Page 30 of Trouble

For the first time tonight, she smiles at me. “Thank you.”

The ache to kiss her, to thank her for allowing me to take care of her, almost overtakes me.

But she’s not mine, and even if she were, the last thing she needs right now is to be mauled by another man.

So I ignore the way her plump ass feels in my hands as I lumber down the hallway and toward the kitchen. I ignore the way she lays her head against my collarbone as I detour to the front door and turn the lock. And I ignore how her warm breath skates over my neck when she sighs and the shiver that runs down my spine as she curls her hand around the back of my neck and plays with my hair.

Bottle of water in hand, I take her to my bathroom, where I set her down on the counter and search the medicine cabinet for aspirin.

She looks around my space, eyes wide, as if she’s memorizing it. “You have a nice shower,” she says of the oversized tiled space with multiple shower heads, including a rain one.

I grunt my agreement. “Feel free to use it whenever you want.”

She gives me a soft smile as I press two aspirin into her palm and then hold out the bottle of water.

Once she’s recapped the water, I pick her up again and carry her back to her bed.

As I settle her beneath the covers, she lets out a heavy sigh. “Okay, you’ve done enough babysitting me. I’ll be okay.”

I study her, searching for a hint of what she really wants. If she’s not comfortable with me here, I’ll sit outside her door. But if she wants me close, nothing could pull me from her side.

“I can sit above the covers until you fall asleep. I don’t want to make youuncomfortable,” I offer.

She turns so she’s on her side, her face smooshed adorably against the pillow, making her lips pout as she regards me. “I think I’d be pretty comfortable wrapped up in those big arms of yours.”

This girl. Even after the night she’s had, she’s still got the flirty sarcasm going for her. Breathing easier knowing he hasn’t destroyed her spirit, I tug back the covers. “Then that’s what you’ll get.”

“You can’t sleep in your jeans.”Her voice is raspy, and fuck if I’m not cursing myself for what I’m about to do.

Head dropped back, staring up at the ceiling and deciding that I’ll ask for forgiveness from Cade rather than seeking approval, I unbutton my pants and shuck them off. Then I slide beneath the sheets with his girl.

I have no idea what the fuck is really going on between them, but she cares for him, and he likes her too. And even though the two of us are in bed together, wearing very little, I’m here as her friend only. Or at least that’s what I tell myself when she pulls my hand to her lips and kisses it and then doesn’t let go.

I’m woken by a loud noise and then heavy footsteps.

Guilt mixes with adrenaline as I realize that Melina has wrapped her warm body around me, her thigh draped over my hips and my hard cock, her lips brushing against my bare chest.

The door swings open, startling me. Out of instinct, I roll on top of her, hovering over her body, shielding her.

“What the fuck?” Cade hisses.

I breathe a sigh of relief and look down at the sleeping woman beneath me. Sitting up, I nod at Cade, silently signaling him to move out into the hall. He’s panting like he ran here, and his eyes are murderous.

Fuck.

Despite the dread that’s working its way through me, I don’t rushoff the bed. I take my time so as not to wake her. The last thing she needs is to be woken in the middle of the night.

I slip out the door and press it closed before I turn to face my best friend.

“What the fuck?” He looks me up and down, teeth gritted, eyes blazing with anger.

It’s then that I realize that I’m in only my boxers.

I adjust myself, because my cock is jutting out like I was just naked in bed with his girlfriend. Then I fold my arms across my chest. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“I don’t care what it looks like. I’ve been calling you for three fucking hours. I was in the middle of a press conference when I heard, and when you didn’t pick up any of my hundred fucking phone calls, I got in the car and drove here. Is she okay?”

His breathing is ragged, and he’s shifting his weight from foot to foot like he’s considering going through me to get to her.