“I can sleep on it. It’s fine,” I push back.
“My mom would be disappointed in me if I did that,” he says with a straight face.
“You don’t have one.” I roll my eyes playfully but quickly realize that’s not the right thing to say. He’s not Lily, with whom I share a dark sense of humor.
“Teddy.” He must see the horror on my face. “I’m teasing you.”
“Oh, right. It’s hard to tell with your face. You’re always like this.” I stiffen all my features the best that I can, trying to show him how stoic he looks normally. Except for when I get him to give me one of those rare smiles. His lips twitch up on one side, softening him. "It's a big bed," I point out. "We could share it," I offer, hoping I'm not crossing a line or making this awkward.
"Yes," he says without hesitation. "We'll share it. I'll give you the bathroom first."
"Such a gentleman," I tell him before snagging one of my bags from next to the door where he'd placed it.
When I get into the bathroom, I almost die when I see myself in the mirror. My hair is wild, and there are a few smudges of dirt on my clothes. I'm a mess. I quickly shower and find a pair of pajamas.
Great, Teddy, you had to pack the silliest of pajamas. Most of mine are matching sets with loose shorts and an oversized tee. That's fine, but it's the silly teddy bears all over them that don'tfeel so cute anymore. I probably lean into my name more than I should. Don’t get me wrong; the PJs are adorable, but now that I’m going to be wearing them in front of a handsome man, they don’t seem as appealing as they once did.
I ditch the shorts; the shirt falls past them anyways. I don't want to be a silly, dorky girl with matching pajamas. I want him to see me as a woman. When I step back out of the bathroom, I almost die again.
He's changed into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, except now I can see his bare arms. The man is covered in ink! I open and close my mouth. For once in my life, I’m truly at a loss for words. I didn’t think this man could get any hotter. How wrong I’d been.
"They’re just tattoos." He runs his hand up one arm like he's brushing them away. Does he think I'm judging them?
“They’re cool. I just wasn’t expecting it is all.” I walk over to him to get a closer look.
“They scare some people.” He doesn’t stop me when I start to trace one of them.
“Then people are dumb because you’re the nicest.” He didn’t have to offer to help me, but here he is doing it out of the kindness of his heart. “But I understand. I too get looks over how I dress.” People are always judging. I see my clothing as expression. It’s fun too.
“I like how you dress.” He sounds defensive of me.
“Really?”
“Yes.” He doesn’t elaborate more, but I believe him. Killian had no reason to say it if he didn’t mean it. I can’t fathom him lying to me.
"Did you have a preference for a side?" I ask him.
"No, I normally sleep alone. Do you?"
"I sleep with a giant cat. I just fit into whatever spot she's not taking up."
"Minnie really sleeps with you?" Ahh, he remembered her name. He is paying attention to all my ramblings.
"Not always, but sometimes."
"I'll take the side near the door."
"Sounds like a plan." I hop over to the other side of the bed and lie down. "Should we make plans for tomorrow?" I pat his side of the bed. He stands there and audibly swallows. "What's wrong?"
"Maybe I should sleep on the floor."
"What?" Disappointment slams into me harder than it should, making me realize how much I did want to share a bed with him.
His eyes roam up my bare legs.
"They're not hairy, and I'll keep them on my side.” I rub them.
"I wouldn't care if they were. I want you."
