Page 24

He stifles a laugh. “Sure, wouldn’t want you to make a mess on my bedroom floor, now would we?”

I inhale a sharp breath, his words swirling between us. Words that imply something other than my need to pee, I fear.

“Thank you,” I say hurriedly, rushing past him. I slam the bathroom door shut, pressing my back against it.

Well, shit… I don’t think I could have made that any weirder if I tried.

Chapter Twelve

Brad

I shouldn’t smile. I shouldn’t have just enjoyed the way she squirmed when I caught her watching me. Shouldn’t have gotten off in the shower when she was just meters away. But I couldn’t help myself. There was no way I could share a bed with her and hold on to my restraint without giving myself a release.

I may be able to exercise self-restraint and create boundaries in most areas of my life, but I know my limits. I never expected her to know what I was doing, let alone watch, but a sick and twisted part of me loved that she did, and from her flushed cheeks and uneven breathing, I think she enjoyed it too.

I dry off and opt for a pair of black boxer briefs. Usually, I would sleep naked, but I’m not a complete ass. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, and truthfully, if she wants me to sleep on the floor of my guest room, I will. She exits thebathroom, looking sheepish, unable to give me eye contact, and that’s not what I want.

I walk towards her, where she stands awkwardly, phone still clutched in her hand.

“Hey, are you okay? I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” I say, keeping my tone soft.

She sighs in relief, and her shoulders sag. “Oh god, no, I’m sorry. I was the one who invaded your privacy. I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable. I’m so—” I cut off her words by tugging her toward me, and she falls into my chest. I wrap my arms around her like I’ve done so many times before. I know she’s three words away from going into full blown Gabriella rambling mode; something she does when she’s nervous, and that’s the last thing I want her to feel because before anything else, she’s my friend.

She relaxes in my hold, and we stand like that for a little while. It’s been a really weird evening. I cup her face and angle her to look up at me. “We good?” I say, eyeing her curiously. A wide smile presses across her face.

“Yeah, we’re good.”

“Good,” I say, pressing a kiss to her forehead and releasing the hold I have on her, needing to create a little distance because my brain is fried after tonight, and now isn’t the time to make sense of it. I look at the clock and it’s just gone 2 am. Knowing I’ll be up in less than six hours, I walk towards my side of the bed and pull back the covers. She places her phone on the nightstand, and I flick off the lights, leaving only the glow of the Brooklyn Bridge filling the room.

“Do you want me to close the blinds?” I ask her as we slide into bed.

‘No, I like the lights,” she says softly, her words followed by a yawn. She wriggles around and moves so far over that she’s practically hanging off the bed.

“Gabriella, I’m not going to pounce on you; there’s no need to cling to the edge of the bed like a koala hanging from a tree.”

A little laugh falls from her lips, and she buries her face in the pillow.

“I know that. I just wanted to give you your space. You know, kind of like I should have earlier.”

I run my tongue along my bottom lip, grinning to myself.

God, this girl.

I reach over, hooking my arm around her waist, and tug her towards me, leaving a safe distance between our bodies for obvious reasons. She squeals in surprise, and I nuzzle my face into her silk hair. She smells of cherries and of something I shouldn’t want. I should move my arm, I should give her the space a friend would, but when I feel her hand grip my arm and she wriggles a little closer, I leave my arm exactly where it is and let myself drift off holding on to the girl who is looking less like my friend and a lot like someone I desire.

Just before sleep steals me I whisper, “Night, Mia cara.”

Warmth blankets my body and a bright light makes it difficult for my eyes to adjust. It takes a few moments for my vision to focus. The morning sun streams through the windows, filling the room with an orange glow. I turn to look at my alarm clock: 8.54 am.

What the hell? I never sleep this late.

I attempt to move my left arm, but something stops me. My eyes drift down to where my body is tangled with another.

Gabriella.

Her head rests against my chest, and her arm lies across my bare torso. Her leg hooks over mine, and my hand is resting against her bare hip. Her dark hair splayed out behind, and the morning sun gives her skin a glow. She looks like an angel, sleeping so peacefully in my arms that I don’t want to move.

Usually, I would be panicked, thrown off kilter that my entire morning is now out of whack. I’ve missed my early morning run, and usually by now, even though it’s a Saturday, I’d be heading to the club or doing something work related. But with Gabriella in my arms, the need to complete those tasks seems insignificant. A calmness I’m not used to washes over me, and I tighten my grip, not wanting to let her go. I’ve never been the dating kind, never really spent the night sleeping in the same bed as a woman, especially one where nothing happened, but I think I could get used to this feeling and this view.