Page 114 of The Pinkie Pact

His eyes narrowed in confusion. "Um, okay. I hope it doesn't involve the study lounge."

Laughing, I covered my mouth because I didn't want to wake Kara up, although that might be hard to do right now anyway.

"Come on," I said, grabbing the brownies and crawling out. "Can you get the chips?"

Kieran followed me, the bag making loud crinkling noises. Once I emerged from our fort, I looked at Kara on my bed, but she was out big-time.

Sighing deeply, Kieran stood beside me. "This is so much better than last time, and I owe you a big thanks for that."

I nudged him with my hip. "Nah. Maybe she just learned from her experience. You know?"

"Hopefully so."

After putting away the food, I nodded toward the bathroom. "Hey, I have an extra toothbrush you can have."

Together, we brushed our teeth, taking me back to those nights I'd spent at his place where we'd done the same exact thing. Only then, we'd gone to town on each other afterward.

As we stared at each other in the mirror, brushing away, I wondered if he was thinking the same thing. Judging by the lusty look in his eyes, yeah, he definitely was.

Maybe my idea wasn't so great after all.

Needing to get away, I finished up quickly and headed back to the fort. But as I crawled in, I heard him walk past, and that sudden, strong craving hit me again right in my heart. After everything we'd been through tonight, I was desperate to sleep with Kieran, to feel his warmth next to me.

"Kieran?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah?" he whispered.

I swallowed, feeling a flutter of nerves, but I decided to ask anyway, the need greater than the fear. "Will you sleep with me tonight?"

Total silence followed my question, and I could almost feel his shock.

"I mean,justsleep," I said. "That's all."

He exhaled. "Oh, right. Of course." And then he was at the fort entrance, poking his head through. "You sure?"

I held out my hand to him. "I could use some cuddling."

Even through the darkness, his smile lit up his face. "I'm always happy to cuddle with you."

There went another fractured piece of my heart, repairing itself, and maybe another piece or two as he settled in behind me, his arms coming around me, spooning me, his big body surrounding me. I clutched his hand to my stomach as his breath fanned out on my neck.

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling a lightness I hadn't felt in days.

"Thankyou," he said.

Safe and warm, the last thing I remembered before falling asleep was a feeling of such amazing closeness. I wasn't sure if I was already dreaming, but just as I drifted off, I swore I heard Kieran's whispered words against my neck, saying, "I love you."

Thanksgiving

Sky

In the morning, I woke up with Kieran's arms still around me, but I didn't get much time to think about it or those magic words I thought I'd heard last night because Kara woke up in a panic.

"I have to meet Gen in ten minutes!" she suddenly shouted.

Kieran awoke with a jolt, sitting up and knocking the sheet off the top of our fort. I couldn't help laughing at his startled face. He was so damn cute.

"Gross. What are you guys doing in there?" Kara asked as she rushed around the room. She paused a split second, staring at Kieran. "Will you drive me?"

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