“I just dropped my cigarette in the tub,” she mutters.
Naked.
A smile spreads across my face. “I haven’t seen you naked yet."
There’s not a sound coming from in there.
I add, “I was thinkin’ about that back in Italy. How since you don’t shift, you’ve never been naked in front of the pack.”
“Geez, thanks for pointing out one of my deficiencies, Jase. Real nice.”
“No, Bay. Not sayin’ it like that. I’m saying I thought about how you don’t walk around naked and that it means that no other male in the pack has set eyes on your body.” My voice goes gruff. “All that’s for me. Just me. I like that, baby. A lot."
Now I hear the sound of the water being sucked down the drain as she’s obviously pulled the plug.
I sit on her bed again and wait, thinking she’s coming out.
But a minute after the tub stops emptying, the water turns back on.
She’s running a new bath.
At least she’s not crying anymore.
24
BAILEY
I come out of the bathroom and find Jase asleep on my bed.
I’m in my bathrobe. My fingertips look like raisins. I was in the tub for so long, the water went cold. I drank the whole bottle of wine. I smoked three cigarettes. Well, two and a half since the first one fell in my bathwater before I emptied and refilled it. I ate two and a half of those big, stuffed cookies and read two chapters of the novel I started re-reading last night. I was thinking of running a whole new bath a third time but decided to come out because the story was about to get spicy and while I normally love me some spicy romances, reading a detailed sex scene was not something I could cope with after Jason’s naked comment. That naked comment in that rough, gravelly tone he made it in that set my clit on fire … nope!
I guess I’m sleeping on the trundle bed tonight since he looks like he’s down for more than the count.
I pull the drawer handle and the trundle rolls out.
I ignore the thrill that races through my veins at the notion of sleeping where he slept last night, in his underwear, all that muscled hot skin on display. That potent scent soaking into the bedding. Then I’ll get to sleep in my own bed again tomorrow night. He’s putting his scent there, too.
I shake it off. Hard. It’s got to be the wine making me think this way. I mean… just because I’m done with him doesn’t erase his sex appeal so I shouldn’t feel bad about noticing it.Right?
He’s snoring softly. His mouth is open a little. He’s hugging a pillow. I don’t think he’s slept much the past few days so he’s probably out for the night.
I’m not tired. I’m probably a little tipsy.
Yes, definitely feeling warmth in my veins. Because even snoring, with his mouth open, I’m having trouble tearing my eyes off him.
I should get out of here.
Maybe I ought to mosey on over to Roxy’s and have some more wine. And do some dancing.
Yep. That.
And also… how dare he tell me not to go to Roxy’s with Mal tonight!
But… I can do what I want, can’t I? He’s not able to stop me.
He might have ruined my date night plans, but I can have a date with myself.
I quietly grab a change of clothes and slip back into the bathroom.