Page 92 of Craving Francesca

“If you don’t sleep, you’re gonna be wrecked tomorrow.”

“Do you have any weed?” I asked, trying not to grimace. “It’s usually the only thing that helps.”

“Not on me.”

“Shit.”

“Can’t say it’s been workin’ anyway,” he said, setting the book aside. “When’s the last time you got a full night of sleep?”

“Not sure.” I sighed. “How the hell did I get myself into such a fucking mess?”

“None of that,” he ordered. “Shit happens.”

“I can’t fucking stand him,” I mumbled, pressing my heels into my eye sockets. “The craziest thing about this whole situation?” I dropped my hands and shoved myself up, turning toward Gray. “I didn’t even like him that much in thebeginning. But he was there, and I needed a dist—”

My mouth slammed shut as I realized what I was about to say.

“You needed what?” he asked, watching me.

“I was bored,” I replied.

“You neededwhat?” he asked again.

“A distraction,” I spat, rolling my eyes as I yanked the blankets around my waist.

He was out of bed and leaning over me in a second, his eyes searching my face. “A distraction from what, Francesca?”

“Youknowwhat,” I shot back, lifting my chin. If he didn’t want to let it go, I wasn’t going to lie about it. I’d lied enough in the past couple of months.

“You got with that motherfucker to distract you fromme?”

I glared at him. He already knew the answer, or he wouldn’t have asked the question.

“How’d that work out for you?” he muttered, his mouth landing on mine half a heartbeat later.

I fisted my hands in his hair, everything inside me sayingyes, this is it. This is what you’ve been searching for. There he is.

“All you had to do was say somethin’,” he said quietly, yanking my tank top over my head.

“Yeah, right,” I argued, pressing my lips against his Adam’s apple. What we were doing was probably a supremely bad idea, but I couldn’t imagine stopping.

“Couldn’t fuckin’ stay away from you.” He gently pushed me back onto the bed, his mouth trailing down my chest. “Tried.”

“Why?” My back arched as his lips found my nipple and tugged.

He lifted his head to meet my eyes. “Not into the club drama,” he said, his voice low. “Knew if things went sideways, we’d be right in the middle of it.”

I nodded. I’d had the same thought, but that was before the first time we’d slept together. After that, I would’ve sacrificed almost anything.

“What changed your mind?” I asked, framing his face in my hands.

He paused for a moment. “Stopped thinkin’ about it. Knew it didn’t fuckin’ matter.”

“You just kept showing up for me anyway,” I said softly, running my thumbs over his cheeks.

“Whatever you need,” he agreed simply.

“Kiss me again.”

---