Page 103 of First Chance

He’s lived in the shadows for years, and I swooped in and wrecked it all because of the attention my last name brings.

“Hey, baby. You’re home,” he mumbles, sleepily tugging on my wrist.

My heart flutters at his voice. “I’m here, get some sleep.”

“Lay with me.”

“I probably shouldn’t.” Sober him would be reluctant.

“Come on.” He tugs again.

But, sober him might be pissed at me tomorrow for ruining his life and I might not ever get this chance again.

I kick my shoes off and climb onto the bed next to him, barely having a chance to make it to him before he pulls me down onto his body.

He’s half asleep, I should resist as he cuddles me into his chest, but I don’t.

“You’re so pretty,” he whispers, caressing my cheekbone with his thumb. His hooded eyes are almost closed, and I can smell the whiskey on his breath.

“I’m glad you think so.”

“Everyone thinks so, but they don’t see you like I do.” He kisses me slowly, softly, but sloppily, and I take it graciously.

“Go to sleep, sweet man. You’re going to hurt in the morning.” I brush his hair back, and he nuzzles into my hand, kissing my wrist.

He’s either very affectionate when he’s drunk, or it’s because his reserves are down. I try to untangle myself, to give him space, but he holds me tight.

“Stay with me.”

I could probably get free from his arms once he falls asleep, but I don’t really care. I snuggle into his chest and let him hold me until I fall asleep.

Another first.

* * *

The first thing I realize when I blink awake is that I’m not in my own bed. The second thing is that Lochlan’s arm is wrapped around my torso, spooning me tightly to his body. The third thing is that he’s hard,everywhere.

His bicep is solid muscle, caging me in, and his chest is a brick wall behind me, but most concerning, or alluring rather, is the firm erection pressed against my ass.

I peek over my shoulder to confirm that he’s sound asleep and also notice that he managed to kick off his jeans sometime in the night, and he’s only wearing his boxers. His shirt is nowhere to be found either.

I’m not panicking because I’m afraid to be touching a nearly naked man, I’m afraid of his reaction once he wakes up and realizes what’s happened.

But, I’m also slightly overwhelmed becauseI amtouching a nearly naked man.

I do the only thing that makes sense at the moment, and tickle his arm lightly until his muscles twitch and he rolls off me lazily, flopping onto his back.

I release the breath I was holding before volleying upward, sitting on the edge of the mattress. I’m upstairs in Lochlan’s house. I’ve never come up here, never been allowed. Technically,I shouldn’t be up here now, but Lochlan is asleep, and he probably won’t even remember I was here.

I hook my shoes on my finger and tiptoe out of the room, but stop when I realize there’s no door to shut behind me. I do a circle, seeing the hinges, but no door is attached.

That’s weird.

As I glance back at the bed, a smile stretches my lips. He’s never looked so at ease. Both his arms are thrown back over his head, his legs are splayed across the mattress as he snores softly. The large bulge in his boxers elicits a lot of feelings in the pit of my stomach: curiosity, excitement, nerves, and shame for observing him without his knowledge.

I force myself into the hallway, finding the bathroom across the hall with the only door still in place. Down further from the stairs is a spare room, and when I peek inside, it looks like a storage space, three wooden doors are leaning against the wall, along with some of his grandmother’s paintings.

The third and last room at the end of the hall is the biggest room, probably the main bedroom at one point, even though there isn’t a bed anymore. There’s a big desk, wider and slightly taller than a normal desk, a small love seat along one wall, and the rest of his grandmother’s paintings along the other.

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