Page 23 of The Stolen Dagger
Like I wasn’t running from my past.
“Anyway,” Drew said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Good night, Katherine.”
When he straightened and turned for the door, the dread I thought had washed away in the shower earlier came back in full force, bubbling up inside me.
“Wait,” I blurted without thought.
Drew paused in the doorway, his hand on the brass handle.
“You don’t have to go,” I whispered.
I didn’t want him to leave. The thought of being alone made my muscles lock up and the ache in my chest spread.
But when I looked at Drew, at his serene green eyes and crooked smile, that dread slowly eased away. Everything was better with him near.
“I can sleep on the couch.” His voice was deep and raspy. “I’m sure you want your space after tonight.”
I don’t want space. Not from you.
“This is your bed, Drew.” I sat up and pushed the covers back on the left side closest to him. “I’d rather not be alone right now.”
He stood by the door frozen, like he was fighting an internal battle. His knuckles whitened as he twisted the doorknob in his hand, left and right.
“Please,” I added, knowing he couldn’t resist for long.
Drew tipped his head slightly and stepped into the room. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.” My stiff body relaxed into his bed again as he shut the door behind him.
As if in a trance, I watched him move across the room. He grabbed a pair of boxers from the dark wooden dresser next to the bathroom door, then passed me to the walk-in closet and stepped a few feet inside.
His fingers went to the button of his jeans as he undid them, then to the zipper. The waistband hung loosely on his hips as he went to take them off.
I held my breath in anticipation, but then his movements stopped. I looked up at his face, wondering what was wrong, only for him to be looking over his shoulder at me.
“Like what you see, darlin’?” Drew asked playfully.
Then he winked.
Actuallywinked.
Heat flared up my neck and centered on my cheeks. I quickly looked away and settled on my side with my back to him.
His soft chuckles filled the room.
Jeez, Kat, you perv.
Now in only his boxers, he walked into my line of sight, still chuckling as he entered the bathroom and shut the doorbehind him. The sound of rushing water came a few seconds later.
“Why were you staring?” I asked myself, then moved onto my back with a sigh, staring up at the ceiling.
Because you like him.
I did.
I liked him more than I should have, but that didn’t stop me from feeling like shit for pushing him away.
A heavy weight settled on my chest.
