“Juliette, you okay to get your pants? I’m going to run to my room and grab you a bottle of water.”
“I’m a grown ass woman, pal. I can take my own pants off. But I really wish you would do it for me.” She mumbles that last part under her breath. I stifle a groan and run next door like my ass is on fire.
I grab the bottle of water I stashed in my backpack earlier today and take a few deep breaths to steady myself before unlocking the adjoining door on my side and walking back into her room. She’s already in bed, comforter pulled up to her chin and blonde hair spread out all over the pillow. She looks so cozy that my arms literally ache with the need to wrap her up and hold onto her all night. Approaching the bed, I sit on the side and look down at her. She gives me half a grin.
“You think you can sit up and drink some water? In the morning you’ll be glad you did.”
“You got it, Hot Shot.”
She sits up and downs half the bottle in one go before handing it back to me. Then, before I even have a chance to set the bottle on the nightstand, she leans forward and wraps her arms around my neck. Surprised by the move, it takes me a second before I respond by wrapping her up just like I wanted and pulling her close. She feels so good against me, and my insides are a tangle of emotion and arousal.
“Thanks, Asher,” she whispers into my ear.
“Thanks for what?”
“For tonight. It was fun. I never drink too much with anyone except for Hallie, Molly, and Emma, and sometimes Ben and his friends. I never feel comfortable being out of control. But I feel comfortable with you. Safe.”
I tighten my arms around her waist. I am steeped inwarmth and emotion and fierce gratitude for whatever power made it so that I get to live on this earth at the same time as Julie Parker. That I was lucky enough to cross paths with her. To be here right now, in this moment, with her.
I drop my head and kiss the spot where her shoulder meets her neck.
“You’re always safe with me, Juliette.”
“I know,” she whispers back. And the fact that she does, that she gets it, feels like the biggest gift she could give me.
Untangling myself from her, I gently push her back until her head lays on the pillows.
“Sure you don’t want to join me here Hot Shot? It’s a really big bed.”
I stroke my hand over her hair, pushing it back from her face. “I want that more than anything, but the first time we share a bed, you’re going to choose it without drinking first, and you’re going to be clearheaded enough to remember every second of it.”
“Is that a promise?”
“You know it, Juliette. Now, where’s your phone? I’ll plug it in for you, so it’s charged in the morning.”
“In my bag.” She points to the bag she dropped on the floor before she hit the bed. I grab it and root around, not seeing a phone.
“You sure? I don’t see it.”
She grabs the bag and rifles through it before her head pops up. “Oh my god. I think I left it at the arcade. Remember I took it out when we were playing air hockey so I could have photographic evidence that I beat you again? I think I put it on the air hockey table before we played the last game and must have left it there.”
“No problem. It’s just a block away. I can run back and get it for you.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely sure.”
“You’re a good guy, Asher Hansley.”
“You make me want to be the best guy.” I lean down and kiss her forehead, pulling the covers up over her.
“That’s all I get?” She actually pouts, and if I didn’t want to lean over and kiss her so fiercely I would laugh.
“That’s it, baby. Like I said, the next time my lips are on yours, you’re going to choose it with a clear head.”
“That’s not the only thing I’m going to choose,” she mutters, snuggling further into the pillow.
I look at her for another few seconds and then hightail it back through the adjoining door, thinking that a cold shower might just be in order before I go get Julie’s phone.
