“Shit.”
I had an early class in the morning and liked to lay my clothes out the night before so I didn’t have to think too much before I was fully awake, but it turned out I didn’t have anything to lay out.
I could have sworn I had more here, but maybe I’d left it in the country.
He walked through from the bathroom, pajama bottoms slung low on his hips, showing off stacked abs and cordedobliques. He planted a kiss on my head before throwing the covers back and getting into bed.
“What’s wrong?”
I pulled my hair up, tying it with a band. “Nothing, I just thought I had more clothes here. It’s fine, I’ll go via my place first thing.”
He didn’t look up from the book he was reading. “Ralph can take you.”
“No, babe, it’s fine, I don’t need him to. I’ll just leave a bit earlier.”
“No, Emerson. It’s still dark when you leave, so Ralph will take you.” He put his book down, picked his phone up and typed out a text. “And I’m driving tomorrow anyway.”
I didn’t argue because I knew it was pointless.
“Okay, thank you.”
“Now get into bed please, it’s cold without you. And it’s spoon o’clock.”
I slipped in under the comforter, Drew pulling me close against his hard body, his arms wrapping around me.
“Have you set the alarm?”
He turned to the clock, double checking, switching the side lamp off at the same time.
“I have.” His mouth found mine, sealing it with a kiss before he pulled back and turned me around to our usual sleeping positions.
“Sleep tight, Luck. Have sweet dreams for me.”
It wasn’t the first time I’d fallen asleep wondering how I’d captured this Adonis holding onto me like he never wanted to let go.
Ralph was waiting in the cold morning air, holding the car door open for me.
“Thanks, Ralphie. I’m sorry it’s so early. I told Drew you don’t need to do this.”
He smiled. “It’s not a problem at all, I’m happy to.”
I jumped in and he closed the door behind me. Five minutes later, he pulled up outside my building.
I really could have walked this, but I didn’t begrudge Drew wanting to spend longer in bed. I never used to care that much about being up and out early in the morning, but I was finding it harder and harder to leave when Drew’s heavy, warm body was wrapped around me.
“Thanks. I’ll be about ten minutes.”
“I’ll be here, take your time.”
I sprinted inside, determined to be quick, running around my apartment and stripping off as I went. I flicked on the coffee machine to make one for Ralph, the least I could do considering he’d got up at the ass-crack of dawn to drive me around. While it was dripping into the to-go cup, I ran back into my bedroom, rummaging around my drawers for a new pair of pants and a bra, and pulling them on. Throwing a hoodie over me, I pulled the hair tie off my wrist and scraped my hair back in a messy twist at the top of my head. I’d sort it out properly when I got to work. Quickly scanning around the room to check I hadn’t forgotten anything, I picked up my bag, grabbed the coffee, and jogged back outside.
Pushing the building door open, I walked down the steps toward the car, but as I reached the bottom, a hand grabbed me, spinning me round, squeezing my arm so hard I screamedin pain, dropping my bag and the coffee. The scalding liquid splashed my legs, making me jerk hard, but he held firm. His fingers were digging into the flesh at the top of my arm, and my blood ran cold at the hatred in his eyes.
“Where’ve you been?” Richard snarled, his grip tightening. I could smell alcohol on his breath. “I saw you walk in ten minutes ago, where did you come from? Where did you stay last night?”
How drunk was he? Did he not see me get out of the car? I tried to look around him to find Ralph but I couldn’t move, suddenly terrified he’d driven off.
“None of your fucking business!” I winced as he squeezed harder. “Ouch! Richard, you’re hurting me.”
