I wave to the waitress as I hold the door open for Katie; the ding of the bell rings as we step out into the cool evening air.
Heading to the tiny car hidden behind the huge truck, I smile, knowing I’m going to piss her off even more. “Except the night you slept cuddled up with me?” I raise an eyebrow as thecrunch of her boots scrapes along the gravel. Her brows pinch together, a tight line deepening between them as the realization kicks in. Her mouth opens, but she says nothing.
I wink at her, get in the car, and after twenty seconds of waiting, I honk the horn and watch her nearly fall on her ass from shock.
“You asshole!” she screeches as she gets in, slapping my arm.
“Get all your screams out now, princess. That way we can both have a good night's sleep.” I laugh, pulling out of the parking lot.
???
The horn honking may have been a mistake.
The she-devil is quick with her retribution and has proven that karma is an absolute bitch.
She slips out of the bathroom in a fluffy white robe that the front office had provided in lieu of a spare room. I’m surprised it looks as new as it does, given the state of the rest of the amenities. She trails a hand over the dresser where my clothes are neatly folded, another habit the army instilled in me. Her fingers run over the khaki T-shirt I’d worn today under my shirt, and she lifts it to inspect it.
“You don’t mind me wearing this, do you? My pajamas don’t seem appropriate now, and I don’t have a sleep shirt.” Her voice is low and husky,and the vibration of it heads straight to the base of my cock.
Down, boy. This is just another trick, and you’re gonna be deflating in five minutes when you realize.
“Sure. Take what you need.” I swallow.
I adjust myself on the bed, turning the page of some murder mystery I’m reading. My eyes trail up to her as she smirks. Her eyes dipping to the bulge at the top of my crossed legs. Just as I’m about to look away, she tugs down the robe, letting it fall to the floor.
I look away, but not before I catch a glimpse of a matching lace panty and bra set in a deep burgundy. Fucking hell. The red wine color makes me wanna lick her up. She’s always got to level it up. I honk a horn one time, and she’s got me drooling over an underwear set that I’ll never get to rip off her.
She lifts her arms above her head, bending to each side as she does some faux stretches. Her tits lift up, her stomach toned and taut, the lace sitting high on her hip, and I can only imagine the way it looks dipping down between her buttocks. Two can play at this game.
I pull my T-shirt off, uncrossing my legs as I spread them enough for her to get a better view of my bulge, which I won’t deny, apparently loves the faux stretching. Dropping the T-shirt to the floor like a mic drop, she smirks as she trails her gaze down my chest and abs. I’m clenching every muscle I have. I don’t even know why. This ispurely biological. My body is responding to her body. That’s all, I lie to myself.
My breath catches in my throat as she runs a finger along the bedding, inches from my leg, my side, my arm, and then she dips down, picking up the T-shirt I’d just discarded in a ditch attempt to get a point on the board.
“I think I prefer this one,” she whispers, and before I could stop myself, I’m nodding. Swallowing the lump that has taken up residence in my throat.
Instead of pulling it on over her bra, she turns around, and oh Jesus...her ass. The lace. The perfectly nestled thong that I want to bite off with my fucking teeth. But it’s like one of those magic shows where you just don’t know where to look, because she twists her arm back and casually flicks the clasp of her bra, her bare back revealed as she sweeps her long red hair over her shoulder.
She pauses for a moment before lifting her arms and pulling my T-shirt over her head. It’s way too big for her—in fact, it engulfs her. But now I know exactly what she’s hiding underneath. Except she hid those perfect tits away from me just to keep one thing back. Her head peeks over her shoulder, and she graces me with an innocent smile.
“Thanks, Jonesy. You’re the best.”
Fuck my life.
Chapter Ten
Katie
When you play the game, you have to know when you’re about to get burned. And Jonesy and I are at a scorching level. One of us needs to admit defeat, or we’ll be naked within the next thirty minutes, dry-humping each other and saying it doesn’t count because we’re only trying to make the other one chicken out.
And as I round the end of the bed, feeling his hazel eyes burning every inch of my skin, I take a deep breath. The smell of his shirt invades my senses; the cologne he wears is so manly, a panty-melting mixture of sandalwood and leather. I’m almost thankful I took the initiative to wear his T-shirt to sleep.
I slip under the covers as he turns another page of his book, and I pull out my phone, setting my alarm and putting on a meditation video that helps me sleep when my brain is too busy. Lying back and closing my eyes, I turn off my light, even though it’s early.
I hear the rustle of pages folding closed and the flick of the light switch. I’m about to tell him he can keep reading if he wants, but before I can open my mouth, he rolls over, his rough hand makes its way under my—hisT-shirt and pulls me against him. His lips are on my neck, his nose inhaling the scent of my shampoo, and I feel my blood racing. As he nestles into me, his hand pulls me back by my stomach so my butt is against his dickagain.
But this time I’m not fighting it. I’m not scrambling away. Has he worn me down? Or am I just too exhausted from the relentless dreams of being chased?
I sigh, moving my head so he can tuck his arm under my neck and accept that for now, this might be just what I need.
