Page 130 of The Illicit Play

That empty mattress beside me is horrible and depressing and… when the fuck did Grady sneak out?

I must have been completely passed out, because I didn’t even hear him.

With a little huff, I tuck my wayward curls behind my ear and flop back down onto my pillow.

Of course he snuck out. Be logical about this. He wasn’t supposed to be there.

Grrr. My brain is right, and this is so annoying.

He belongs beside me. As we made love last night, I felt it. He felt it. I could tell by the look in his eyes after he came and gazed down at me like I was something special.

The tender kiss he gave me just before he lay down beside me and pulled me into his arms…

It was all so meant to be, which means he can’t go sneaking out in the middle of the night!

Throwing back the covers with a huff, I grab my pajamas off the floor and slip them back on. The wood is cold beneath my feet when I hit the bare floorboards in the hallway, and I rise to my tiptoes, sneaking down the hallway.

Glancing over my shoulder, I pause outside Grady’s room. I don’t want to risk knocking and alerting anyone to the fact that I’m here. Everyone should be asleep anyway. It’s like five in the morning.

With a wince, I ease the door open, my face bunching at the creak. Going still, I listen for any other movements in the house and don’t relax until three full beats of silence greet me.

Releasing my breath, I slip into Grady’s room and close his door, padding through the dark and slipping into his bed. It’s warm and delicious, his hot body working like an electric blanket, and I smile as I pull the covers around myself and snuggle up against him.

He’s still kind of sleepy and murmurs something unintelligible as I tuck myself into his back.

“Your feet are freezing, woman,” he complains.

“Sorry.” I giggle, sliding them up his leg until he snatches my thigh and keeps me in place.

He’s still half-asleep as he rolls me over and spoons me from behind. I lie in blissful drowsiness until I feel him tense behind me.

“What are you doing in my bed?”

Aw crap, he’s fully awake.

Glancing over my shoulder, I give him a sweet smile and innocently blink. “Good morning.”

He groans, rolling onto his back and whisper-barking, “Your brother is going to kill me.”

I shuffle around, hiding my face in the crook of his neck before gently kissing that soft skin just beneath his morning whiskers.

“I’m serious, Blake. If any of the guys see you sneaking out of here…”

“You snuck out of my room,” I argue.

“At two in the morning when everyone was asleep.”

“Everyone is still asleep. It’s only five fifteen.”

“And everyone will be getting up for practice in like ten minutes. How are you planning on leaving without being spotted?”

My head pops up, and I stare at the doorway. “I’ll think of something. It’s all about timing. Why don’t I just wait in here until after you’ve left?”

He gives me a doubtful snort, and I whip a surprised look at him.

“What? I’ve been sneaking around all year. I’m good at this. And everyone will think I’m in my room. Seriously, stop making such a big deal and just let me snuggle.”

The way his eyebrows wrinkle tells me he doesn’t really want to hear that I’m an expert sneak, so I drop my head with a sigh, resting my forehead against his shoulder.