Page 9 of Cruising for Christmas
Had it been so long that he couldn’t recall when they had last slept together? Maybe she had been right. Maybe he wasn’t present enough in their relationship.
Not that it mattered now. They were done, and now he was popping a woody from a woman touching his face.
Pathetic.
He took a few more deep breaths to calm himself down, and once he was certain he could control himself, he stepped out of the bathroom.
Norah was piling a blanket on a tiny strip of carpet between the sliding door of the balcony and the bed. He watched her, amused, as she fought with a pillow next, punching it a few times.
“What are you doing?”
“Making a bed.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “Why?”
She looked over at him. “Isn’t it weird for us to share a bed? Especially after I just shoved my thumb into your chin dimple?” She shook her head as her face flamed. “Gosh, I’m so sorry.”
He chuckled. “It’s fine. You’re not sleeping on the floor. I’m not either. We can share the bed like mature adults.”
A look crossed over her face. Relief maybe?
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. And tomorrow we’re going to pull a prank on Shay.”
Norah smiled over at him as she grabbed the pillow and blanket, tossing them back onto the bed before tentatively sitting on it and turning to face him.
“What should we do?”
He moved slowly toward her before easing onto the bed himself and turning to face her. This was okay. Nothing would happen.
“Hot sauce in her breakfast?”
Norah giggled. “That might be good. Food is abundant here, so she can always get more.”
“True. Maybe we should do something she can’t fix.”
“Like what?”
He glanced at his watch. One thing he knew about his sister was that she went to bed early. Despite her being a wild teenager, as soon as she entered adulthood, she started on an exercise binge, hitting the gym every morning. Nothing could stop her. Not even being on vacation.
“I suspect my dear little sister is asleep. You know which room is hers, right?”
Norah nodded, and her mouth fell open. “Why, Ian, you are pure evil.”
He tipped his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
The two of them crept out into the hallway and looked in both directions. It was completely empty. Norah led them a few doors down and pointed at a door across the hall.
“What about the neighbors?” she whispered.
Ian shrugged. “It’s a cruise. They’re likely out partying the first night.”
He poised a fist in front of the door before glancing at Norah. “Get ready to run.”
She stifled her giggle with her hand and took a few steps back toward their room. “Okay. Ready.”
Ian pounded four times on the door as hard as he could, like he was a police officer about to break the door down. Then he dashed after Norah, slipping back into their room and shutting the door. He looked out the peephole, and Norah pressed her ear against the door in front of him. If he wasn’t careful, he’d become stiff once again. He inwardly groaned as he leaned further away to avoid brushing any parts of their bodies together.
