Page 118 of His White Moonlight
He wasn’t stupid and stayed where he was.
I closed the door and ran water to splash on my face as the memory faded.Why had I dreamed that tonight?Probably because Bennett’s stupid bet was making me feel trapped and helpless again.
I splashed more water on my face, used the toilet, then returned to bed, where he was blatantly reclining, waiting for me.
“Get out, or I’m not going to try anything tomorrow,” I said.
“Try something now, and I’ll leave.”
“Another throat punch?”
He smiled, my threats clearly amusing him.“I was thinking an apology hug.”
“If you want to apologize for sleeping in my bed without permission, a hug isn’t the way to go.”
“What would work?”
“Leaving.”
He laughed.A real chuckle with his disarming smile, and I almost smiled back.Instead, I got into bed and lay facing away from him.
“Does this mean I can stay?”he asked.
“Do I have a choice?”
“You do.You can kick me out with one small hug.”
“Stay on your side of the bed, or I’ll throat punch you again.”
I closed my eyes and willed myself to fall asleep.
It took a long time.
* * *
The next timeI opened my eyes, it was light out, and I was using Bennett as a body pillow.I’d never woken up more comfortably in my life, and it took a few seconds to realize why it was so wrong.Once I did, I scrambled out of bed like I’d just discovered a spider in it.
“That counts as a hug,” I said, staring at him wide-eyed as he calmly watched me with his hands behind his head.
“Sorry, baby, but that doesn’t count.The second you were conscious, fear took over.”
“Whatever.”
“Do you want to go for a run before or after breakfast?”
Damn him.I’d planned on escaping for the day and meeting up with Sophia, but he just had to dangle a carrot I knew I couldn’t refuse.
“Before, but I need an apple or something.”
“All right.I’ll get dressed and meet you by the door in ten minutes.”
He started to get out of bed, and I hurriedly shut myself in my closet to get ready.
Ten minutes later, I jogged downstairs and found him waiting by the door with an apple and a water bottle for me.
“Thanks,” I said, reaching for the apple.
His fingers brushed mine as he handed it over.A jolt ran through me, and I quickly reached for the door with my free hand.
