Page 19 of Laying it Bare on the Run

“Do you trust me?” Maybe I had to go back to the basics.

She seemed caught off guard by my question. She blinked a few times, like she was still caught in her own warring thoughts. “Yes, I do. I wouldn’t have come home with you if I hadn’t. That’s not the problem.” Her cheeks pinkened and her eyes widened briefly as if she couldn’t believe she had divulged that little tidbit.

Hoping I wasn’t as bad at taking cues as I had thought moments ago, I plunged ahead. I was pretty sure she was attracted to me too. “Well, then why don’t we try this out tonight? And if it’s a horrible experience for you, we’ll go back to the original sleeping arrangement.”

Her lips twitched. “Well, Kerena did say you were bad in bed.” She shook her head. “Just ignore that. I was trying to make a joke but I think it fell flat.”

“No. Believe me it did not fall flat, far from it. If we had been around my buddies, they would have bought you a drink for that roast. Trust me: that was a good one. It was funny.” I offered her my hand. “Come on.” When she placed her hand in mine, I mentally high fived myself. And my dick, which had been hard since I held her in my lap at the bar, perked to attention.Easy buddy. Hopefully we get there but it won’t be tonight.

Relishing the feel of her hand in mine, I led her down to my room and when we stepped inside, her eyes traveled the expanse of the space.

“Wow. Your room is really dark. Not at all what I expected.” Dropping my hand, she ventured farther inside. “I mean your curtains and bedding are maroon and your wooden furniture is dark walnut. I thought you were a cheery and bright kind of guy.” She spun around and smirked at me. “I would have pictured at least lighter colored paint for the walls. Although I do like the warm terracotta tint.”

“And I never would have pegged you for a girl who knew her types of wood. I like to think of myself as positive but I think the dark colors in here are calming and that helps me sleep. That’s the main reason I suggested you sleep in here.” Since she was keeping things light I wanted to continue the trend and maintain a relaxing atmosphere.

“I thought it was your comfortable bed.” She challenged.

“That too. So now you’ll be guaranteed a great night’s sleep. Why don’t you get comfortable while I go brush my teeth?” I strolled into the bathroom to get ready for bed, hoping when I returned she would be wrapped up in my sheets. But I feared my room would be empty when I stepped back inside. When I was finished, I walked out and to my surprise Harper was snuggled in my bed. I had really thought I was going to have to do some more coaxing to get her to actually go through with this. I tried not to stare at her but she looked so right in my bed. So good in fact, that my dick got even more excited. I adjusted him under the pretense of straightening my shorts.

“Oh my God! Cannon!” Harper jolted up in bed and stared at me in horror.

Well fuck, I wasn’t as covert as I had hoped and now she was going to bolt, possibly even out of my house. I raised my hands in surrender. “It’s not – ”

“Did I give you that bruise on your thigh?” She slapped her hand over her mouth.

I had to shake my thoughts loose. Wait. What? I absently rubbed the black and blue mark. “It’s no big deal. It will heal. I’ve had worse so don’t go getting all cocky.” I gave her a sly grin, so relieved she was talking about my injury and not my boner. “Although you do have some pretty impressive strength in your legs.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to . . . I mean at first I . . .” Her face crumpled in remorse.

“It’s okay, really. Thankfully, I managed to move my precious cargo in time so you missed my jewels.” I walked over to her and sat down on the edge of the bed. “At first, I was irritated, but when I realized you were female and in fear for your life, it turned into not a big deal. You were defending yourself. How about we get some sleep?” I circled around to the other side of the bed and crawled in, clicking off the lamp on the nightstand on my way.

After she lay back down, she scooted almost the entire way to the edge of the mattress.

I sighed to myself even as I quietly chuckled. I was hoping to wrap her in my arms. Well maybe tomorrow night. If she found my bed irresistibly comfortable.

After a few minutes of silence, her quiet voice interrupted my thoughts. “Cannon, would you hold me for a little while?”

While my body rejoiced at her wanting to be in my arms to feel safe, I was saddened by the fact that she felt as if she needed it. That she had something that made her fearful. I wanted her to be in my arms because she loved being there. Well, someday soon she wouldn’t have to be afraid. I was going to find a way to make things safe for her. And in the meantime, I was going to find a way to make her mine. “I’ll hold you for as long as you need.”

After she scooted toward me, I wrapped my arms around her and tugged her backside to my chest. God, she felt so good there. In my bed and in my arms. I could hold her forever like this. But then I realized a huge glitch in my plan. “You’re not wearing any panties, are you?”

“I don’t have any.”

Oh fuck. She hadn’t been wearing any this entire time. “I’ll have to order you some tomorrow. I guess you don’t have a bra either? But I didn’t notice. Not that I was staring but I would have noticed something like that.”

Her body shook with her quiet laughter. “Your sister had left some tank tops too so I’ve been using them as one. But I had no substitutes for panties.”

Her gorgeous body snugged up against mine was wreaking havoc on my erection. She had to have felt him at her back. “Just ignore him. He knows he’s not getting any action tonight.” Shit, I probably shouldn’t have tagged on the ‘tonight’ stipulation. “But I’m a guy and you’re a beautiful girl so of course he’s going to perk to attention. Just go to sleep. I’ve got you. You’re safe with me.”

“I know. But it’s kinda hard to ignore. He’s rather insistent.” I could almost feel her smile. I loved that she was comfortable enough to joke with me about something sexual and not be worried I would do anything to her.

“Don’t be such a minx.” I kissed the top of her head before I could stop myself. “Good night, Harper.”

“Good night, Cannon. And thank you for being you.”

“You’re welcome.” I snuggled her closer to me, praying it wouldn’t make her pull away. When she sighed and relaxed into me, I silently rejoiced at my small victory. It wouldn’t bother me at all if we slept like this the entire night. However, I would let that decision up to her.

“I just noticed it’s raining outside.” Her quiet voice interrupted my thoughts again. Maybe she talked a lot when she was nervous. Or maybe she was growing more comfortable with me so it was easier for her to open up to me. The reason didn’t matter; I basked in the fact she was talking because I wanted us to get to know one another better.

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