She stirs a bit, and then her eyes flutter open. She blinks, eyes snapping to mine, a sleepy smile stretching across her mouth.
“Did I really fall asleep again?”
I can’t stop staring at her. My throat bobs. “Looks like it.”
“Anyone ever told you that your house has extremely comfortable beds?”
I dip my chin, sliding my hand off her body. “You’ve only tested one, Goldilocks.”
The glare she sends me is loaded.
I grin, happy to strike my favourite nerve of hers. “It tookforever to pick them out, but Ariana has good taste when she’s spending somebody else’s money.”
Arden breathes a laugh, running a hand over her eyes. She rolls onto her back, a happy little breath slipping through her lips.
“Did you sleep well?” I ask. She nods. “Was the bath nice?”
“Oh god,” she moans, and I hate what that does to my dick. “Yes.It was heaven. I might need to add a rule to our list. As long as we’re faux-dating, I get to use that bathroom as many times as I want.”
I pat her leg. “No adjustments to the list needed. It’s all yours.”
“Even when Ariana comes to visit?”
I flinch. “She might fight you for it, but sometimes she prefers the last one down the hall, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“What’s so special about that one?” she asks curiously, propping herself up on her elbow.
“Better view,” I shrug. “My sister is weird, Red. She’sactuallyGoldilocks when she comes here. She flitters around from bed to bed depending on her mood. I can’t pretend to understand what goes on in her warped and twisted mind.”
Arden laughs again, that same laugh that brought me to life that day at Lowesy’s. “I think I’d like her.”
I stare at her for a second. Those are magic,magicwords.
“You would,” I tell her with confidence. Because it’s impossible not to. Ari is a headache, but she’s the absolute best headache in the world. “I promised you breakfast. Are you ready to crawl out of bed and rejoin the world?”
Arden sighs, long and tired. “If I must.”
“I’ll meet you down there.”
I’m unpacking the food when she saunters into the kitchen in my T-shirt. I can’t see anything beyond that, so I assumeshe’s just in her underwear. I clear my throat far too quickly, stunned by her lack of clothing, even if it’s just bare legs. I didn’t give her any bottoms. I didn’t think this part through enough when I told her to stay.
I need to get laid.
She climbs onto one of the chairs at the dining room table, her red hair pulled back messily in a clip. Resting her chin on the heel of her hand, she watches my every move as I open each box.
She sits up straighter. “Waffles? Oh, hell yeah! My favourite.”
I push the box of waffles in front of her and slide her a plate. She’s immediately digging in, and like promised, I notice. Waffles are a hit, but she’s a bacon girl too, and this chicklovespotatoes. She doesn’t touch the sausage, and she scrunches her nose up at the scrambled eggs.
Noted, noted, and noted.
I slide the jugs of drinks in front of her so she can have her choice. She freezes, brown eyes locked on them, and then snaps her gaze to mine.
“Is that apple juice and chocolate milk?”
I slowly lower myself into the chair beside her. “Yeah. Why are you looking at me like it’s the blood of your friends and family?”
She drops her utensils and sits back, crossing her arms in front of her. Hell, if I don’t notice that she’s definitely not wearing a bra. I swallow, forcing myself to keep my eyes on her face, but again, it’s been weeks with no sex and I cannot think straight.
