Chapter 13 #3
“We’ll work on fixing that.” Harley’s kiss stayed gentle, a sweet contrast to the fiery passion we’d shared earlier. When he pulled back and gave me an affectionate look, my heart committed treason against my cynical worldview and became a full-time sap.
“What?” I asked, self-conscious under his intense gaze.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I’m just happy.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Harley rolled off me and back onto his side, pulling me close again. “Come here, I’m not done cuddling you yet.”
I went willingly, settling into our previous position with my head on his chest. His arms wrapped around me, warm and secure, making me feel loved in a way I hadn’t expected.
With a satisfied sigh, I closed my eyes to savor the rare tranquility. Harley’s heartbeat had become my favorite soundtrack in the span of a few days. His fingers continued their aimless exploration of my skin, tracing patterns that made me shiver.
“You’re thinking too loud again,” Harley murmured against my hair.
“How can you tell?”
“Your breathing changes, and your whole body tenses up like you’re bracing for impact.”
“I do not,” I protested, though I noticed how rigid my shoulders had become and consciously relaxed them.
Harley’s laugh rumbled through his chest. “You absolutely do. I’ve been watching you think for three years.”
Three years of him noticing little things about me while I remained oblivious to his feelings. It was both humbling and mortifying.
“On a scale of one to ten, how freaked-out are you right now?” Harley asked.
“Maybe a three? Honestly, I’m surprised it’s not higher.”
“Why do you think that is?” He glanced at me with curiosity.
“Because it’s you. Everything feels natural with you, even the stuff that might be weird or scary.”
My response seemed to please him. “That’s a good answer.”
“What about you? How smug are you feeling right now?”
Harley’s laughter sounded bright and unrestrained. “Oh, I’m a solid eleven. I finally got you into bed after three years of trying.”
“You weren’t trying that hard,” I pointed out. “You flirted, sure, but you never actually made a move.”
“Because you weren’t ready.” He continued toying with my hair. “I feared losing you as a friend if I pushed too hard.”
“I appreciate that. Though I’m starting to think I might have been ready sooner than I realized.”
His tone turned curious. “Oh? What makes you say that?”
“Looking back, I see some signs. Like how I always felt awkward when you brought guys home. I thought it was the awkwardness about hearing my roommate having sex, but maybe it was jealousy.”
Harley smirked. “Definitely jealousy, considering you got all pouty and would blast music in your room.”
“I did not pout.”
“Yes, you did. It was adorable.” His gentle touch took the sting out of his words. “You know, I started bringing guys home more often to see if I could get a rise out of you.”
I propped myself up to gaze in shock. “You did what?”
Harley’s grin was unrepentant. “It worked, didn’t it? You walked in on me and Ethan, and look at us now.”
“That was intentional?” I stared at him in disbelief. “You planned for me to walk in on you getting a blow job?”
“Not exactly. That was a happy accident. I had no clue your class was canceled.”
I was torn between annoyance and admiration. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Thank you,” he replied with pride.
“It wasn’t a compliment.” Despite my protest, I couldn’t stop smiling.
“It absolutely was.” His expression turned cheeky. “Admit it, you’re impressed by my boldness.”
I snorted. “I’m impressed by your sheer audacity, that’s for sure.”
“Audacity has gotten me pretty far in life. Especially with you.” He rubbed small circles on my back. “If I hadn’t been audacious enough to agree to be your fake boyfriend, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
His simple confession made my chest tighten. I cupped his face and pulled him in for a kiss, trying to express everything I couldn’t articulate yet. He responded eagerly, his hands sliding up to tangle in my hair.
“I like this new, impulsive Ryker who kisses me on a whim.”
“I like him, too,” I admitted. “He’s a lot happier than the grouchy old Ryker.”
“Good.”
“Though I reserve the right to be grumpy sometimes,” I added. “I wouldn’t want you to think I’ve turned into a ray of sunshine.”
“Heaven forbid. Thankfully, your grumpiness is part of your irresistible charm, snookums.”
I sighed at the ridiculous pet name. “If you keep calling me that, I might have to rethink this whole relationship thing.”
“No, you won’t,” he said, guiding me down to rest on him again. “You love it when I call you that. It makes you feel special.”
“It makes me feel like a teddy bear,” I grumbled.
“My very sexy teddy bear,” Harley amended, his hand stroking my arm.
I laughed at the absurdity. “You’re awful.”
He sounded victorious. “Yet here you are, naked in bed with me for the second time today.”
“A momentary lapse in judgment,” I teased, even as I inched closer to him.
I could hear the grin in Harley’s voice. “A lapse I hope turns into a longtime commitment.”
“That can be arranged.” I kissed his chest, marveling at how natural it felt now. “After all, I’ve always had a soft spot for bad decisions.”
“If I’m your bad decision, I can’t wait to see what happens when you make a good one.”
I laughed, snuggling closer. “Who says you’re not both?”
His laughter filled me with the conviction that we had made the right decision.