“This feels wrong,” I say, even though my mouth is already filling with saliva.
“It is. But I’m the man, and we’re in bed, and when we’re in bed you do what you’re told, don’t you?”
I’m not sure if it’s a power play that makes me do what he says, or just the fact that I want him so bad, but I wrap my lips around his shaft. But I’ve barely gotten started when a bang rattles the hotel door.
“Oh God,” I say, leaping backward. “Who?—”
“Stay here.” Jake is out of bed in a flash, his face set. “Whatever happens, don’t leave this room.”
I pull the sheets to my chest, Thrasher, Shannon and Henry’s faces swirling through my mind. My former bullies have been circling all day, and they know I’m staying here. It’s not hard to think they’ve figured out which room I’m staying in.
“Ada!” Anotherpounding knock at the door. “Ada, are you in there?”
The tightness in my chest releases. “It’s Cece.”
“Christ,” Jake growls. “I was about to… I don’t even fuckin’ know. Want me to let her in?”
I bite my lip. I do, but God only knows if she’s here to make up, resume our fight, or slap me for almost banging her brother.
“Okay,” I say at last. “But, also, you’re naked?”
“Already under control,” Jake says, knotting a towel around his waist.
There’s another loud series of knocks, and I want to pull the covers over my head. Apparently, the drama is nowhere near done tonight.
26
Cece
“Addy? Addy?” My knocking grows more frantic by the second, but I keep my voice low. I have no desire to be kicked out of Nikau Palms. After spending what feels like a billion hours listening to Will Sharpe’s autobiographical exploits, I need a shower more than I ever have in my life, and there’s no way I'm risking losing my reservation at the one place I’m willing to take my clothes off right now.
“Adalasia Renaldo, open this door right now or I swear to God, I’ll tell Aggie you think all her cooking is shit!”
The door swings open.
“Bit drastic, Cee.”
Jake is standing in the doorway in nothing but a towel, his tattooed arms folded across his chest. For a second, my heart leaps. He’s here! He came for her! He’s clearly post-nut! Then I remember his coffee with Jenny and scowl at him. Fucking doesn’t mean forgiving, so until I know he’s made amends, Jake Graves-Holland is still far from my good books.
“Where’s Ada?” I snap.
“Bedroom,” he says, stepping aside.
“Addy?”
“Cee?”
I walk into the room and find Ada sitting up in bed, the covers pulled to her chest.
“Hi,” she says. She looks scared, and my heart clenches. I’ve been running on fumes since I left Silverlight, and having listened to her voicemail in the car over, I only now remember we’re still technically fighting.
“Fuck,” I say, “I’m so sorry about everything.”
She closes her eyes. “Me too.”
“Me more, especially the part where I said you should act normal. You’re better than normal. You’reamazing.”
“Thank you, and I know that’s not what you meant when you said ‘act normal.’ You meant ‘normal for me.’” She opens her arms. “Come here.”
