Page 81 of Ink & Desire

We watch the movie while we eat our dinner on the couch. Despite Avery’s claim of being too young for the movie, she recites several of the lines along with the characters. It’s clearly a favorite of hers. By the time Heath Ledger is serenading Julia Stiles in a soccer stadium, Avery’s eyelids are drooping and I’m in danger of falling asleep myself. When her head dips and I see her shake herself awake, I reach for the remote to stop the movie.

“Come on,” I say. “Bed time.”

“But it’s not over yet,” she argues. “Bianca still needs to knee Joey in the balls.”

“She can do it tomorrow,” I say, reaching out a hand.

Avery reluctantly puts her hand in mine, and I pull her to her feet. Tucking her against my side, I walk us down the hallway to my room. I don’t think about how much tonight felt like a date. I don’t think about how much this is starting to feel like more than sex. I also don’t think about how much I like the idea of that. And I absolutely don’t think about how much I'd like to have more nights like tonight.

Chapter 31

Avery

Falling asleep in Corbin’s bed and waking up with his arms around me feels dangerous. It’s something I could easily get used to. But it’s also something I know I shouldn’t crave the way I do. He’s made it clear that we’re just in this for the sex. It’s what we both agreed on. So, why did he ask me to have dinner with him and to watch a movie? Why did he ask me to stay here last night? And why had I agreed?

Well, that’s not exactly a mystery. I know why I agreed. I’m becoming addicted to him. Each time we come together, it makes me crave more. I should have left after the shower last night. I should have made something up about why I couldn’t stay. Instead, I’m waking up to his stupid, sexy grumble as I try to extricate myself from his bed to use the bathroom without waking him up.

I finally manage to slip out of bed. Corbin must be a heavy sleeper because all my maneuvering doesn’t wake him. I take a moment to let my eyes roam over him, taking advantage of this rare moment of unrestricted viewing access. I’m struck, for what feels like the billionth time, by how ridiculously hot he is. Part of his sex appeal comes from the intensity he exudes, I know. But even now, when he’s sound asleep and relaxed, his presence is somehow commanding.

He’s curled on his side, facing me, the blankets pooled around his midsection. In the dim light from the early morning sun shining through the window, I’m able to make out the myriad of tattoos that adorn his chest, shoulders, and arms. My fingers itch to trace over the inked lines, to caress all that warm skin, but I resist the urge. My gaze moves higher to his normally serious face. For the first time, I’m seeing it completely relaxed. I smile at the sight. No one would ever call Corbin’s looks boyish, but there’s something youthful about his appearance in sleep. It makes me wish he’d relax more during his waking hours. Not that I’m likely to get that wish anytime soon. His hair is a little mussed from thepillow and his normally smooth beard is flat on one side and sticking up on the other. He looks cute. It’s not a word I’d think to use to describe Corbin James, but right now that’s exactly what he is.

I eventually stop my borderline-creepy staring and make my way to the bathroom. When I finish, Corbin’s still asleep, so I decide to crawl back under the covers and ignore the coming day for a little longer. When his arms wrap around me and he sighs into my hair, I close my eyes and allow myself a smile. This is dangerous, I know. But I don’t want it to end. My last thought before I drift back to sleep is that I really shouldn’t like this as much as I do.

When I wake up later, the light from the windows is brighter and the bed is empty beside me. I sit up and look around the room, wondering how long I’ve been asleep. Reaching for my phone, I see that it’s just after 9am. Not too late, then. Corbin isn’t in the bathroom when I peek inside, so I pull on his shirt from the night before and go in search of him.

When I walk into the living room and don’t see him, my gaze strays to the kitchen. He’s not there either. Unless he left the apartment without telling me, there’s only the balcony left. I turn in that direction, but I’mstopped when I hear Corbin’s angry raised voice coming from the other side of the door.

“I don’t care,” he says, his voice cold and harsh.

There’s a pause before he speaks again.

“I’ve told you before that it’s not going to happen.”

Another pause.

“Well, Henley can do whatever she wants. She’s a grown woman. Something you’d know if you had been there when she was growing up.”

I cock my head. He must be talking to family. A parent, maybe? He’s never talked about his family beyond his sister. I’ve never thought to ask about them. Now, it seems that maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t talk about them.

“No.” This is even louder and has a finality to it. “Because I’ve seen enough of this shit to know how it’s going to go. I’m done. I’ve been done with you for years. That’s not changing now.”

I take a step back from the closed door, eyes wide. I’m certain this isn’t a conversation Corbin wants me to hear. I back quickly away from the door and turn back toward the hallway. Maybe I can sneak back into the bedroom and pretend to be sleeping. I don’t want Corbin to think I was eavesdropping on his conversation. That’s not what I was doing. A pang of guilt hits me, even though I know I wasn’t intentionally spying on his call. I’m nearly to the bedroom door when I hear the balcony door behind me open.

Shit.

I try to school my features into a mask of sleepy confusion and turn to face the living room just as Corbin enters. He spots me immediately and I pretend not to notice as his face shifts from an angry mask to one of surprise, just before he gives me a smile I can tell is forced. He smiles so rarely already that any smiles I do get from him are hard-won. They also have a way of transforming his whole face. This one doesn’t reach his eyes. I can tell that, even from across the room. Still, I smile back as if I don’t notice the strain around his eyes.

“Hey,” I say. “I woke up and you were gone.”

His gaze rakes over me before settling on my face. “I haven’t been up long,” he says. “I made some coffee, if you want it.”

I smile wider as I make my way over to where he stands. Pulling myself up on my tiptoes, I plant a kiss on his cheek. Corbin stands stock-still, not reaching for me until just before I pull away. His hand goes to my waist, and he gives me a slight squeeze, almost like an afterthought.

“Magic words,” I say, my bright tone hiding the worry I’m feeling at his demeanor. “Point me toward the coffee.”

He’s still a little stiff as he steers me toward the kitchen, but he’s trying for normalcy. I don’t think he knows that he’s not quite achieving it. I start chattering nervously, unable to stop the flow of words coming from my mouth.

“How did you sleep?” Without waiting for an answer, I keep going. “Because I slept great. Your bed is super comfortable. I don’t know how you leave it every morning to go to work. I had a hard time getting out of it.”