“Does the offer still stand?”
Seeing the unsure look on her face, I turn around and gesture at the bed. “Of course.”
She steps inside the room and shuts the door before she glances at the bed. “Just to sleep, right?”
A smile tugs at my mouth. “Just to sleep.”
Walking to the bed, I sit down on the right-hand side as it’s closest to the door. Stretching my legs out, I grin when Jamie slowly inches her way closer, and giving me one last look, she pulls the covers back and climbs inside.
Snuggling into a pillow, she mutters, “I’m probably not going to sleep.”
I lean over her and switch off the lamp on the nightstand. Drawing back, I hear her exhale a deep breath.
Making myself comfortable, I lie on my back, and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dark.
“What did Della say?” I ask, curious to know if she approves or whether I have to prepare myself for a backlash.
“She just wanted to know if I’m sure about starting a relationship with you.”
Turning onto my side, I look at Jamie. “And? Are you sure?”
Her tongue darts out and she wets her lips, before answering, “To be honest, I haven’t thought that far. The kiss was unexpected.”
“It was,” I agree. “But now that it’s happened, how do you feel?”
“I don’t regret it.” Her eyes search my face. “How do you feel about the kiss?”
I reach out a hand to her and brush some of her hair back. “It felt right.”
Our eyes lock, and having her in my bed, makes my need for her rush back.
“And now I regret having said we’ll only sleep tonight,” I tease her.
“Yeah?” She moves closer. “Why’s that?”
Letting out a chuckle, I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her body against mine. “Lift your head.” She does as I ask, and I push my arm under her. When she rests her head by my shoulder, I lean closer and press a kiss to her mouth. “Time to sleep.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” she argues.
“I’m not going to.” Turning my face to her, I inhale the fresh scent of her hair, then whisper, “Sleep, Jamie.”
Holding her tighter against me, a smile plays around my lips.
This feels right.JamieWhen I wake up, it takes a moment before I realize my face is pressed to Julian’s chest, and I’m drooling on him.
I dart up and using the hem of my shirt, I wipe up the patch of drool on his skin before I take a moment to blink the sleep away.
A chuckle from Julian has my eyes snapping to his.
“Morning,” he whispers, his voice gravelly from just having woken.
“Morning.” Wow, I can’t remember when last I slept that well.
I’m not sure if I should leave, so I just stare at him, drinking in how good he looks with his hair tousled and a shadow of a beard forming on his jaw.
“So this is what you look like when you stay the night?” he teases, and it has me reaching up so I can pat my hair down.
Julian takes hold of my arm and pulls me back down. “Give me five more minutes, then you can run away.”
Wrapping an arm around his waist, I snuggle into his side.
“Are you always this quiet when you wake up?”
“Uh-huh.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath of his scent, the citrus now almost gone.
There’s a moment’s silence, then Julian says, “You know if you go back to the dorm, you’ll have to sleep alone.”
I push my upper body up on my arm and look down at him. “Oh, so this wasn’t a one-time offer?”
A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, and his eyes are a softer shade of brown as he stares at me. “Of course, not.”
“Mmh… you could always stay at the dorm with me,” I tease, knowing he won't because the students will talk.
That’s if I’m not already the highlight of the gossip mill.
“I’ve done my time there,” he jokes.
Glancing at the alarm clock next to his bed, I say, “I have to get ready. Hayden and Max are arriving at nine.”
Julian’s arms come around me, and he pushes me back on the bed. Pressing a quick kiss to my mouth, he suddenly lets me go and climbs out of bed.
I first stare at the sweatpants hanging low on his hips, giving me a perfect view of his V before I scoot over to his side and stand up.
“See you at breakfast.”
I begin to walk toward the door, but Julian grabs hold of my hand and playfully yanks me back to him. He brings his other hand to the side of my neck and presses a harder kiss to my lips before letting me go.
I stare at him, loving how affectionate he is. “I could get used to this.”