“Here, find us something to watch.” Rafe stands and hands me the computer before disappearing into the bathroom. He doesn’t bother closing the door the entire way, and I can hear him peeing. I blush. That’s kind of weird.
The water runs longer than it would take to just wash his hands, and I find myself peeking over at the door to see if I can observe what he’s doing instead of looking through the Netflix library on his computer.
When the water shuts off, I start furiously scrolling, pretending I’ve been looking the whole time. “Find anything?”
“Not really, what do you like?”
“I’m always down for a good scary movie. You?” He licks his lips and takes the laptop from my hands before sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I’m okay with scary, but I don’t really like the gory stuff,” I confess.
“If it gets bad, I’ll cover your eyes or distract you,” Rafe says while looking up at me. You’d think he would be much less intimidating this way, but we’re in his bedroom, and all I can think about is what we could do in his bed and if he’s had anyone else in it or plans to.
I take a deep breath and sit beside him. My heart is beating so fast, I wonder if he can hear it. Am I supposed to tell him I’m a virgin? Jesus, I’m getting ahead of myself. Rafe places his hand on my leg, and I realize I’ve been bouncing it.
“We can go back out to the living room,” he offers, obviously understanding where my nerves are coming from.
“No, it’s fine,” I reply with a scoff, trying to play it cool. “What did you find?” I ask, changing the subject.
“How about this? I haven’t seen it. Have you?”
“No.” I don’t even have to look at the screen to know. I don’t watch many scary movies.
Rafe sets the laptop next to him and bends down to untie his shoes. When he leans forward, his shirt rises, and I get a glimpse of a big tattoo swirling over his lower back.
He repositions himself with his back against the headboard. The pillows are all lined up behind him, and the laptop is over his legs. After a deep breath, I take off my own shoes and follow him. He watches me like he thinks I will bolt at any second.
“Good?” he asks when I’m settled next to him. His voice is low and a little deeper than usual.
I nod instead of replying. I’m afraid my voice will come out as a squeak. Rafe readjusts the laptop on his thighs and hits play.
Within minutes, I know I will never be able to focus on the movie. Every time he moves, I move. I’m hyperaware of him, even his breathing. I’m waiting for him to make a move, but he actually seems to be watching the movie.
If it wouldn’t be so obvious, I would bang my head against his posh headboard. I can’t believe I was thinking about sleeping with him when I don’t even know if he’s seeing anyone else. I make a promise to myself right then and there—while some chick is walking through a clearly haunted house in the movie—that if things go any further physically, or if he asks me out again, I will ask him.
“Want your water?” he inquires, and I actually jump. Rafe smiles at me, and it’s not the lopsided half-smile either. It’s a full-on grin. Goddamn, he’s gorgeous. “Are you always so jumpy?” he asks, leaning closer.
“I don’t think so.” Our lips are almost touching. He’s not kissing me, but I want him to.
“I’ll be right back,” he rasps, then slides off the bed, leaving me leaning toward his now empty spot. I watch his back as he exits the room, then look around again. There are some papers crumpled up on the nightstand, but they’re too far away for me to make out, and some loose change. I glance at the door, wondering if I have time to examine the papers before he gets back.
Instead of taking the chance and getting caught, I study the rest of the room. Like the living room, his bedroom is mostly empty. He doesn’t even have a dresser, yet there’s enough space to put my entire living room in here and then some.
A scream from the movie draws my attention, and I watch as a girl lying on the bed in a sheer white nightgown cowers in fear. The fluffy blanket is depressed as if an unseen force is crawling in bed with her. The hem of her gown rises slowly, exposing her thigh, and another startled yelp escapes her. She scoots back on the bed, snapping her knees together, giving me the impression she was just touched in an intimate place.
I squeeze my own legs closed in sympathy. That is kind of freaky. I look at the door again, expecting Rafe to be back any minute, but the only thing I notice is that all the lights are off in the hallway. I glance around as if the light in the room might flicker off, but it stays on. I hit the pause button on the computer. I’m not watching this movie by myself. I already think my house is haunted half the time anyway. I don’t need to be worrying about a ghost molesting me.
Several minutes pass before I hear the sound of footsteps in the hall. For a brief second, my brain tries to tell me it may not be Rafe, but I fight the urge to jump out of the bed and hide next to it.
He rounds the door with our drinks in his hand. “Sorry, I forgot my phone in the car,” he informs me, explaining why it took so long even before I asked. “Aw, did you get scared?” he teases, handing me my bottle and looking at the paused movie.
“I didn’t want you to miss anything.” I’m lying, and we both know it.
After setting his bottle on the nightstand, Rafe crawls into the bed. My heart actually skips a beat at the way he’s looking at me. “Just in case you did get scared, maybe I should try that distraction I promised,” he murmurs, moving until his lips are right in front of mine again. This time, he doesn’t leave me waiting, he closes the distance and kisses me. It’s just as rough as it was at the carnival, but this time when he pushes against me, I have the bed under my back, and it allows me to feel the hard lines of his body against mine.
I trail my fingers over his sides, lifting his shirt as I go so I can feel his warm skin under my palms. I want to know what that tattoo looks like. I want to know what all of him looks like. Rafe’s hands begin to wander too. His fingers thread into my hair, and I tilt my head, answering his unspoken demand to follow his lead.
I inch down the bed until my neck is cradled against his down pillows and he’s curled over me. He pulls back, and his eyes roam over my face.
