Page 83 of Ink & Ambition

“Well, okay, goodnight!” I say as a final goodbye before slamming the door and resting my back against it. I have to cover my mouth to keep the shaking laughter inside of me. Alex is standing in the center of my room, shirtless, entirely delicious and I can’t help the laughter that erupts.

“That was not funny,” Alex laughs too and he walks over, running his palm down the side of my face. He leans down and scoops me up into his arms, his right arm supporting my weight while his left continues to caress my cheek. He kisses me lightly. “Nothing like a big brother to ruin the mood,” he jokes, resting his forehead against mine.

“That was so close,” I sigh into him.

“Would it have really been so bad if he caught us?”

I lean back to look him in the eyes. “Let’s just say, he doesn’t just hunt for sport.” Alex immediately drops me, letting my body fall against his as I grunt in surprise. “It’s a joke, you big baby!” Using both my hands and most of my strength, I push him down onto the bed, his laughing form bouncing once against my many cushions and pillows.

Reaching forward, he grabs my waist and pulls me up into a straddling position on top of his lap. He runs his hands up and down my back inside of my shirt and the feeling is divine.

“Do you want to stay here tonight?” I ask, my heart in my throat.

“Or leave and risk running into big bro out there? Yeah, I think I’ll take my chances in here,” he says, gripping my waist and pulling me impossibly closer. He kisses my neck gently, then not so gently. I let my head fall back as he continues to pepper my skin with caresses.

“But we aren’t having sex.” Alex looks up as I look down. “I don’t know if you were expecting…”

“I have no expectations, sunshine,” Alex says, kissing the tip of my nose and then laying us both down on the bed, face to face. “Can’t even leave to brush our teeth, can we?”

I push away from him. “Oh, I can,” I say, sticking my tongue out at him as I skip out of the room, grabbing my pajamas on the way out. The living room is quiet as I walk through to get to the bathroom.Hm, that’s odd. Did Arden go back out or something?

I don’t give it much more thought as I brush my teeth, wash my face and run a quick comb through my hair. Shrugging out of my clothes and into pajamas, I give myself a once over in the mirror.I’m about to sleep with a boy.The thought warms my cheeks in the very best way. Even if we aren't having sex, this is still the farthest I’ve ever gone with a guy but Alex makes me feel completely comfortable.

When I return to my room, ready to blow my minty-fresh breath all over Alex’s face, I find him curled up asleep amongst my pink and white duvet set. I curl in next to him, letting my back hit his front but not in a way where I’m forcing him to spoon me.

But, boy does he. Alex pulls me into him, leaving very little space between us. His top arm hugs my waist as he snakes his bottom arm under my neck.

“Goodnight, sunshine,” he breathes into my hair.

“Goodnight, frat boy,” I reply and he’s so close I can feel him smile.

When I wake up, Alex is gone. Before I can completely panic, I find a note resting on the pillow where his head was.

Wanted to make sure we didn’t get caught by big bro so I left early this morning. Stop overthinking it.

Something has me holding back my smile. What if he really just couldn’t wait to get away from me. He didn’t get what he wanted from me last night so he’s left to get it elsewhere. I pick up the note and sigh in defeat before turning it over.

I said stop overthinking, beautiful. Meet me for lunch.

My smile erupts and there’s nothing I can do about it. A date with Alex. Another heavy make-out session with Alex. Another smile because of Alex. Who am I and why has this love-sick teenager taken over my body?

The smile is still plastered on my face as I leave my room, the smell of fresh coffee sending me straight to the kitchen.

“Someone is happy this morning,” Danika taunts, handing me a mug. I shush her with a finger to my lips, gesturing toward my brother’s sleeping form on the couch. She rolls her eyes. “Oh please, he’s out like a light.”

I fill my mug with the life-giving elixir.

“So, spill!” Dani demands and I hit her with thatshut upstare again.

“There’s nothing to spill. We slept.”

“You slept?”

I nod, taking a sip of the hot beverage.

“Did you at least sleep naked?” I swat her arm, indicating to her this conversation is definitely over, at least until there are less inquisitive ears about. “Is he still here?”

“He left early this morning so Arden didn’t see him.”

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