. I should tell her that my sister knows she’s here. I should. But if I do, this thing between us is done.
“I’ve been reading the book you gave me.”
“Uh huh?”
“I don’t know if it’s me or that damn book, but there’s something you should know.” My voice lowers with each syllable but I lean close so she can hear.
“And what’s that?” The breathlessness to her words sends a spike of arousal through my body. Does she feel it too? Is her heart pounding in her chest the way mine is?
I lean in as if I plan to kiss her, but instead of claiming her lips with mine, I turn my chin at the last second and whisper against the shell of her ear.
“All I can think about is fucking you.”
“Oh.” She gasps. She doesn’t argue or push me away. She wants this, too. My hand slides up her thigh.
“I think we could make the rest of this week a lot more fun if we stop fighting and just give in.”
