He pulled me in front of him, so my back was flush to his chest, and he hugged my waist with his large arms. His presence around me was overwhelming in the best way possible. “C’mon, Al, you know these words,” he whispered in my ear. He gave me a wink, and the look on his face said,C’mon, play along with me.
Biting my lip, I joined him for the chorus.
“Thatta girl,” he whispered in a gravelly voice, making a thrill race down to my core.
________
“Wait, my shoe!” I came to a stop in the hallway and JP barreled into me. His large arm wrapped around my waist to keep us from toppling over.
“Jeez, Al,” he said with a chuckle. “Supposed to be resting my shoulder.”
“Your shoulder?” I squeaked out, craning my neck to look at him.
He ignored my question and lifted my rogue sandal in front of my face. “Got it right here.”
I clapped a hand over my mouth to cover my laughing. “My hero.”
He shook his head ruefully and grinned. “You’re drunk, Al.”
“You are, too,” I pushed a finger into his chest.
He rubbed his bloodshot eyes. “I definitely am. You have some water?”
“Ooh, yes, good idea.” Moving a little quicker down the length of the skinny hallway, I made it to my door and swiped us in, then stumbled toward my mini-fridge.
Except when I turned to hand him his water, his bleary eyes were roving over my entire bedroom, making me pause.
Shit.
I hadn't thought this through. This was the first time a man had ever stepped foot inside of here, and I suddenly felt way too exposed.
“Sorry, it’s kind of messy,” I said, quickly moving around to pick up rogue clothes littering the floor.
“No, it’s not,” he said kindly. He grasped my hips to stop me and pulled me against him. “No time for cleaning, just sleeping,” he said in a groggy voice, then he pretty much picked me up and flopped us onto my tiny bed, making me giggle.
I tried to get us situated under my sheets but accidentally elbowed him in the process, making anoofpop out of his mouth.
“Sorry,” I cringed.
He just chuckled. “Stay still. Just let me.” With a grunt, he pretty much manhandled us into a good position, tugging my hips closer so that I laid right beside him, my cheek against his chest, one arm glued to my side, the other splayed across his large chess. He lazily looped his arm around my lower back to pull me closer, and it felt so incredibly comforting. It feltright.
“Good?” he asked. His hand gently swiped back and forth over my arm draped across his chest.
More than good,I thought as I nodded against him. “Ya know, I never took you as a cuddler, Jameson.”
His happy eyes met mine. “You like it or hate it?”
“I like it,” I said with a sigh.A bubble of uneasiness startedforming in my chest.
“Sounds like that’s a problem?” he mumbled sleepily.
Yes, it was.
Because I liked it way too much.
Being held close like this, feeling his steady heartbeat, his warm skin against mine, the scratchiness of his beard against my hair, it completely evaporated all the work I’d done to convince myself I was good with being alone. And it made me regret wasting so many nights hiding away by myself.
Because I loved this feeling.
