“No, you mean I can stay?”
“Just for tonight…”
“Like old times.”
“Yeah,” I croaked, turning on my side, “exactly like old times.”
Except in the old times I’d practiced restraint, because not practicing it meant that I would give up my secret identity to her father.
Not practicing restraint now meant I’d either get shot by Tex or do the honors myself, on account of tainting her purity.
“Thanks, Phoenix.” She sighed happily, and her deep breathing soon followed.
I was going to get no sleep, and I had nobody to blame but myself — well, myself and my inability to say no to the one girl I really needed to be saying no to.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Falling asleep with a nightmare, waking up to a dream
Bee
HOW PATHETIC COULD A girl get? I heard a noise, one small noise, and next thing I knew I was in Phoenix’s room. His smell was so familiar, so comforting, despite his jack-assery, that I lay down on his bed and started reading, fully planning on leaving in an hour or so, once I’d calmed down.
Instead? I fell asleep.
And woke up with him freaking out because he’d found me there. But he’d said I could stay… and here I was waking up again. Next to his warmth.
Not just touching his perfect body or staring at his naked chest, but straight up tangled in his legs, in his arms, my head resting in the crook of his neck.
It felt right.
So right that I was afraid I was dreaming, afraid he was going to wake up and yell at me for doing the one thing I promised I wouldn’t do — touch him.
He was a wall of solid muscle and warmth. I could lay in bed with him, just touching his smooth skin forever.
Slowly my gaze slide down his torso to where the V of his muscles dipped beneath the blankets.
I knew the minute he woke up, because the very muscles I was currently salivating over, tensed so extremely that it seemed like he was trying to do a sit up without actually moving.
“Bee.” His voice was gruff. “What are you doing?”
Staring, lusting, imagining— Really, take your pick. “Taking advantage of you with my eyes. What’s it look like I’m doing?”
“Whatever it is, it’s creepy. Stop it.”
I smiled and took my chances by looking at him.
Bad choice.
His hair had started to grow out a bit more since he shaved it so close to his head; pieces of light blond peeked out from some of the dark, and, to my amazement, it had a slight curl to it. Not reaching out and touching it was killing me inside. It seemed Phoenix could use more of that — touching.
“You look surprised,” he said, eyes narrowing. “The open-mouthed look isn’t so hot on you, Bee.”
“I’m touching you.”
“You are.”
“In your space.”
“Right again.”
“And you aren’t yelling.”
With a sigh, he gently pushed me away. “I think I can manage not to be an ass first thing in the morning.”
“Weird, since usually I imagine you spend your mornings kicking puppies and shooting birds that chirp.” I smiled.
“Hilarious.” He raised his hands above his head.
My body hummed with want. The man was gorgeous, so gorgeous it was impossible not to stare at every single inch of him. “I… um, owe you an… apology.”
“What was that?” Holy crap, I really was dreaming. I’d fallen asleep in the monster’s bed and woken up to find a prince.
Phoenix’s face tensed. “An apology.”
“Say it with a smile, and maybe I’ll believe you.”
“So that’s what she wants in the morning…”
“Amongst other things.” I reached for the blanket and covered up the lower half of his body.
He hissed.
“Hey, don’t kill a girl for trying.”
“Let’s make a deal.”
“Wow!” I moved to my knees and let out a laugh. “First, you don’t wake up yelling. Second, you apologize, and now… you want to make a deal? Did you fall into a radioactive tub of Prozac last night or something?”
His lips twitched.
“Aw, it’s okay to smile.” I leaned in and whispered, “I won’t tell.”
His eyes darted to my lips and stayed there, as if he was waging a war within his mind as to whether or not he wanted to taste. I leaned forward; he met me halfway.
My body buzzed with warmth. Was this really happening?
He stopped moving and cupped my face with both of his hands. “I’m an ass… but everything I do has a purpose.” He released a soft sigh. “But when that purpose ends up hurting you more than helping, then I apologize. So, I’m sorry for what I said yesterday. You are… and always will be… worth the effort, just not from a guy like me. But someone better.” He tilted his head. “Yes.”
“But—”
He placed his fingers against my lips. “Don’t ruin the moment by talking.”
I puffed out a frustrated breath.
“So this deal…”
His fingers were still pressed against me; it took every ounce of willpower I had not to either lick them or take a small bite and savor his taste.
“…if I smile and play nice, will you please return the favor this weekend? No running off with Pike, no late-night make-out sessions, no going out of my sight, and, for the love of God, no more YouTube videos of turtles.” He removed his hand and crossed his arms.