Stretching out, I dragged a hand down my stomach, letting the blanket slip just enough to bunch at my hips. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught her gaze tracking the motion, following the path of my hand before snapping away too late.
My ears picked up a faint swallow, and my lips curved. Why was she so fucking cute?
I rolled forward onto my stomach and edged closer to the side of the bed. She reacted instantly, jumping back like I’d lunged at her.
The shirt she’d been clutching slipped from her hands, dropping to the floor. My gaze dipped without permission.
Yeah. That wasnothelping. I felt the need to lick my lips as I pictured running my tongue between her breasts.
“You weren’t this jumpy last night,” I said, letting my tone tilt just enough to tease.
She scrambled for the shirt, snatching it up and fumbling it over her head. It snagged for a second before she yanked it down, her face popping through with a glare that could’ve burned through steel.
“You!” she snapped, pointing at me like I was about to be put in time-out. “You—you fucking lied to me!”
I blinked, frowning. “I… what?”
My brows pulled together as I ran back through everything from last night, trying to catch where I’d screwed up, but I was pulling up nothing.
She crossed her arms, and her voice dropped into a serious tone, the kind that meant she wasverysure she was right.
“You didn’t tell me you were… were…” She gestured wildly at me, clearly struggling for words before bursting out with “You!” Her whole body moved with it, shoulders rising and falling as she tried to keep up with her thoughts.
I almost told her to relax—almost—but I had four sisters. I knew better than to say something that stupid.
“The hair! The eyes!” she continued, her voice climbing. “How do I even know you’re really Calix Winstale, huh? What if this is some kind of glamour and I just got tricked again?!”
Ah.
I glanced down at my watch.
Right.I looked back at her, offering a small, almost sheepish smile.
“Forgot I still had it on,” I admitted, lifting one shoulder in a half-shrug. “Once we left the bar, it just… slipped my mind.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Slipped your mind?” she echoed, pushing up from her crouch in one quick movement.
Her hands flew up, and she began pacing in place as she looked around the room like the answer might be hiding somewhere in the walls. Then she spun back to me.
“You can’t just—” Her hand flung toward me, then back at herself. “And I’m just?—”
Nothing came out. Her eyes bounced between me, the bed, the floor, unable to decide which part of this to process first.
I found myself staring at her, completely captivated by the way she fumbled through her outrage. Dark hair, red-tipped strands catching the light. She was a mess. A very cute mess, and that was coming from someone who didn’t mind untangling messes.
Pushing myself up slowly, I was careful not to startle her.
She backed up anyway, eyes still locked on me like she was waiting for something else to change.
Alright. Let’s start simple.
“Are you hungry?”
Her head snapped toward me so fast her hair whipped across her cheek.
“Don’t tell me you’re offering to…” Her eyes widened in horror. “No. No, that’snothappening.” She shook her head, one hand coming up as if to physically push the idea away. “Calix Winstaledoes not make breakfast,” she went on, her voice gaining speed. “That’s not a thing. That’s—nope. Absolutely not.”
