Page 37 of Break My Rules
Chapter10
Tessa
Idon’t sleep. I try to tell myself that the sound I heard was nothing, but I can’t shake the feeling of unease, that prickle of awareness that stays on high alert as the hours tick past, and I toss and turn alone in Saint’s bed.
Is someone watching me?
Maybe I’m overreacting, but I can’t help wondering if it’s self-preservation, instead: My fight or flight instincts telling me that something’s wrong. Either way, I startle at every sound all night, and by the time dawn breaks outside the windows, I’m exhausted and ready to bolt. There’s no way I’m staying here alone for the rest of the week, scared of shadows, alone in an empty house, so I pack up my books, and catch an early train down to London instead, leaving the eerie old streets behind for the noisy bustle of the city.
My tension eases with every mile, but still, I’m feeling a little foolish by the time I make my way to Kensington and show up on Saint’s doorstep. Is he going to think I’m needy and paranoid? But the moment he answers the door with a coffee mug in his hand and messy bedhead, I know I’ve made the right choice.
I feel better just burying myself in his arms for a hug.
“Well, this is a lovely surprise,” Saint says, drawing back to land a welcoming kiss on my mouth. “What are you doing here?”
“I missed you,” I say, which is the truth. I decide to gloss over the whole ‘getting scared of my own shadow’ part.
“Well, I missed you, too.” Saint smiles wider, and draws me in for a longer, slow kiss. I sigh, sinking against him, finally feeling safe in the warmth of his embrace. “Come on in,” he says, taking my bag and leading me inside. “There’s fresh coffee, and cinnamon buns.”
“Youbaked?” I gape.
He grins. “No, I stole them from the office yesterday.”
“You own the office,” I point out, smiling. “Technically, you could walk out with all the furniture, and it wouldn’t be stealing.”
“Good point.” Saint leads me to the kitchen, and pours a fresh cup of coffee for me, placing it in my hands as he breaks off a piece of pastry and pops it between my lips.
Sugar and caffeine and a good morning kiss? It makes me wonder why I’ve been sleeping alone up in Oxford all week.
I settle in at the table, sipping my coffee and watching as Saint gets ready to leave for work. It already feels like I left the foreboding unease miles away, back in Oxford, and now there’s nothing but light banter and affectionate kisses, making me feel more like myself again.
It feels right.
“What?” Saint notices me looking.
I shake my head, smiling. “Nothing,” I reply. My feelings for him are growing deeper by the day, but I’m not ready to think about what that means just yet. “It’s great your dad is doing better,” I say instead. “Any new updates?”
Saint pauses. “I saw him at his check-up appointment yesterday,” he says, but he doesn’t seem happy about it.
“Family stuff?” I ask softly.
He nods, looking relieved that he doesn’t have to explain. “Family stuff.”
“Well, I think you’re great for helping out,” I say warmly.
“You mean, when I could be tying you naked to my bed all day, instead?” Saint shoots me a smoldering look, and I match it.
“It’s not either/or, you know… Your bed will still be here tonight. And so will I.”
“Then count on it.” Saint leans over and kisses me, hard and hot, leaving me in no doubt that he’ll follow through on every one of his filthy promises.
Finally, he pulls away. “I wish I could stay, but I have a bunch of meetings this morning that I really can’t miss.”
“I don’t need entertaining,” I promise him, straightening up his button-down shirt. “I still need to hit the books. I have a ton of reading, and an essay due, too. You go be a productive member of the Ashford Pharma team.”
Saint winces. “Don’t say it like that,” he protests, collecting his jacket and keys. “Next thing, I’ll be wearing a grey suit and playing bridge with Harold.”
I laugh. “I think you’re a ways off becoming a boring corporate drone,” I reassure him. “Unless Harold also has a taste for wild sex parties on the weekend….”