Page 19 of Pillow Talk

Chapter 7

Alexa

A soft snoring wakes me from my sleep. Why does my blanket feel so heavy? And if I’m awake, why do I still hear snoring? Opening my eyes, instantly regretting it when the bright sun streaming in the windows nearly blinds me, my mind plays catch up.

Looking down, I see an arm draped over my body, a very tan and toned arm, holding me in place, confirming that I’m not alone. Not even close.

Ben. His place. His shower. His damn fluffy towel. His bed. And now his body.

Towel! Using my free hand, I pull the covers back just a fraction and confirm that I am no longer wearing a towel, and from the feel of it, I’m not wearing anything.

I quietly try to lift his arm and roll out from under his hold, like a bedroom ninja, but nothing. He just pulls me closer into him. “Mmmm, Lex, you feel so good,” he groans, and I freeze.

About that same time, it’s apparent he wakes up. I can tell because his body goes rigid. I could spare us the embarrassment and pretend to still be asleep. But where is the fun in that?

“Good dream?” I ask, turning over in his arms. Facing him, huge mistake. Lots of them. Three that are screaming in my mind right now. One, morning breath. Two, bed head. Three, Ben. More specifically, Ben’s bare chest at my eye level.

“Asks the girl who lost her towel,” he counters, pulling himself up to a sitting position with his back against the headboard, the sheet falling around his waist. I can’t help but look. His chest is bare. He must have a Channing Tatum workout video because he has abs for days. Perfected sculpted skin that disappears into a black waistband.

“Eyes up here.” He uses my words from the diner against me.

“Touché.” I do the same.

“My clothes?” I ask.

He shrugs. “All I know is I when I got off the phone, you were in the shower. Then, I needed a shower of my own. And when I came out of my bathroom, I found Goldilocks asleep in my bed.”

“That still doesn’t answer where my clothes are,” I remind him.

“I brought your bag in here last night,” he explains.

“And we didn’t— you know.” I’m sure I’m beet red. I can feel the flush heating my head.

“You mean you don’t remember it? I’m wounded,” he goads me.

I sit up, drawing the blanket tighter around me. “Don’t be an ass.”

“Okay, okay. No, nothing happened,” he throws out as he swings his legs over the side and climbs out of bed, giving me a perfect view of his perfectly sculpted ass. Even covered in black briefs, I know Jon Snow’s golden ratio has got nothing on this man.

“Good.”

“Trust me…if it had, you would remember,” he give me a wink over his shoulder before heading into his bathroom and pulling the door closed.

Once I’m sure the water is running, I wrap the sheet around myself, grab my bag and sprint down the hall to the other bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind me.

Now, if I could just find a lock to keep my legs closed because the more I’m around him, the harder it’s proving to be, and this is only day three.

Following my nose, I end up in the kitchen and find Ben, pouring us both a cup of coffee. Turning towards me, sliding a mug across the granite top, I see he is now wearing black pajama pants slung low on his hips. Still shirtless, and still mouthwatering.

“Figured now was as good a time as any to discuss the terms.” He crosses over to the table to sit and motions me to the cream and sugar. I fix it just the way I like, setting it aside to cool, and take a seat across from him. “I’m sorry there’s not much to offer for breakfast. Since I came earlier than planned, the kitchen hasn’t been stocked yet.”

“It’s fine; I’m not hungry,” I offer.

“Funny, I’m starved.” His smile says he’s joking…his eyes tell a different story.

“Terms,” I pull us back to the task at hand.

“Name them.” He looks amused, and I’m not sure why.