I climb onto my bed and pull the covers over me. What dicks! They couldn’t even keep it in their pants for less than a week. Maybe Kenz is right and I’ll have a boyfriend by the end of next week. He’ll protect and care for me.
The horsemen will have to find someone else to torment for the year. I sigh and close my eyes. At least my first kisses were really hot kisses.
I must have dozed off for a few minutes because suddenly the bed dips next to me. For a second, I think my cat is there and then I remember Mr. Snuggles died last year.
My heart thumps hard in my chest. My piñata stick falls, clattering on the floor next to me. The sound startles me into action. I jolt like I’m going to leap out of bed and run for the door when a hand closes over my mouth. I get out maybe half a scream.
“Harper, it’s me.” Luke’s harsh whisper cuts through the panic. I grab at his hand covering my mouth. He removes it and I inhale.
“I lost a year off my life, asshole. What the fuck are you doing in my bedroom?” I spin on the bed to face him in the shadows of the dark. I shove at his shoulder, still more freaked out than worried.
He groans in pain, and everything in me chills out.
“Are you hurt?” I reach out to where I shoved, but his fingers wrap around mine to keep me from touching it again.
“The Tigers decided they didn’t like me very much.” Luke doesn’t release my hand but holds it on the bed between us. “Where were you? Your camera was on, but you weren’t here.”
“I fell asleep downstairs after some kids messed around outside my house and freaked me out.” I sit against the headboard of my bed. “The neighbors checked out the place, but I still couldn’t calm down.”
“Where’s your mom?”
“She got called in.” Somehow, in the darkness, it’s okay to let Luke know we’re here alone in my bedroom, completely unsupervised. My brain is slow to grasp things when I first wake up, but now I’m realizing all these things.
I’m in my sleep shorts and a sleep shirt, while Luke Foster sits next to me on the edge of my bed in jeans and a t-shirt. The room has a little light thanks to the streetlight that cuts through my curtains, but otherwise we’re bathed in darkness.
Awareness slices through me. The air suddenly feels thicker, and his hand against mine is sending warmth and tingles up myarm. I should pull it away, but it’s nice to have someone here. The creepiest thing about the noises was being all alone. No one here to help me.
“Where are the others?” I need to say something to unravel this tension welling inside me.
“Jason’s party.” Luke sighs. “I should probably go.”
His hand starts to slip from mine, but I grab it. “No.”
What the fuck am I doing? He stops moving and waits for me. I don’t want him to leave. I drop my gaze to our hands.
“I—fuck it. I’m scared and don’t want to be alone. I’m tired and want to sleep, but every little noise freaks me out. My mom won’t be home for hours and I’m here alone.” I keep my head down as I admit this to him, of all people.
I hate admitting any weakness. He could turn around and use it to torment me.
He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t move away either.
“Would you…” I take a deep breath. I can’t believe I’m saying this. “Would you mind staying with me?”
He tips my chin until our faces are aligned, even if I can’t make out his eyes in the dark. “I can stay.”
My bed is a queen, so we won’t even have to touch. I mean, he could sleep on the floor, but that seems pretty petty after I begged him to stay. “Thank you.”
Luke nods and leans down to take off his shoes. I try to control my breathing as he stands and removes his shirt. His jeans come off next. In the darkness, I can just make out his form—not the details, but I’ve seen him this stripped down before.
Just never in the same room as me.
Scooting down in the bed, I move over to the side so he can slip in. I’m a ball of nervous energy as he lies down beside me. Both of us stare up at the ceiling. I realize I’m holding my breath and release it.
This is weird. Maybe it’s too weird. Maybe I should suggest we go downstairs and watch a movie. We can just stay up all night and I’ll sleep tomorrow.
“Stop worrying, princess. I won’t maul you in your sleep.” Luke’s deep voice flows over me. “Boundaries.”
I need to talk. I need to get all the energy out. “What were the guys doing at the party?”
