Page 86 of A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

“See? That’s better,” he yawns out.

“What’s better?” I ask.

“Your rhythm.”

I crack my eyes open to find a subtle smile on his face and his eyes closed peacefully, like he’s having the most wonderful dream. Maybe he is. Or maybe I am, because the truth is I don’t want to wake up from this. I simply want to drift off in his arms forever.

CHAPTER 27

Voices Carry

DAVE

Something tickles my nose as I wake up from the best dream I’ve ever had. Slowly, my eyes open against the daylight that peeks through the sliver of my open curtains. There’s a mop of brown hair in front of me, and my eyes widen as I remember it wasn’t a dream. Izzy is cuddled up next to me in my bed, her beautiful face so peaceful as she sleeps.

Shit . . . what time is it?I hadn’t meant to fall asleep but really, what did I expect when I insisted she lie in bed with me after . . . The memory of her soft skin, her breathy moans, the way she screamed and the way she clenched around me as she came threatening to rush my blood right back to my cock. Maybe it’s early enough that no one is up yet. I should go out and pretend to have slept on the couch. That’ll work, right? If anything, we can just say that neither of us could sleep, which is true, so I offered to switch.Perfect.

As gently as I can, I pull my arm out from under her, taking the time to memorize every inch of her skin. Silently, I pull on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, then exit the room, pulling the door closed behind me with asnick. The house is quiet so it must still be early, and while I sleptbetter in just a few hours than I have in weeks, I could definitely use some coffee. Walking to the kitchen, I try to tamp down the smile I know is front and center on my face.

“Hmm—hmm.”

I freeze, my stomach dropping as I look to my left to find four pairs of eyes watching me from the living room.Shit.

“Morning,” I say, trying to be casual.

James throws out his hands. “Dude, it’s twelve thirty.”

My shoulders slump and my eyes close as I realize the jig is up. “Right.”

Becks is sitting ramrod straight, her big green eyes wide as they flick between me and the hallway.

“Merry Christmas . . . to you?” Key asks.

I scratch the back of my head. “I—yeah . . . Listen, I really need some coffee and a smoke before . . . before—right.”

I slink into the kitchen, pouring myself a coffee from the pot then grabbing my smokes and running out to the patio. I can barely get my cigarette lit before James, Key, and Joel stumble out behind me. I should’ve known I wouldn’t get away so easily.

The three of them stare at me for a long moment before I ask, “What?”

“You know what” says Key incredulously.

“You’re fucking Isabella?” Joel asks.

“Look,” I start. “It’s not—”

“No,” Key interrupts. “None of this it’s-not-what-it-looks-like bullshit. Do you think we’re idiots? All things aside when neither of you could be found on the couch this morning, did you really think none of us would hear the two of you going at it like gorillas last night?”

“Ugh,” I groan, dipping my face into my hands.

“How long has this been going on?” Joel asks.

I take a deep breath. “Nothing is going on.”

“Cut the bullshit,” Key says.

“It’s not bullshit, last night was—” Amazing. Life-changing. The best sex I’ve ever had in my life. God, why does James have to look at me like that? I feel like the biggest shithead. “It was just a one-time thing, okay?”

They all gape at me. “Aone-time thing?” asks Key.

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