Page 30 of Heartbeat Girl
The rhythm of her heartbeat steadied as she hummed. A knob screeched as she twisted it. Pipes groaned and a second later, water rushed out. The stream pattered against the bottom of the shower. All the sounds were so strong, I could picture the water slapping against the walls of the shower. Steam rose as the water got hotter. The water and her gentle beats soothed me. The closest thing I would ever feel to rest. Her happiness had that power over me.
The sharp hiss of a zipper gliding down popped my eyes open. I swallowed all the emotions that sprang forward at the sound of that tight-fitted skirt. The rustling through the wall told me it slid down her legs. With how tight the material was, she probably shimmied. Back and forth, her hips worked. Blood rushed to my cock.
I ran my hand over my neck. Steve was right. Maybe I shouldn’t do this. Intrude on her privacy. What control I had left crumbled.
Jumping out of bed, I grabbed my headphones from my bag and plugged them into my phone. I hit shuffle on my playlist, letting fate choose the song that would help me escape Jayne’s musical movements.Breathby Breaking Benjamin blasted through. I tapped my fingers against my jeans, bobbing my head in time to the music. All my focus went to that song as I tried to drown out the heartbeat calling to me. But I still heard its siren.
Twenty minutes later, when I thought she might be finished, I yanked the headphones off. I paced the room and peered through the windows. Not even the city lights kept me from staring at the wall between Jayne and me. With a sigh, I walked over and rested my hands against it. Someone knocked three times. Her bed groaned, then her feet slapped across the floor. She was in a rush to get to the door.
A loud thud followed by an “Ow! Shit,” made me frown.
Was she okay? By her uneven footsteps, I wondered if she was hopping around. Had she hit her toes on something? I smiled, picturing her holding one leg up as she bounced around. I wish I knew for sure. Imagining what she might be doing wasn’t as good as being there with her.
The conversation after she opened the door let me know she ordered food. I waited patiently as she thanked the man and then carried the food back to the bed.
Patiently?
I exhaled, smacking my head against the wall. What was I doing? Was I still trying to figure out a way to spend time with her that night? She’d already politely refused our company.
“Hello?” I lifted my head at the sound of Jayne’s voice. She must have heard me hit the wall. She whispered, “They probably can’t hear me.”
Shame slipped into my chest.Yes, I can.
Jayne would never know of the battle that raged inside me. The one that wanted to knock on her door and come inside. The one that wanted to listen to her talk, to see her eat…watch her exist so perfectly. I reeled those feelings deep inside and backed away from the door, dropping onto the bed.
Be honest with yourself, Liam.
Those feelings aren’t what keep you away. You didn’t go to her door because you knew she wouldn’t invite you in.
Chapter Twelve
JAYNE
Aconsistent banging pounded in my head. I lifted my face from the pillow, blinking my eyes as I looked around.
Three more insistent knocks.
Was that someone at my door?
I rubbed the hair sticking to my cheek before dropping my face into the pillow again.
Another few taps came.
Sighing, I checked the time on my phone. Barely after seven. If it was Steve being Steve, then I… I couldn’t think that evil in the morning. With a groan, I rolled out of bed. I threw open the door, not caring that I rolled out of bed dressed in my cute jammies. The baseball cap, black hoodie and jeans surprised me. But it was those azure eyes sweeping over me that sent heat straight to my core. Thankfully, the coffee in Liam’s hand helped me focus.
Oh, no!
I wasn’t wearing a bra underneath my spaghetti strap shirt. And my pajama bottoms looked more like undies. I stepped behind the door and poked my head around the corner. “Liam? Is something wrong?”
From behind his back, he held up a bag. “Breakfast?”
Pursing my lips, I considered what Liam offered. Without taking the bag, I said, “Thanks, but…”
When I didn’t move, Liam smiled, but his gaze lacked its usual humor. “Peace offering, Jayne. Take it and let’s forget about Monday.”
I had forgotten until he reminded me. The image of his red and puffy lips flashed through my head. I couldn’t help but stare at his mouth. When I glimpsed the slightly swollen and redder than normal appearance, my stomach sank.
Why did I pay so much attention to minor details?