Page 33 of The Image of You

“Really. I’m not sure I can wait until tomorrow.”

“How will—”

I shook my head, interrupting her. “We’ll figure it out, as long as you want it.”

“I do.”

“You don’t have to go, do you?”

“I have things I need to do,” she murmured, not sounding convinced.

“I know, but you could stay a little longer?” I asked quietly, running my finger along her jawline and down her neck, making her shiver. “Maybe go for a walk or have a little nap?”

I helped her off the stool, surprised when she wrapped her arms around me, staring up at me beseechingly. “Bradley is just a friend, Adam. Please don’t be upset with me.”

“Ally, I’m not.” I barked out a humorless laugh. “Even if he weren’t, I have no right to tell you who you can or can’t see. We’ve only just met.” I fisted her long braid, feeling the softness of her hair on my skin. “As much as I want to have that right, I know it’s too soon. I acted like a jerk. I’m sorry.”

“I’ll cancel.”

“No. You have to go, and I assume he does too. So, you go together, the way you planned—” I pulled her flush to my chest “—as friends.” I dropped a kiss onto her head. “Do you have any other dates planned?”

“There are a couple of events coming up.”

“And then?”

“I’ll have to look. I’m sure there is something on the schedule. We’ll probably see each other for coffee or dinner at some point.”

I didn’t want her seeing him at all.

I rested my forehead to hers, trying to figure out when I had become this jealous caveman. I had never felt possessive about anything in my life until I met her.

Still, I didn’t make any demands. I didn’t tell her she couldn’t help her friend. I resisted the urge to tell her she was mine now and the only person she could date—fake or otherwise—was me. She already had enough people in her life telling her what she should or shouldn’t do.

“Can we discuss this again before then?”

She tilted her head back. “Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“I don’t really feel like going for a walk.”

“No?”

She shook her head. “I’m kinda tired.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

I drew her closer, my lips hovering over hers. “Maybe just the nap, then?”

“Yeah, that’d be good.”

“Indeed.”

CHAPTER SIX

I pulled my mouth away from hers with a groan. Kissing Ally was highly addictive. The way she whispered my name and tugged at my hair with her fingers drove me crazy. The smoothness of her skin as I slipped my hands under her shirt was a tease of something still forbidden. Having her body pressed into mine was torture, because I wanted more—even if it was too soon. What was supposed to be a nap was now dangerously close to becoming me tearing her clothes off and fucking her deep into my mattress. I rolled off the bed, breathing hard. “Naptime is over,” I stated.