Page 99 of Wrong For Me

Rose

You know that moment when you wake up in the middle of a really good dream? And you don’t want to even open your eyes because you wish you could fall right back into it?

This is kind of like that. But this time I know that when I open my eyes, I’ll see Leo lying in the bed next to me.

I grin into the pillow. Leo is in bed next to me. That knowledge makes me want to laugh, to yell, to jump up and dance on the mattress.

It feels so right. Just like it had that night in Lake Tahoe. The connection between us never went away, as much as I’d tried to pretend it did. Even when he was driving me crazy, it had still been there, right below the surface. Hell, it was that connection that made it all so hard. I could never make myself just forget him because he was already buried too deep.

“Something amusing, Rose?”

My eyes fly open to see him smirking over at me across the pillow. “I didn’t know you were awake,” I squeak, embarrassed at being caught grinning like an idiot with my eyes closed.

“Hard to sleep when you’re just laying right there, all naked in my bed.”

I attempt to scowl at him. “You’re actually in my bed.”

He laughs, lifting his head. “Really? Guess I was too distracted last night to notice where we ended up.”

I could get used to Leo like this. His hair all rumpled, eyes sleepy, a lazy grin on his face. Happy.

“What are you smirking at now?” he asks.

“Just thinking how good sex agrees with you.”

His eyes flash. “Just good?”

“Oh, God,” I groan. “Please don’t tell me your ego is that fragile.”

He lets out a long sigh. “Where you’re concerned, Rose, I am entirely fragile.”

I rise up on an elbow so I can study his face, not at all sure I like the sound of that. “What doesthatmean?”

He shrugs. “You’ve got me wrapped around your finger, woman. You’re completely running this show—you could probably get me to agree to just about anything when you smile all sweet at me.”

“Ooh, that’s good information to have,” I say, poking his side. “I’m sure I can think of a lot of ways to put that devotion to good use once we’re back at school.”

Leo lets out a loud groan, covering his face with his hands.

“What?” I ask, pulling his hands away and getting momentarily distracted by how big they are. Leo’s hands—especially when they’re on my body—are my new favorite thing.

“School,” he says, drawing my attention back to his face. “Now I’m thinking about how torturous it’s going to be. Having to be professional with you so close.” He groans again. “That tiny fucking office. It was already impossible not to spend all my time thinking about you when we were stuck in that closet.”

I press a kiss against his chest, thinking. “Hmm. Is there a lock on our office door?”

He pulls back, expression mock-scandalized. “Miss Ransome, you surprise me. Are you actually insinuating that you would try to seduce me at school?”

I reach around and grab his ass. “Pretty sure I wouldn’t really have totry, Mr. Malone.”

He laughs, the sound so free and easy. As cheesy as it is, his laughter makes my heart soar. Knowing what I know now, about how difficult his life has been, how lonely and closed off he’s been for so long, I understand just how much it means for him to be this relaxed with me.

I’d been afraid last night that he was going to shut down on me again. Even as I was falling asleep, exhausted and sated from two rounds of amazing sex, there had been a little sliver of doubt in my mind. What if he regretted it in the clear light of day?

But seeing him now, looking so happy and comfortable in this bed, all of my doubts melt away. I think he wants this as much as I do. And I want it really, really bad.

As if reading my mind, he tilts my chin up to look into my face. “No second thoughts?”

I grin. “Not one.” His expression remains serious as he studies my face. “What about you?”