My “no way in hell” died on my lips before it had a chance to fully form. He’d promised me answers in the morning, and if my growing suspicions were correct, those answers had to do with how he’d been treated as a campus celebrity before Carina.I’m scared,he’d said. Maybe he was worried that if he gave us a shot, it would somehow expose him to what he’d had to deal with before. Even if that wasn’t the case, I would rather know the truth as soon as possible, and staying the night at least meant zero commute in the morning.
But he was right. We shouldn’t do anything physical tonight. Unsaid was the fact that our little argument had killed any risk of that happening. More than killed it. The conversation haddropped a nuclear bomb on my sex drive—not only was the mood dead; the surrounding area had radiation poisoning.
So, with a deep, steadying breath, my tension eased, and I did my best to smile. “Okay. I’ll stay the night.”
His face relaxed, and he nodded. As we left the bottom of the stairs to the apartment, a thought from earlier in the conversation replayed in my head.This was a dangerous game we were playing.And I couldn’t help but be terrified of the results.
Chapter 22
Grey’s Place
The walk up to Grey’s apartment was a quiet one. Things unsaid hung in the air between us, suffocating any attempts at conversation. I couldn’t fathom why he would want me to stay the night, not with the current state of things.
Maybe he thought we could pick things up where they’d left off before I’d brought up Carina, despite what he’d said. The man tended to contradict himself at every turn. Well, if he thought anything would happen before I got answers, he would soon realize that there was a fat chance of that happening.
A kinder, more charitable part of me noticed that Grey looked thoroughly miserable over the turn of events.Good,the mean part of me thought.Let him feel bad for how he made me feel.Ironically, I felt bad as soon as I thought it.
We walked up the stairs in complete silence.Why do I get the feeling that this will be a long-ass night in the worse possible way?Sleep felt a million miles away, and the night wasn’t exactly young. Even attempting to get into the mindset of rest seemed like a fruitless endeavor.
Grey showed me into his apartment, and it was only then that I realized I didn’t have the necessary equipment to spend the night anywhere. No toothbrush or pajamas or deodorant.Nothing. I opened my mouth to say that maybe I should Uber back to my place when Grey finally spoke.
“I have an extra toothbrush and a change of clothes. Give me one sec.” He disappeared into his bedroom.
Nice of him to shoot down my attempt to leave before I could even voice it. Two seconds later, he returned with folded clothes and a toothbrush still in the packaging.
I hated how pleading his eyes were, begging me to forgive him as he handed off the items. I hated it not because I thought it was pathetic—though on any other guy, I might think just that. No, I hated the look because I wanted nothing more than to let him off the hook, to get back to laughing with him, and to keep kissing those lips that my eyes treacherously strayed to.
Maybe the mood wasn’t as dead as I’d thought.
“Thanks.” I turned on my heel and made a hasty retreat to the bathroom.
I brushed my teeth and quickly changed clothes but stayed behind to look at myself in the mirror. The shirt he’d given me was an extra-large band T-shirt from some band I’d never heard of—beneath which my shorts showed only the thinnest slivers of fabric at my thighs. My cheeks were still pink, though whether that was from kissing Grey or from the cold night we’d just walked in from was anyone’s guess.
Remembering the kiss I’d shared with Grey brought my fingers to my lips.How many times have I fantasized about that moment only for it to be ruined by the specter of his fucking girlfriend?Still, he’d been so much better than I could’ve guessed. I simply hadn’t had the imagination for it until it had happened. And now, with his phantom kisses still on my lips, I wanted it more than ever before.
I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. I needed an explanation. I deserved that much. And I deserved more than that Carina kept other girls from breaking into his apartment,so he would stay with her so no one thought they would have a chance with him. Becausethattold me I didn’t have a chance with him, which clearly wasn’t one hundred percent accurate.
I was so damn tired of his hot-and-cold games. He would choose me, or I was gone. Yeah, I could demand that.Right?
With a groan, I pulled myself together and left the restroom. Grey waited patiently in the living room, sitting on the sofa. When he saw me, a small smile crossed his face, and he got to his feet.
“All done,” I said somewhat stiffly.
His eyes flicked down my body. I would be lying if I said some part of me didn’t enjoy the attention.
“I’ll get changed,” he said. “You can take the bed. I’ll stay out here.”
I shot him a please-be-serious look. “That’s dumb. Either I stay out here, or we can share the bed again.”
“Well, you’re not staying out here,” he said. “Dae might be home tonight, and he’s loud as hell when he’s sober.”
“Great. I’ll see you in the room.” I stormed off to his bedroom before he could argue further and climbed under the sheets.
That was a mistake. His sheets smelled like his cologne. Memories of our kiss played out in my mind. I tried to center myself in the present moment with deep breathing, but the effort was useless as Grey’s scent filled my nostrils and sent chills down my spine. Desire bloomed in my stomach and twisted its way up to my heart and down to my groin, where I began to harden.
I tore off the sheets and sat up, hoping to clear my head enough to make it to the living room. I couldn’t stay in here. Not tonight. Not when those memories were so fresh.
I’d hardly swung my foot over the side of the bed when Grey appeared in the doorway.
