Page 24 of Stunts and Sparks

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Cole’s expression was a mix of displeasure and playfulness, and Heather wasn’t entirely sure which was his dominant emotion. She hoped it was displeasure because she wasn’t sure she could handle his playfulness right about now.

“One of us will have to sleep over the comforter,” Heather said. “I volunteer for that.”

“I don’t think so. If you’re going to insist that one of us sleeps over the sheets, that’s going to be me.” He was adamant, and she hated it. After what had happened to her, the last thing she wanted was to be controlled. Her brain rebelled against the idea that anyone could tell her what to do now. She imagined herself strapped to a chair being told when she could even breathe.

It was a stupid argument, not one Heather would bother having under normal circumstances. But the way her thoughts were nagging her now, she couldn’t seem to help herself. “I refuse to sleep under the covers, and I refuse to sleep on the floor.”

“Why?” He seemed to genuinely not understand, and Heather couldn’t really blame him. “Are you worried about bedbugs or something?”

She cringed at the thought. “Well, I wasn’t until you mentioned it!”

He chuckled and walked over to the mattress. “There’s a way to check for these things, as I’m sure you already know.” He bent over one corner of the mattress and started tugging the sheets out from their tucked positions. When he’d exposed the mattress, he lifted one corner and looked under the seams he found there. All of a sudden, he gasped.

Heather jumped at the sound. “What?” she demanded. “What did you find? Is it bedbugs?”

Cole broke into loud laughter at that, and she realized he’d been messing with her. “That was a dick move, Cole!” she said.

“Why?” he asked sincerely. “Don’t you want to laugh a little? It’s good for you, especially after what you’ve just been through.”

“It wasn’t funny,” she said, slapping him on the arm.

“You smiled,” he countered. “I saw it.”

“Only because I was surprised. Seriously, though, did you find anything?”

He shook his head. “Not a speck. This place is old as hell but clean enough. Do you still want to sleep over the comforter?”

Heather stood her ground. “Yes.”

“Why? Don’t you trust me?”

“No.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Why should I after all the shit you’ve pulled?”

He looked legitimately hurt by that. “Hey, I thought we had made progress at camp, and after. And saving your hide this evening has got to count for something. I mean it was a pretty romantic first date, don’t you think?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “This is not a joke.”

“No,” he agreed. “You’re right. This is no laughing matter. In fact, I should just put my foot down.” Without any ceremony whatsoever, he peeled back the comforter and top sheet, and gestured to the admittedly cozy-looking bed. “We’re sleeping here. We’re not going to make it a big deal. We’re both just going to get a good night’s sleep.”

“Absolutely not,” she snapped back at him.

“Don’t be cute,” he growled.

“Don’t be a jerk, and I won’t be cute!” she shouted. The argument was ridiculous, she knew, but it was a diversion, and right now, she really needed a diversion.

“You’re doing it now,” he said as he crept up on her.

“Doing what.”

“Being cute.” He was inches away from her now.

“Certainly not on purpose,” she murmured.

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.” Then, without any warning whatsoever, he took her head between his hands and kissed her hard.

She thought about resisting just for the sake of her pride, but his mouth was so warm and hungry and she loved the feel of his hands on her body. Without another thought, she gave in and kissed him back.

He pulled away long enough to say, “You have no idea how much I want you right now, but maybe this is a bad time for this. You’ve just been through something. I don’t want to pressure you.”

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