Chapter Twenty-Three
“Um . . . hi.” I respond, unsure of what Serena is doing on my bed in nothing more than an oversized t-shirt. This girl has to go buy new clothes tomorrow, Jesus Christ. Silence settles as we both just stare at one another for a moment, the wicked grin on her face catches me off guard.
“Have a good shower?” She asks with a chuckle. I start to answer before the realization hits me: she must have heard me coming in the shower to the mere thought of her. Red stains my face, which only seems to make her laugh harder. Attempting to gather my composure while naked is one of the more challenging moments I have experienced.
Choosing to act as if I don’t know what she’s talking about, I choose a simple answer. “Yes.”
“I’m sure you did,” she teases. I side eye her as I cross the room to my dresser. Pulling out a pair of underwear, I drop my towel with a smirk, knowing she is about to get an eye full of my ass. “Jensen!”
“You are the one in my room, eavesdropping to me jacking off. Not sure you have the upper hand here, Serenity.” I toss over my shoulder with another smirk.
“Fair point,” she quips before getting defensive. “But I wasn’t eavesdropping.”
“Then what were you doing?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“I couldn’t sleep, I knew you were still awake—I heard you start the shower. I was hoping we could watch a movie or something.” Her words come out shaky and unsure, as if she’s questioning if this is a bad idea after the kiss we shared . . . after the entire evening we shared.
“Yeah, I would love that.” I answer, grinning with a nod before she scoots to the other side of the bed, making room for me. She expects us to watch a movie in here . . . in my bed. Never in my life had I been so thankful for jerking off in the shower, if she had been in here before I took care of myself, there would have been no way in hell I could have laid down with her and keep my hands to myself.
Making my way over to the bed, I take a quick survey of the room, noticing the remote had been moved. “Snooping, I see.”
“How could you have even known that?” Serena asks as shock flickers across her beautiful features.
“Two reasons.” I say, holding up two fingers. Holding up just the pointer finger, I say, “One, you have always been nosy and a snoop.” I lower my pointer and raise my middle finger with another grin. “Two, the remote was moved.”
Wide eyed, Serena breaks out in a fit of genuine laughter. I join her in bed, finding a romcom she used to watch constantly when we were teenagers.
“I love this movie,” she says, her voice thickening with the early signs of sleep. With the blaring light from the TV, I’m able to grab a quick glimpse of her features again. Her eyelashes cast shadows on her cheekbones as she fights sleep, continually forcing her eyes back open when they start to drift closed.
“I know.”
I turn off the side lamp on my nightstand before making myself comfortable while still allowing her space, thus leaving the choice up to her on what happens while we’re in my bed. Neither of us mention the kiss or what took place at the pier—a type of intimacy I have allowed very few to experience with me. She starts to wiggle closer as the movie goes on. At first, just our toes touch, but she eventually lets out a massive yawn before throwing her leg over me. Sleepy eyes meet mine before a puppy dog pout appears.
“What?” I ask.
“Your arm.”
“Happy now?” I chuckle before pulling her to me completely, taking in her scent.
“Very.”
Twenty minutes later, my sweet Serenity is asleep in my arms. Bodies cuddled up, legs intertwined, I follow her into sleep.
I wake up the next morning to an empty bed and a sticky note on the pillow she used last night.
Went to town with Wy. Getting some clothes, be back later ;)
I smile at her little note as more recognition settles over me: I slept with no nightmares for the first time in years. It was the first decent night’s sleep I’d had in a long while, all because she was here to chase my demons away.