Her eyes lingered on mine, like she was listening for what Ididn’tsay. Then she shook her head once, slow and decisive. “My bed is insanely comfortable. I think you need to try it.”
I couldn’t help but grin, catching the way she’d phrased it. How the invitation was disguised as logistics, a way to keep control without pushing herself past it.
“Are you asking me to go to bed with you, sunshine?”
Her head tipped back and a breathtaking smile crested her lips as she giggled. It caught me completely off guard. It wasn’t just the laugh, but the way joy lingered there, hazy from sleep, like she’d momentarily forgotten to hold herself so carefully.
I stared, a little stunned, like I’d been given a glimpse of something rare and unrepeatable. The moment felt high and open, my chest full, my heartbeat calm, aware only of the simple, grounding relief of breathing deeply and being exactly where I was.
“I’m saying,” she said, eyes glittering, “that you should come with me.”
She shifted out from under my arm and stood, and I gave myself permission to look as she stretched her strong, toned body. The sinewy, hard-earned muscles flexed across her stomach as she lifted her arms, her shirt rising just enough to reveal more than she probably intended—and enough that I found myself hoping, quietly and without shame, that one day I might see all of her.
It wasn’t leering or hunger that settled in my body. Okay, it wasn’tjusthunger, it was also admiration. This was a body built by discipline and sacrifice, by early mornings and stubborn resilience, and watching her move through the stretch, beautiful and strong, it was inspiring. It did things to me.
“Getting a good look, O’Riley?”
My gaze snapped to her smirking face.
“How many times have you checked me out?”
I scoffed, heat shooting up my neck. “Too many to fecking count.”
That made her pause, her arms dropping and eyes locked on my rapidly burning cheeks. “Even in college?”
“I always thought you were beautiful,” I said confidently, then because I wasn’t sure how deep this should go on our first night together, I added, “and stubborn, headstrong, unwilling to back down from an argument—Oof.”
She launched herself at me, knocking the breath from my lungs as we tumbled back onto the couch.
“I take back the offer of my bed,” she declared. “You can stay right here.”
I groaned, but it wasn’t out of protest because there she was, laying on me again. Lifting a hand, I brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face, letting my thumb linger at her temple, watching pink crawl onto her cheeks too.
“But you’re also kind, smart,” I said quietly, “and an incredible leader. Which is annoying because it’s impossible to argue with you nowadays.”
“Why’s that?” she whispered.
“Because I see what you’re fighting for.” I swallowed deeply, trying not to get lost in her baby blue irises. “And I think you’re brave for doing it, anyway.” I didn’t add that I wanted to be there to support her; I didn’t think she’d like that. It was never about me.
I thought I’d said too much, that this would really be the moment she’d ask me to go. Instead, her eyebrows pinched as she stared at me, as though she was cataloguing. Then she blinked and launched herself upright.
“Come on,” she said, already heading down the hallway. I followed because I was helpless not to.
Her room was dim, save for the light from the lamp she flicked on. Everything was neutral and neat. She didn’t hesitate to ridherself of her pants. I caught a glimpse of her fresh satin panties as she climbed onto the bed and stretched out on her side. Fuck, she was sensational to watch.
Removing my pants too, I caught her eye. “I can leave them on if you’d—”
“Get in the bed, Connor.” She sighed like she was fed up, but there was an undertone of lightness there.
She patted the mattress beside her, laying back, sinking into it, the sheets cool and clean, the foam pillowy and dream-like and I climbed in beside her.
“Okay,” I admitted, holding back a groan. “You weren’t exaggerating.”
“I love it when I’m right.”
I remembered well.
I turned my head toward her and the distance between us felt too much. “It’s big, though.”
