Chapter 20
Jessie
The sliding glass door screeches as I yank it open, rushing inside. I curse the adorable open floor plan of this tiny house as I hide in the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
I am an idiot.
What the hell was I thinking letting Trey kiss me? I practically asked him to. He went slow, and he gave me every opportunity to push him away, but I didn’t. I should’ve stopped it before it ever started because that was the best kiss of my life. I could’ve stayed in that hot tub kissing him until the sun came up, but that’s not our reality.
Between this and strip gin, we’re pushing every boundary and crossing way too many lines. I’ve let my guard down since our paint fight—openly flirting and spending way too much time together—but this went way past flirting and straight into fuck-me-in-a-hot-tub territory.
If that’s what he can do with his tongue during a kiss, what else can he do with it?
Stop it. Don’t think about that.
I’ve been pent up since I met with Daryl to give him more money last week. After he left the note on my car, he’s been increasingly agitated, and it has me on edge, constantly looking over my shoulder. I haven’t seen or heard from him in two days, but I can’t let my guard down. I blame my lack of self-preservation when it comes to Trey on my fried nerves.
I’m not just keeping Trey at arm’s length to protect myself; I’m keeping him at arm’s length to protecthim. All it takes is me pissing off Daryl one time, and he’ll take it out on Trey.
“That can’t happen again. He’s not safe with me. Plus, he’s leaving in a few weeks anyway, so it’s pointless, and I refuse to beplayedby aplayer.That’s why he kisses so well—no man who looks like him and kisses like that is a one-woman man. Heartbreak is the last thing I need,” I mumble to myself.
Oh my gosh. I’m going insane, talking to myself in the bathroom.
I shake my head, clearing it before I crack open the door and peek out. All clear—he must still be outside. I scurry to my suitcase and grab my pajamas before locking myself back in the bathroom.
I shower, change, and do my skincare. I’m almost finished when I hear the sliding patio door open and close. I can hear Trey’s bare feet pad through the space and the clink of two wine glasses being placed in the sink. He’s leaning on the small kitchen counter when I exit the bathroom. I head straight for my suitcase, grabbing a pair of socks without making eye contact.
“Jessie,” Trey exhales.
I stiffen, but don’t turn around to face him. “Don’t. We don’t need to talk about it. It won’t happen again.”
“Why the hell not?”
I mentally sputter. I wasn’t expecting him to question me. Trey has always flirted, but he’s never pushed the subject, not likethis. But then again, we’ve never kissed before. I’ve also never dry-humped him.
Stupid. Stupid.
I face him, willing my voice to steady. “Because it won’t. It’s a bad idea;we’rea bad idea. Leave it at that. Please . . .” My words trail off.
He drags a hand down his face and nods.
Relieved the subject has been dropped, I move to the bed and pull back the covers. I do a quick count, assessing the situation before grabbing both pillows off the chairs in the living space to join the four on the bed. I start neatly tucking them under the covers, starting by the foot of the bed, working my way up.
“Uh, what are you doing?” Trey’s voice halts my movements.
“Building a pillow wall. Duh.”
He scoffs. “A pillow wall?”
I nod and resume my work.
“Hawkins, do you need a pillow wall in order to keep your hands off me?”
I don’t need to look; I can hear the cocky smirk in his words. I whip a pillow his way so quickly he doesn’t have time to react. It smacks him in the face, giving meimmensesatisfaction.
He laughs and tosses the pillow back onto the bed before grabbing a change of clothes and going into the bathroom, but not before he stops behind me and whispers in my ear. “If you want to touch me, all you have to do is ask, baby.”
I swallow, his deep rasp causes wetness to gather between my legs for the second time tonight.
