Page 63

“I’m saying I’m a cuddler.” I stand, holding out my hand. “Come on, kook.”
Surprise washes over her face, maybe a touch of relief, as she puts her hand in mine and lets me lead her to her bedroom. It’s not hard to find it. Her entire home is about the size of my master bathroom and closet.
“Pink sheets, hm?” I quirk one eyebrow and show her a teasing smile. “How very Barbie princess of you.”
“Excuse you.” She sits on the edge of the bed and folds a corner of the comforter down, showing off more of the feminine linens. “These are dusty rose. Far more sophisticated than pink.”
“Mhm.” I pull out my phone and text Byron, dismissing him for the evening. After placing my phone on the nightstand, I undo my belt, sliding it out of the belt loops slowly. “I don’t know what the protocol is here, so I’m going to keep undressing until you say stop.”
In a show of charades, she pretends to zip her lips shut, lock the corner of her mouth, then throw the key over her shoulders.
A soft, amused chuckle escapes my throat. “How long has it been since you had sex?”
Her eyes roll up as she searches her brain. “Six months, I think?”
“I thought your breakup was more recent than that?” I unbutton my sleeves, one by one.
“Yeah, we weren’t the kind of couple that stayed locked in the bedroom.” Her lips twist into a grimace. “Full disclosure, I’ve only been with two guys. I lost my virginity to some asshole football player in college. It was so awful it put me off to sex for a while. The next time was Jesse and he wasn’t exactly a testosterone-fueled guy. I’m probably not as experienced as you. I um… I hope that’s not a problem. I’ll try to keep up.”
“Keep up? What exactly do you think I’m into?”
“Well, you said you wanted to have me in all these different positions. I’m not one hundred percent sure how bendy I am. But I’ll try.” She gives a slight shrug, her expression unreadable. “You said at House of Blues you just got out of a serious relationship. How long has it been for you?”
I’m certain I never said my relationship ended recently. But I let her draw her own conclusions because I can’t go there. I can’t think about Elise. If I do, I’ll go bolting from this room, leaving Spencer all sorts of confused.
“Longer than six months,” I answer simply.
“Really? But you’re so hot,” she blurts out.
I grin at her compliment as I casually unfasten the top few buttons of my shirt. “Thank you. Is there a certain sex quota ‘hot people’ have to hit that I’m unaware of?”
She laughs freely, breaking a little of the tension. “No, I just figured hot people go at it like bunnies. If I were as good lookingas you, I could probably bring a different man home every night if I wanted. Not that I would.”
“Good. Don’t do that. But you know what I think?” I pull off my shirt and toss it aside before undoing my pants button. That catches Spencer’s attention. She freezes, averting her gaze.
“What?” She fists the top sheet, bunching it in her hand like she’s trying to brace herself.
“I think you’re so fixated on your sister, you don’t notice people noticing you. You’re not as ‘good looking’ as me, Spencer. You’re way out of my league.”
She rolls her eyes, unwilling to accept my flattery. “If you’re trying to earn sex, Nate, I already offered.”
It’s my turn to laugh again. A deep, throaty chuckle rumbles from within me as I drop my pants and kick them to the side. “How about I stop here?” I ask once I’m in my underwear.
“Should I—” She tugs on the hem of her pajama top. “I mean, do you want me to?”
“Lie down,” I command as I cross the room to turn off the overhead light. The bed squeaks as she shuffles. Once she’s flat on the mattress, I climb into the other side, silently cursing the cheap, lumpy mattress. I mentally add,new bedto my list of to-dos. Grabbing Spencer from behind, I pull her against me, her back to my chest. I sigh in pleasure at the warmth of her body. It’s been a long time since I’ve slept next to someone. I forgot how nice it is to not feel so alone.
She reaches behind and her hand goes searching, but I quickly catch it and gently place it back in front of her. I wrap my hand around hers, holding her curious fingers in place. “We’re just cuddling.” I’m not only speaking to Spencer, but also my cock which seems determined to spring to life.
“Don’t you want to?” she asks.
Yes.But also no. I underestimated what this means to me. Wanting someone and caring about them are two differentthings. Sleeping with my assistant has evolved into a situation with much bigger consequences. Between her college mishap and lazy-sounding ex-fiancé, one more lackluster guy in the sheets might turn her into a nun. I have to approach this with a little more tact.
“Of course I do. But sleeping next to you is a novelty, too.”
“I guess you weren’t kidding about being a cuddler.”
I smile into her hair. “I want to take you out first. Spoil you rotten for a night. Let me earn it.”