Page 38 of The Rebound
“Where are we going?” I ask when he takes my hand again.
“Upstairs.”
I stumble in surprise. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he mutters, leading me to the painted wooden steps by the counter. Upstairs.Upstairs to have sex?
My nerves kick in as I try to remember if I shaved my legs or not and I shiver as he palms the back of my head, dipping me so I don’t bump into the low ceiling.
He brings me quickly up the steps and I somehow don’t trip as we reach the top and encounter another door. Luke positions my back against the wall as if afraid I’m going to topple back down before he opens that one too.
We enter a small apartment with peeling wallpaper and sloping ceilings and that’s about as much as I take in before I catch sight of a bed shoved against the far wall.
Luke steers me toward it, tossing the grocery bag somewhere to the side before he flips the cover back and sits me down. The movement is a little abrupt for my liking but, hey, whatever floats his boat.
I scoot up to make room as he takes off his coat but instead of joining me on the bed, he kneels at my feet.
Turns out I like that a lot.
My heart beats out a staccato rhythm as he pulls off my boots, setting them to the side. He goes for my jacket next and I help him impatiently with the sleeves when they get tangled at my wrists. My phone and a few coins rattle to the ground as I tug myself free but I barely notice them as his fingers brush mine.
“Lie down,” he orders.
Again, not the most romantic of beginnings but I comply, shifting my hips to get to the button of my jeans. I don’t get very far when he moves again.
“What are you doing?” I ask as he pulls the heavy duvet over me.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
I struggle to sit up. “I’ll—”
“No,” he says, pushing me back down. “You wait there. I’ll be right back.”
“But—”
“I have to go lock up,” he says, and I still as his gaze meets mine. He has the most beautiful eyes.
“I’ll be right back,” he says slowly. He waits until I nod and then, not taking his eyes off me, he walks to the other side of the room and slips out the door, leaving me alone.
I settle back against the pillow, unexpectedly nervous.
Luke Bailey. I’m going to have sex with Luke Bailey.
I snort at the thought, immediately happy he isn’t around to hear it.
This is good. This is a good if unplanned development.
Maybe this will be a disappointing experience and I can get him out of my system.
Or maybe it will be the opposite of that.
Going by that kiss, I think it’s going to be the opposite.
Above me a pipe creaks and I stifle a yawn, pulling my tank top over my head before arranging my hair so it sits just right. I keep my bra on. It’s a nice bra. Hot pink. Lacy straps. I rearrange my boobs in it and lace my fingers on my stomach.
I can’t hear anything from below.
Lock up.
