“Can’t sleep in these clothes, Tuck.”
“Well, you shouldn’t be doing a striptease either.”
Jensen laughed. “It’s not like you’ve never seen boobs before.”
I coughed. “I haven’t seen yours.”And that’s how it’s going to stay.
“They’re covered now, oh innocent one.”
I slowly turned around, wondering if it might be some trick, but Jensen was, in fact, wearing a worn t-shirt.
Her jeans were halfway down her thighs, and she glared at them. “I need your help with these. They’re too damn tight.”
No shit, those things were too damn form-fitting. They should be illegal. In fact, I was going to take them with me and burn them so Jensen and her swaying hips could never tempt me again. I crossed to the bed and crouched to help her. Slowly, I peeled the denim from her long, tanned legs. My knuckles grazed skin that was so soft I had to bite back a curse. After what felt like both an eternity and a second, the jeans fell to the floor.
“Thank you,” Jensen breathed, collapsing back onto the mattress.
“Come on, let’s get you under the covers.” I threw pillow after decorative pillow to the floor. “Why do you have all these fucking pillows?” I growled.
Jensen giggled. “My bed is my nest. I like lots of cozy things.”
“I think you’ve got cozy covered.”
She grinned up at me as she slipped those never-ending legs beneath the sheets and wiggled down. “My bed’s the best.”
I was sure it was, but that fact had nothing to do with five hundred pillows and a stack of blankets a foot high. “Get some rest.”
Jensen’s hand shot out and grasped mine. “Will you stay till I fall asleep?” My brow furrowed. “I get nightmares,” she whispered. “If I know you’re here, I won’t be so scared to fall asleep.”
In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to resurrect Bryce Elkins so I could be the one to end his life. I schooled my features and squeezed Jensen’s hand. “Close your eyes. I’ll be right here.”
Jensen’s gaze held mine for a fraction longer, and then she let her eyes close. Slowly, her breathing evened out and deepened. Her hand relaxed in mine. But still, I sat there, as though I could guard against the things in her nightmares.
I wasn’t sure how much time passed, but eventually, I forced myself to stand. I leaned over Jensen and kissed one temple and then the other before my lips rested on her forehead. I kept them pressed there for longer than I should have, soaking up the feel of her skin. When I released her, I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”
14
Jensen
A little drummerboy played a staccato beat in my brain. I cracked open one eyelid and moaned. It was too bright, way too damn bright to do anything that involved eyes being open. I would just have to keep my eyes shut until after sunset.
A buzzing noise came from the nightstand, and I opened one eye a sliver. Just enough to spot my cell phone and reach for it.
Mom:I hope you don’t mind but we told Noah we’d take him to brunch and to see a movie today. Is that all right?
There was a God in Heaven. I loved my little boy, but if there was one thing I couldn’t handle with the hangover from hell, it was Noah and his buckets full of energy.
Me:That’s great. Thanks so much. Give him a hug for me.
Mom:Will do. Hope you had fun last night.
Last night… I bolted straight up in bed as a slew of memories slammed into me. Dancing with the girls. Tequila shots. A handsy dance partner. Tuck. Me telling Tuck I probably didn’t remember how to have sex. Almost barfing all over Tuck. Doing some sort of awkward strip down in front of Tuck.
My face flamed. I was going to die one thousand deaths from embarrassment. I covered my face with my hands and groaned. Why had I drunk that much? I knew I didn’t have a high tolerance anymore.
I let my hands drop and looked around the room as if Tuck himself might jump out and start laughing in my face. On my bedside table sat a large glass of water, a ginger ale, a banana, a sleeve of crackers, and a couple of Tylenol. There was a note beside them in Tuck’s rough scrawl.This should help.It was the exact combination of things I’d eaten when I had horrible morning sickness during my first trimester. And Tuck had remembered.
Warmth filled my belly. Then I remembered peeling off my shirt in front of him. I groaned, shoving my head back against my pillows. “Kill me now.”
