Page 55 of Fight for You

With that, he jogs down the sidewalk without a backward glance.

"Fuck," I swear, wishing like hell he'd snap out of whatever he's thinking and realize we're going to worry about him regardless of how much distance he tries to put between us. He's her brother and my best friend. Nothing will ever change that. I just wish he'd get that through his thick skull and stop all this bullshit.

Chapter Ten

January

Present Day

Sunlight trickles in through the windows, sending warm rays of light across my face. I groan and pull the blanket up over my head, trying to disappear back into my dreams. I don't want to wake up. I'm comfortable and warm, and for the first time in a long time, my dreams weren't painful.

I felt like Cade was with me, keeping the nightmares away. Letting that peaceful feeling go hurts…and then I realize I still smell like him. I can still feel him between my legs. I didn't dream anything. He really is back.

He told me that he's still not over me.

My eyes fly open, my gaze settling on the window across from my bed before flitting to the clock on my nightstand. It's still early, barely even seven in the morning. Since it's Sunday, I don't have to leave the bed or Cade until I feel like it. A little shiver of excitement rolls through me at the thought.

Somehow, I'm naked. I guess I took my bra off at some point in the night. That works for me.

I turn over in the bed, but Cade isn't beside me.

My heart sinks, realization setting in. He left. Apparently, he's fine with fucking me senseless, but not with sticking around to face the morning after.

Frustration rolls through me in a powerful wave. I climb out of the bed and grab a robe, wrapping it around me. I push my hair back from my face and toss it up into a messy ponytail. Once that's done, I slip my feet into a pair of flip-flops and march out of the room, determined to storm next door and tell him he can fuck right the hell off with this leaving crap. He doesn't get to sleep with me and then pretend like it never happened.

"Hey."

"Shit!" I scream and damn near fall over as his voice sounds from across the living room.

He peers up at me from the couch and gives me a tentative smile. He's sprawled out on his back, his legs hanging off the end. His cock tents the fabric of his boxers. His white t-shirt is all wrinkled up. His jaw is scruffy, and his blond hair is a mess. He looks adorably sleepy and sexy as hell at the same time, like a wild lion at rest.

"Sorry," he mumbles and sits up. He runs a hand down his face, his pinky bumping the piercing in his nose. "Didn't mean to scare you. What time is it?"

"Not even seven." I press my hand over my heart like that's going to slow the way it pounds. I'm no longer sure if it's racing because he scared the crap out of me or because he looks like sin, and I want to climb his body and have my way with him.

Why is he on my couch?

"Did you sleep out here?"

"Yeah, I…" He trails off and dips his head, avoiding my gaze. "Fuck. I wasn't sure how you'd feel about waking up with me in your bed, but I didn't want to leave either, so…" He turns his face away and swallows audibly. "I figured this was the best solution."

"Cade," I whisper.

"I'll go if you want me to," he mumbles, still not meeting my gaze. "I just…I wanted to be close to you."

Watching him walk out my door is the last thing I want.

I kick my flip-flops off. One sails across the floor before hitting the wall. I take a tentative step toward him. "I was on my way to kick your ass for leaving," I tell him.

His gaze flies to mine, shock written all over his face. Any other day, I'd probably laugh at seeing that half-hopeful, half-confused, completely surprised look on his gorgeous face, but not today.

"I was pissed you weren't in my bed when I woke up."

"Yeah?" he says and swallows hard. His gaze roams across my body, and I know he can see how hard my nipples are through the fabric of my robe. His cock jerks in his boxers.

I take another step toward him and then say screw it and close the distance between us. He places a hand on my hip. I take that as an invitation and crawl into his lap to straddle him. Both of us groan as I rub my pussy over the bulge in his boxers.

"Little monster." His lazy smirk makes my heart turn a flip. "Did you wake up hurting for my cock?"