Page 38 of Shift Change

mad dog

I woketo the annoying double buzz of my phone, the one it does every five minutes when it thinks I’ve forgotten a message. Fuck that. I didn’t want to move because I was in bed with Holky, wrapped around him like he was my personal life preserver, both of us holding on for dear life.

“Hey,” I mumbled, my voice scratchy. He didn’t move, so I gave him a light shake. “Wake up, Holky.”

“Don’t want to move. You feel too good.”

That was so good to hear I couldn’t stifle a moan. “There’s a message on my phone, probably saying we were supposed to be on the bus fifteen minutes ago.”

“Read it then.”

“Can’t. It’s on the nightstand beside you.”

“Fuck.”

He grumbled like a man being asked to crawl out of paradise. As we untangled ourselves, limbs reluctantly peeling away from limbs, I felt a chill where his body had been. My skin missed him instantly, and so did every other part of me.

He looked at the phone, then passed it to me. “It’s locked.”

I held it up so it could recognize my face, and when it opened, there was a text message front and center.

HARPY: Game’s canceled. We’re on our own the rest of the night and Coach hopes we can fly out in the morning as planned. Anybody want to meet up later and hang out?

Several guys had responded yes, and I was sure everyone would be there. Where else would we go?

Holky was still lying on his side facing me. “What’s it say?”

“From Harpy, the game is canceled, and it looks like everyone will be hanging out later.”

“Thank fuck, at least about the game. What time is it?”

I glanced at the phone. “Four-twenty.”

He traced lazy circles over my stomach, allowing his fingertip to drift lower until it settled in my navel, warm and possessive. “Good. Want to sleep more?”

“You read my mind.”

I tossed the phone onto the nightstand beside me and scooted against Holky. We tangled ourselves together until we were in the same position as before.

“Should we set an alarm?” I asked.

“No. Fuck hanging with the boys. Let’s stay like this all night.”

Nothing had sounded so good to me in a long time.

* * *

Holky was watching me when I woke up again. His cheeks were flushed, and he was taking shallow breaths through parted lips.

“Hey,” I whispered. “Been up long?”

“No. I like watching you sleep.” His voice was quiet, but there was a rasp in it that made my stomach flutter.

Our cocoon was almost perfect, except for a small sliver of space that had crept in while we slept. I inched closer, and as soon as he tightened his arms around me, I melted into him. Then it hit me—I’d never felt this safe with anyone else.

Whoa. What the hell is happening to me?

Holky. He’s happening.

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