Page 89 of A Little Jaded
And I know I should feel regret. I know I should be second-guessing myself. Instead, all I can think about is how good it feels to be held. To feel him inside of me. To feel his lips against mine as his kisses soften, along with his grasp on my hip.
“Fucking perfect,” he breathes out. “You’re fucking perfect.”
My attention bounces around his face as I search for sincerity. I find it in spades. Snaking his arm around my waist, he rolls me back to our original position, then drops another kiss to the tip of my nose.
“Stay here. I’m gonna grab a towel.”
I nod as he slips out of me and disappears from sight, only to return ten seconds later with the towel he promised.
After he helps me clean up in the fort, I head to the bathroom and finish the job in the still pitch black bathroom before climbing back into the blanket cave we created in the middle of the family room. The floors are cold, and so are my toes as I climb under the covers. When they brush against his ankle, Everett grabs my foot and tucks it between his thighs, letting me steal his warmth.
“Get some rest,” he whispers.
“Okay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EVERETT
The power turned on sometime in the middle of the night, but I didn’t bother slipping out of bed or turning the light off. I should’ve. I probably would’ve slept better if I had, but I didn’t want to wake Raine up. She’s still passed out on my chest. Her soft snore is almost familiar now. I never thought I’d be attracted to a snorer, but I kind of like it.
The fire died down a little while ago, and Raine’s been clinging to my chest like I’m her teddy bear ever since. I like it, though. Feeling her against me. I drag my fingers through her hair and study her closed eyes, searching for any lingering bruises, though I know I won’t find them. Not anymore. It’s been weeks, but I’m not sure time matters when it comes to shit like this. Memory of the first time I saw her and how her face was mottled with bruises haunts me. She’s better now. Everything’s healed. Her bottom lip. Her black eye. Everything on the outside is exactly how it should be, and after last night, I’m hoping I was able to fix a few of the wounds Drake cut into her that I can’t see. Thedamage beneath the surface. Buried deeper than I ever anticipated.
Her dark lashes flutter in the morning light as she opens her eyes and peeks up at me.
“Hi.” Her voice is soft. Raspy. Sexy as hell.
With a smile, I move her hair away from her face. “Hey.”
She pushes herself up and leans her back against one of the chairs in our makeshift fort. The distance messes with my head, and I follow suit, sitting up.
“You good?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah. I’m good.”
“Any plans today?” I prod.
She pauses, then shakes her head. “Nope.”
“You hesitated,” I point out.
Rolling her eyes, she explains, “Lucian texted the other day and asked when I was going to pick my things up from my locker. I was debating whether or not that day was today. I think I’ll procrastinate for another week or so.”
“You don’t want to go?”
“Not in the slightest,” she admits. “If I could snap my fingers and have all my things from my locker reappear here, I’d be ecstatic. Unfortunately, it’s not the way things work.” Her gaze falls to her black nails as she clicks them together.
I make a mental note to swing by and grab her things later today then tilt my head and change the subject. “Any reason why you’re sitting all the way over there?”
Her head shifts left and right again. “No?”
“Is that a question?”
She narrows her eyes. “Where should I be?”
I pat my thigh, and she smirks.
“I’m sorry, are you Santa?” she challenges.