They couldn’t get close enough although their bodies were flush. She couldn’t get enough of him, like the proverbial carrot that was unattainable.
His lips brushed hers, a shadow of a touch that borrowed to her bones.
“Look at me, Aasia,” he commanded in a soft voice. Their breath entangled. The universe stood still.
Then something wet touched her nose followed by a feather caress on her cheek.
Flicking open her eyes, she looked up into a kitten’s wide green eyes. He reached his paw out, tapping her on the cheek then bounced off her chest and pounced on her foot that was sticking out from the blanket.
A blanket that didn’t belong to her.
That was when she saw Bear. Standing in the middle of his room, dressed with his hat on.
Curiosity made her breath heavy.
She’d been dreaming that she and Bear had been making love. But what was she doing in his bed?
“Good morning,” he said in the most amazing raspy morning tone she’d ever heard.
“Morning.” She winced against the splintering pain currently bombarding her skull. She was reminded of how much she drank last night.
“How do you feel?”
“Like a tree fell on top of my head,” she groaned.
“I’ll be right back.” He left the room and gently closed the door behind him.
Pushing herself up onto one elbow, she looked around but there wasn’t much to see. The small space held a bed, a dresser, and nothing else. There weren’t any personal items. Just like Bear…simple.
She explored her muddled brain looking for answers. The last thing she could recall they’d stopped to rescue the kitten, and not much after. Nothing really at all. She didn’t remember getting into his bed.
The kitten jumped off the bed and she heard its paws slapping against the wood floor as it disappeared under the bed. Probably after a dust bunny.
“You’re a little rascal, aren’t you?” She laughed, but the effort sent a pain through her temples.
Her phone buzzed from the nightstand. She swiped it up and clicked on the screen. Eight-thirty am. She had ten missed calls. Three of those were from Pedora. One from her mother and the rest were from Bentley. He’d also sent her multiple text messages.
The most recent read,“Can we talk?”
She flipped her phone down on the nightstand.
Aasia didn’t want to see or talk to him again. If he could hold it against her that she’d worked her way through college by selling foot pictures on the internet, then she didn’t need him. He wasn’t perfect or a saint by any means.
Obviously, he only cared about himself. And his career. Just like the ring he’d placed on her finger—he wanted everything large, shiny, and polished. She wasn’t a bauble to be polished and displayed.
Anger overtook her. She grabbed her phone.
Clicking on the thread of text messages she read the prior texts…
“Where have you been? You didn’t go home last night. I’m worried about you. Please call.”
“What a liar,” she whispered.
Staring at her phone, she typed out…
“You let your mother pick out a wife for you so next time she approves.”
Then she removed the message.
