Page 64 of Tangled Hearts

Iwake to warmth. But not just bed warmth or sun streaming in the windows warmth, butNicwarmth. We’re both naked, chest to chest, our legs tangled together, and his soft breath ruffling my hair.

My stomach does a nervous little flip. What does this mean? Did I push too far last night? Does he regret it? Is he going to pull away again?

It doesn’t seem like he’s going to do that. He said he wouldn’t, but what if he does… What if this doesn’t mean anything to him? I guess I wouldn’t blame him. He barely knows me, and really, what the fuck do I even have to offer him?

He had afiancé.He loved someone enough that he wanted to actuallymarry them.Meanwhile, I’m a fucking twenty-year-old virgin who has, like, nothing going for me. Ugh. I try to pull away, but his arm tightens.

“Where are you going?”

I freeze. “Nowhere. Just…”

He yawns loudly, all dramatic and overdone, and it makes me smile. “Nowhere is right. I can practicallyhearyour brain. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly. Probably too damn quick because he pulls back and looks down at me. He has no right looking this good so early in the morning.

He narrows his eyes. “Not nothing. Tell me.”

I sigh. “Overthinking.”

“Oh? Overthinking what, doll?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I huff out a breath and look away from him, choosing to stare at the ceiling. “This.”

There’s silence. And it makes my heart pound. I’m scared to even look at him. He swallows hard enough that I can hear it. “Did I do something you didn’t like? Are you having regrets?”

I sit up in a rush, turning to look at him. “What?You’re worriedI’mhaving regrets? No.” I shake my head. “I’m worriedyouare.” He opens his mouth to speak, but I ramble on, cutting him off. “It’s like. You had a whole fiancé. An entire life. I’m just a fucking twenty-year-old virgin. I’m not good enough for you at all.” I suck in a breath, and Nic’s eyes widen. “I’m barely even a functioning adult, and you’re all…” I wave my hand in front of him like that’s going to get my point across somehow.

“All what?” Nic asks softly.

“I don’t know.” I scrub a hand down my face, trying not to cry. Jesus. I really am acting like a kid right now. “All adult and together and shit.”

He laughs. Actually laughs. “Eli, I was living in a hotel until you invited me here. And my fiancé cheated on me. With my best friend.”

I growl. “Don’t remind me.”

He lets out another chuckle, then his face turns serious. “Last night was everything to me, Eli. The last couple of weeks in general have been. You said you aren’t good enough for me, but God, you’re so fucking wrong.”

“How can you say that?” I ask.

“Because it’s the truth. What happened to ruthless Eli going after what he wants?”

I laugh. I forgot I said that. “I was mostly meaning like… spa days. Not people. I usually just try to be really good and hope they don’t leave.” I try to say the words with humor, but they don’t come out that way. They come out all serious and kind of sad.

Nic sits up and cups my face in his hands. “You’re so fucking good. You don’t even have to try.” A shiver runs down my spine. He drops a kiss to my lips. “My good boy.”

I inhale a deep breath, my cock hardening. God, what is wrong with me that I like those words so much? He glances down, then chuckles. “So eager.”

“Shut up,” I murmur, my face getting hot. “I can’t help it. You just say stuff, and it makes me all… ugh.”

“Hmm. What stuff?” He kisses my lips again, then tilts my head to the side and drags his nose down my neck.

“My good boy,” I whisper, cheeks still burning. “It’s so embarrassing.”

He chuckles against my throat. “Liking it? Or wanting to be it?”

He bites down on my shoulder, then soothes the sting with his tongue. “Both.”

He kisses my throat, moving slowly up toward my jaw, then he nips at my skin there, making me gasp. “That might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”