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Chapter Six
Marisol
Sweat trickles slowly between my cleavage, a side effect of the inferno I’m currently smothering in. Even though morning beckons, I refuse to open my eyes, remaining motionless, protesting the day, as I snuggle down deeper.
A deep chuckle vibrates from my pillow that’s also breathing steadily, causing me to tense and sit up suddenly. Eyes the color of the sea ensnare and catapult my heart against bone.
“Good morning,” Jace grumbles with a smile.
“Morning.” As I push my hair out of my face, I notice my hip is snug to his on the couch. Nonchalantly, I attempt to scoot over but bump Jasmine, who’s taking up the other half of the couch, groaning in protest at the movement. She and Alex are practically lying down, hogging more than their fair share.
“Come here.” Jace tucks his arm behind me, giving me more room, but only in one direction?towards him.
“Thanks,” I say, moving away from Jasmine’s feet.
Neither one of us says anything. The awareness surrounding us differs from any of our other sleepovers.The heat of his skin, scorching me to the bone. His clean smell, like freshly laundered clothes. His smell? What the hell are you thinking, Marisol? Jace is completely off-limits. The idea of us is weird but oddly… not. He’s Alex’s best friend and my best friend’s brother, but those facts are doing nothing to stop the forbidden images dancing through my head.
“What time is it?” I inquire, looking for an excuse to get going.
“It’s early, only six. Go back to sleep,” he suggests, scooting down on the couch and pulling me closer.
Is he cuddling me? Nah. I couldn’t count how many times we’d fallen asleep like this, all of us snuggled together. Ever since I could remember, in rooms, tents, it didn’t matter. We huddled like bears hibernating. Instead of answering, I do just that. I nestle down deeper into his side, let out a long sigh, and I’m fast asleep again in no time.
The next time I wake up, I’m leaning on the armrest of the couch, Jace nowhere in sight. My heart does a little flip and dives to my stomach. Why am I suddenly having these tumbling emotions? During the last twenty-four hours, I can’t seem to get him out of my head, imagining all kinds of not so friendly behavior.
Shaking off my impure thoughts, I turn to Alex and Jasmine’s sleeping forms and laugh out loud. They’re sprawled all over the couch, Jasmine practically lying on Alex, her mouth hanging open—probably drooling.
My laugh is enough to stir Alex from sleep, but Jasmine can sleep through an earthquake, and remains motionless. He cracks his lids and finds me staring, while attempting to stretch, and realizes he has a second blanket. His smile stretches lazily as he stares down at Jasmine, then slowly slipping her to the back of the couch so he can stand.
“Where’s Jace?” he asks.
“Don’t know. He was gone when I woke up. You know, you two looked comfy.” The thick insinuation in my tone doesn’t go unnoticed, but ignored.
He chuckles deep in his throat. “I slept like the dead. Didn’t think it was possible with all of us on the couch.”
“I slept pretty well, too.” The words are a drawn out yawn.
Just then, Jace bounds into the room, scaring the living daylights out of me. “Hey, guys. I made breakfast if you’re hungry.” He points over his shoulder down the hall.
“Gracias.” Alex rubs his hands together. “If I’d have known you were going to cook for me, I may have put out a little more last night.” Alex wiggles his eyebrows at Jace as he slaps his ass on the way to the kitchen.
Jace glances over at me. “You coming?”
“I’m going to wait until Jaz wakes up. I might go back to sleep for a bit.” I’m still exhausted, even though I slept better than I have in a long time.
“Okay.” A flash of disappointment crosses his face so quickly, I’m not sure if I saw it. “I’ll save you girls a plate. You know how your brother eats.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Just Alex?” Either of them can eat a giant out of house and home.
He places a hand over his chest with mock outrage. “You wound me, Marisol. Are you calling me fat?”
“Hardly.” There isn’t an ounce of fat on his extremely ripped and defined body. I’ve seen him shirtless so many times, I’ve lost count, but I’ve never lusted after him until now. I’m pretty sure I’ve been staring at his bare chest for far too long.
“Well…” he clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck. “Come down when you’re ready. I’ll cut some fruit for you two too. I know how much you like it.” The tips of his ears turn pink.
“Thank you.” The breathless tone that escapes is embarrassing.
Once he’s gone back downstairs, sleep comes easily after I pull the blanket over my head and disappear from the world. The cushions are so warm and comfortable, Jaz and I sleep for another hour before Jace barges back into the room, hollering.
