Page 86 of Tempting Me

I can’t help but grin when she stops moving. Her fingers still leisurely scratch at my head.

I look up to find her watching me with sedated eyes.

“I’m going to do that every single night,” I tell her.

Her cheeks redden.

“Don’t be shy on me now, Shay.”

“I’m not. I'm just …” But she doesn’t finish.

“You just what?” I ask.

“I’m happy right now.” The smile she gives me is a first.

Fuck, and here I thought I was proud of making her scream my name.

Knowing I put that smile there makes my heart thud faster.

Then she yawns, and despite the major erection I have right now, she needs sleep. We both do.

I push off the couch and hand her her shirt.

“I’ll, uh, see you tomorrow?” I ask and rub the back of my neck. I wasn’t prepared for this part of the night.

“No,” she says quickly.

Fuck. She’s calling this already?

What can I say? How do I change her mind?

“You can stay the night,” she adds and then yawns again.

“You need rest.” I bend to kiss her forehead.

As much as I’d love to crawl into her bed with her and keep the both of us up all night long, I care more about her well-being.

“I know, but I want you to stay either way.”

She gazes up at me, and if I didn't know it before, I know it now: whatever Shay asks of me, I’ll do it.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SHAY

After seeing Luca yesterday afternoon at The Marina, I’d gone to girls’ night with the intention of telling them enough to get advice without sharing every detail. Especially since Ruby was there. Grace was gone, but it was like the girls knew this was going to happen all along, and we got carried away talking about Luca. By the time Sadie drove me to The Marina, I was determined not to let this get too far.

But then there he was, standing in the doorway of the place I love most in the world, looking as if he belonged there.

I knew at that moment that was a view I wanted to see day after day.

I let out a groan, because holy moly, complicated doesn't even begin to describe my life right now, and then I roll over, only to be stopped short when my sheets won’t roll with me.

Slowly, I look over my shoulder to find a shirtless Luca sleeping next to me.

The entire night comes back to me. The way he kissed mein the dining room. The way he walked me home. The way he laid me out on my couch, the way his hands felt as they brushed every inch of my body, me asking him to stay with the full intention of having sex with him—and me falling asleep within minutes of him wrapping his arm over my stomach.

It’s been a long time since I fell asleep that quickly.

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