Page 46 of The Little Black Book

Licking my lips nervously, I round the bed and step close to her. My heart pounds as I reach out to undo the button and slowly pull down the zipper. When Zoey doesn’t move to push the denim down her legs, I take a deep breath and do it for her. Bending low, I lift her foot to pull the material free. Her fingers curl in my hair, holding it tightly to steady herself as I pull the other leg free of the jeans.

Sighing out a thank you, she sits on the edge of the bed before slumping sideways. I lift her legs onto the mattress, my fingers caressing her ankles for a second before I yank my hands away.

No. I can’t touch her. Not right now.

“Stay with me, Sam,” she says, the words slurred and sleepy.

“Zoey, I––”

“Please. I don’t want to be alone.”

I stare at her for a few beats, then my shoulders slump in defeat. Of course, I’m going to stay. How can I not? I’d do anything for this woman.

Including torturing myself by lying next to her, letting her cuddle up to me when I know I can’t touch her the way I really want to.

God, help me. Please.

Chapter19

An Excellent Idea

Zoey

Iblink my eyes open and slowly take stock of my condition. I don’t have a headache––thank God. The water I drank between cocktails last night must’ve done the trick. But my mouth tastes like shit, and I have to pee so bad, it’s damn near painful.

I start to sit up, then freeze when I hear the sounds of someone breathing beside me. Turning my head ever so slowly, I take in Sam’s sleeping form. My heart starts to thump, my mind racing as I try to remember how the night ended. I vaguely recall Sam bringing me home.

Fuck. I begged him to stay, didn’t I? And that was after I followed him to the bathroom at the bar, waited for him to come out of the men’s room, and attacked him. I close my eyes as dread seeps through me.

I made a fool out of myself. I was all over Sam in that dark hallway, and he kissed me for just a moment before he pushed me away.Oh, God.I’m so embarrassed.

“What are you thinking about?”

His voice startles me, and my eyes fly open to see his still closed. He stretches and groans, then his eyelids flutter up as he gives me a sleepy smile.

“Good morning,” he says when I don’t answer his question.

“I’m sorry about last night,” I blurt before fully thinking it through.

His smile widens a bit, and he reaches out to toy with a lock of my hair. “I’m not. I slept better than I have in days.”

Heat unfurls in my center, reminding me how bad I need to use the bathroom. And brush my teeth. Flipping the covers off, I leap from the bed, then freeze as the cool air hits my bare legs. Looking down at myself, I realize I’m still in the shirt I wore to the bar last night, but my pants are missing.

“You insisted on taking them off,” Sam says, tucking an arm beneath his head. “I didn’t touch you other than to help you undress. I swear, Zoey.”

“I know,” I say, flinching at the disappointment dripping from the words.

Before he can respond, I turn and rush into the bathroom. After relieving myself, I head to the sink to wash my hands. My eyes widen in horror as I take a look in the mirror. My eye make-up is smeared beneath my eyes, and there are horrendous pillow marks creasing my cheek.

I grab my make-up remover and clean up the black smears before washing my face and applying some moisturizer. Then I brush my teeth and swish some mouthwash around for a minute before spitting it into the sink.

Propping my hands on the counter, I stare at my reflection while giving myself a mental pep talk. I can’t hide in here forever. Time to go back out there and face the music. Taking a deep breath, I grab the door handle and swing it open.

Sam climbs from the bed as I emerge, and my eyes widen when I see he’s only wearing boxers…and there’s an impressive tent beneath the thin cotton. My eyes flit back up to meet his, and he stops in front of me, holding the eye contact for a few beats before speaking.

“I don’t know what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours, but if you’re thinking I rejected you last night, you need to think again. Theonlyreason I stopped kissing you, the only reason I didn’t bury my cock deep inside you last night was because you were drinking, and I didn’t want to take advantage. But make no mistake, Zoey Beckett, I wanted to. I still do.”

He skirts around me and heads into the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him.

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