Page 92 of The Troublemaker
“What’s a couple more days of blue balls?”
She laughs, and I can’t stop myself from following suit.
“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable when I kissed you.”It’s been on my mind all day, and I want to check in with her.
“Not at all.Good thing there was an audience.”
We’re quiet for a long while.I figure that’s my cue that she doesn’t want to talk about it anymore and we’re just going to fall asleep instead.
“Easton?”
“Yeah?”
“We can do this, right?I mean… you feel the tension too?”
I chuckle.“Hell yes, didn’t you catch the blue balls remark?”
“How are we going to last?”She sounds as strained as I feel.
“I travel a lot, so that helps.”
She chuckles, and it makes me want to scoot closer.I want to take her in my arms and kiss her.I don’t even care about sex—I just want to give in just this once.To be close to her and bask in her warmth.
But if I do, I’ll ruin everything.
ChapterThirty-Four
Hadley
Iwake to a warm presence behind me.
Easton’s arm is anchored around my stomach.
My back pressed to his chest.
His light breathing fans the hair at my ear.
My body recognizes him before my mind does, and I relax into him, fitting there as if I belong.
And for one stupid second… I allow myself to enjoy it.To have this moment just for myself.I breathe him in and don’t move a muscle because I want to savor this time when neither one of us is fighting the pull between us.
I want to pretend this isn’t fake.That I can have this for real.After all the push and pull, it’s no surprise that I wake up in his arms.The surprise is how good it feels and how much I don’t want to slip out of his grasp or out of his bed.Every day, this thing between us gets more and more dangerous.
After only temporary satisfaction, I convince myself I can’t have this.He isn’t mine, and I need to stop pretending he is.So I force myself forward, slipping out of his arms and putting space between us, trying not to wake him.
I tiptoe to his closet, grab a sweatshirt, and head to the bedroom door.But I pause for a moment and look at him wrapped in sheets, his chest bare, his lips slightly open, his hair disheveled.
He’s gorgeous, and despite what some people might think, he’s a good person.Comes from a good family.One day he’ll make some lucky woman really happy.I’m not sureheknows that yet, but I’m certain of his pure heart.He already makes an incredible dad, and he’ll make an adoring husband one day too.For the right woman.Who isn’t me.
Only allowing myself to go through so much torture, I slowly twist the doorknob and slip out, but I startle at the scene in front of me.
As quiet and serene as his bedroom was, out here is like another dimension.
Holly is at the toaster, buttering toast.“Good morning.”She’s already dressed and ready to go for the day.I feel like a slouch.
Tanner is in his high chair, eating scrambled eggs.He sees me and kicks his feet, extending his arms, opening and closing his fists.
“Hey, buddy,” I whisper, my morning voice still groggy.I give him a little kiss on the forehead, and he tries to grab my hair.
