“Stay the night,” he says, and I answer by burrowing closer to him.
I wake up the next morning in Gray’s bed. He’s sprawled on his stomach, his bare ass making me grin. He threw off the blanket sometime during the night. I had to scramble in the darkness to try to scrounge it off the floor and then cocooned myself in it while he lay naked beside me.
I’m careful not to wake him as I slide out of bed. I hate putting my dirty, still-damp-from-the-jungle clothes back on, but I can’t be seen leaving Gray’s quarters in his shirt. I dress quietly, then shove my feet into my boots and head for the living room. He doesn’t stir.
I step outside, gently closing the door behind me. I’m so focused on remaining quiet and not waking him that I neglect to notice I have company until her footsteps are right behind me.
I turn around and freeze.
Karra is standing a few feet away. Her gaze rests on Gray’s door, then shifts to me. Her expression darkens for only a split second before her mouth twists in a sardonic smirk.
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Karra,” I start. Then stop, as I realize there’s nothing I can say to appease her.
It’s been a couple of weeks since they broke up, and last night was the first time Gray and I went further than kissing. But we did kiss the night he ended things with her, and for that I do feel guilty.
“It’s fine,” she says, waving a dismissive hand. “I don’t care if you hook up with him. Have fun.”
She doesn’t sound all that angry or concerned, which surprises me.
“Look, I don’t want to make things awkward,” I say. “I know you two have been on and off for a long time.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, and we’ll probably be on again at some point.”
I get the message, loud and clear.He’s not yours. I’ll get him back.
“So if you want to warm his bed in the meantime,” she finishes, “go for it.”
“Until he gets sick of me?” I say sarcastically.
“No, until you get sick of him.”
That startles me.
“Because you will,” Karra tells me. She smiles, as if she has a secret that only she knows. “I’m the only one who’s willing to accept it.”
“Accept what?”
“Grayson Blake. He’s not the type to do anything other than the bare minimum. He’s not capable of real feelings or love or any of that shit.”
I frown at her.
“You’ll find out for yourself. All he wants is to keep things light and physical. Nothing ever gets deep. And if it does, he’ll just ground those emotions away so you’re feeling light and happy again.”
A groove digs into my forehead. “And you’re satisfied with that?”
She gives another shrug. “I don’t need anything more.”
I honestly can’t tell if she’s being genuine or not.
“Most women want more, though.” Karra’s gaze meets mine. “You strike me as someone who will want more.”
“Do I?” I like to think I put on a hard front, that I don’t need things like emotions and gooey feelings, but deep down, I think I do. I wonder how Karra can see that.
“You’re intense,” she says, laughing. “You hide it, but you feel things. You’ll want him to feel things, too, but he won’t, and not many people can handle that. So if you want him, go ahead. He’s all yours.”
At that, Karra saunters down the corridor. I stare at her retreating figure, trying not to let her words affect me.
