Page 92 of Slumming It

Or maybe I already had.

Chapter 35

Emily

I woke to the sweet sensation of being nestled in muscular arms holding me just the way I liked. My cheek was pressed to a bare, masculine chest, and my eyes remained closed as I began to sleepily replay the events of earlier tonight.

But then I paused. Or was itlastnight?How long had I slept?

Was it morning already?

My eyes fluttered open, revealing nothing but darkness. Well,thatwas a relief. When I shifted in Reese's arms, he said in a low, amused voice, "Trying to escape?"

I let out a sleepy laugh. "I don't know.ShouldI be?"

He pulled me closer. "You cantry."

The sentiment was surprisingly sweet, especially considering that I had expected to be hustled out the door right after we'd done the deed, twice, in fact. But who was counting, right?

I didn't recall falling asleep – or turning off the lamps – which led me to conclude that Reese had turned them off himself sometime after I'd drifted off.But how long ago was that?

Groggily, I asked, "How late is it? Do you know?"

"It's notlate," he said. "It's early, half past seven."

"Seven in the morning?" I groaned into his chest as I realized something. "Oh, my God. Vivian."

"Nah, it's me, Reese." His tone was teasing in the darkness. "You haven't forgotten already?"

I laughed in spite of my dawning horror at having slept through the night without letting my sister know that I wouldn't be home. Still, I couldn’t resist teasing him back. "Reese who?"

With a smile in his voice, he replied, "I could always remind you..."

The thought was so very tempting, but already I'd caused Vivian more than enough worry. "I wish, but I need to go." Again, I pushed myself up, and this time, he didn't fight it.

Sitting up in bed, I glanced around but still saw nothing but darkness. "Are you sure it's morning?"

He laughed. "What, you want me to prove it?"

"Sorry, I'm just getting my bearings, that's all."

I felt the mattress shift as Reese left the bed. A moment later, I heard curtains sliding open, and I caught my first glimpse of pale morning light filtering in through the slim gaps in the vertical blinds.

Even more interesting, I got a nice long look at Reese's bare ass as he adjusted the blinds to let in more light.And what an ass it was.

In a desperate bid to avoid temptation, I turned away and groaned into the pillow. "Vivian's gonna kill me."

A moment later, I felt him join me on the bed and nuzzle the back of my neck as he asked, "And why's that?"

"Because I didn't tell her I was going anywhere. She's probably worried sick." I lifted my head and glanced around the luxurious bedroom before I suddenly realized that I wouldn’t be finding what I needed. "Oh, crap. I left my purse in your car."

"Yeah, so?"

"So that's where my cellphone is."

"You want me to get it?"

The offer caught me off guard. "Would you really?"