His stubbly jaw grazed the skin there when he asked, “You want me to sleep with you?”
“I mean, if you want to. Or not. Totally up to you. No biggie either way.”
I cringed at my rambling nonsense, but he just chuckled. “How about this? You no longer have a choice because itisa biggie to me. It was killing me to give you space. If you don’t need it, I’m sure as fuck not giving it.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, but my body knew. It leaned back into him.
“Bed,” he prodded, verballyandphysically moving me forward.
And I happily went, no longer feeling silly or needy for wanting his company.
I had no choice about it.
Just like I had no choice about how to sleep. There was no tense awkwardness while we stayed stiff as boards next to each other. Instead, he instantly rolled me so my front was pressed to his side, my head was on his chest, and my leg was thrown over his.
It was the most comfortable I’d ever been, and he made it somehow better still by pressing his lips to my forehead and keeping them there.
The steady sound of his heart in my ear was like the best white noise, soothing me until my lids grew heavier and heavier. I was nearly asleep when another exhausted admission decided to spill from my filterless mouth. “I liked the bondage room a lot more than the window room.”
There was a strain of cocky arrogance in his whisper. “Good to know I was right.”
I rolled my eyes, but since it was too dark for him to see, I verbally let him know. “FYI, I just rolled my eyes at you.”
“Figured as much.”
I tried to let him rest but my curiosity got the better of me. “How did you know I would like it? I hadn’t thought I would.”
In all honesty, I’d half expected to have a panic attack at being so helpless. I definitely hadn’t thought that feeling of powerlessness would help fuel my orgasms.
“You like your arms held,” he said.
My voice was barely above a mutter. “Yeah, I don’t know what’s up with that.”
“Because you’re used to taking care of everything and everyone. Being held down or in the bondage room forces you to give up that control. You didn’t have to think. There were no responsibilities. All you had to do was let me take care of you.” He went for the heart when he added, “Fuck knows someone should.”
My chin lifted. “I take care of myself just fine.”
“I know, baby. And you do a great job.” He pressed another kiss to my forehead as he squeezed me tighter. Whether it was affectionate comfort or a preventative measure in case I was annoyed enough to leave, I wasn’t sure. If it was the latter, it was unnecessary. He’d pretty much hit the nail on the head, but he wasn’t done. His voice was so tender, I thought I might cry when he added, “But you deserve a break.”
I wasn’t sure whether I should be terrified he’d managed to see so far beyond the perfect exterior I worked hard to project, proud that he thought I did a great job, or touched that he recognized the truth. Ididneed a break, and the only other people who ever offered me that consideration were Maddie and Wren.
My brain settled on an odd mix of the three before deciding that it was past time for me to shut up.
AfterI whispered, “Then I guess you should take me to that room again.”
I could feel and hear the smile in his one-word response. “Happily.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
NO CLUB OR PARTY FOR THE B-LISTER? SOURCES SAY SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY UP
GREER
Iwas not, in fact,up by six.
Instead, it’d been after eight when Tripp had carefully eased himself out of bed. After apologizing for waking me—and then kissing me in a way that woke me even more—he’d explained that his personal trainer would be there soon, and they would be in the basement. Then he’d ordered me to stay in bed before grudgingly accepting that I needed to run home for my computer and a shower.
When I’d gotten back to his place, I’d snuck downstairs in a strictly professional capacity to see if my boss needed anything.
