Chapter 12
Erin
Iwoke up an hour before my alarm, rolling over and clenching my teeth when my bare body hit the cold mattress. It was plenty warm under the blankets, but without Jacob’s body heat, it was colder. When had he gotten up to leave? I recalled falling asleep with my face buried in his chest and both of his arms braced against my back. Our bodies had still been slick with sweat, but it was warm. I didn’t recall drifting off.
My legs ached, and my arousal stirred thinking about the hours we had spent together. There were light bruises in the shapes of fingerprints on my hips, and I ran my hands over them, pushing down and smiling with the twinge of pain. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, closing my eyes again.
Don’t close your eyes.
I pressed my legs together, rolling onto my back. Was I supposed to still be thinking about the look in his eyes when he came? He called it a revenge fuck. I giggled at the term and covered my face. “This is unreal,” I grumbled.
When I sat up and saw my vibrator on the nightstand, I cringed. Then I considered reaching for it, replaying the way Jacob used it on me last night. The embarrassment I had felt when he found it was quickly replaced by a feral desperation to do anything he wanted.
I climbed out of bed, throwing on the first pair of black leggings and sweatshirt I could find in my suitcase. My stomach growled, and the foggy filter over my thoughts told me I needed coffee—and a lot of it. Throwing my hair in a ponytail, I grabbed my key and left the room.
The hallway was empty and quiet except for the murmuring of voices behind closed doors. I looked slowly around the corner before I hit the button for the elevator. It took its time before the quiet purr of the gears indicated it was on its way. When it dinged and the doors opened, I jumped, and I took a few deep breaths to calm the sudden spike in my heart rate. Maybe I didn’t need extra caffeine after all.
When I got to the lobby, I was thankful it wasn’t too crowded and Demetri hadn’t made his way down yet. He would know before asking questions that something had happened last night—he knew me too well, and I didn’t want to explain to him that I revenge fucked my sister’s ex or whatever I was supposed to call it. Again.
I gathered a bagel, some eggs I knew I wouldn’t eat but wanted to look like I might, and a cup of coffee that I already wished was stronger. I scanned the room for an open table, finding one in the corner and sitting down. The probably powdered eggs on my plate jiggled when I set it on the table, and I ignored them, taking a gulp of the hot, bitter liquid I craved so badly.
I closed my eyes, swallowing it and reveling in the slight burn at the back of my throat that inched its way to my stomach. When I opened my eyes, I almost dropped the cup and I coughed. “Good morning, red,” Jacob said, grabbing my fork and taking a bite of the eggs. I hadn’t heard him walk up to the table or sit down—something the smirk he wore told me he had done intentionally.
“No, please. Take a seat, help yourself.” I rolled my eyes, trying to fight the urge to grin when his dimples popped.
Jacob laughed, reaching for my coffee. I smacked his hand, and he chuckled, pulling it back and crossing his arms. “How did you sleep?” Was I imagining the look in his eyes that felt like he was picturing me without my sweatshirt on?
My cheeks warmed. “I slept great,” I said, taking a sip of coffee and sighing when it was already cool. I liked my coffee hot enough to burn the roof of my mouth with every sip. “When did you leave?”
“Shortly after you fell asleep.” He had said it so casually, and my stomach tightened.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Why?”
“Did you want me to stay?” Jacob reached over and took another bite of eggs.
I pushed the plate towards him, shrugging. “I don’t know. You could’ve said goodbye.” My stomach twisted. I didn’t know when to stop talking. It was something I had done my whole life—said more than I should have.
“I’ll say goodbye next time,” he said around a full bite. Next time? I choked on cold coffee. When I gasped for breath, Jacob chuckled. I knew I was blushing. “What are you doing tonight?”
I gaped at him. “Are you suggesting that next time is tonight?”
“I’ve got tickets to the game. Want to come with me?” Jacob sat back in his chair, taking a bite out of the bagel and shrugging when he must have decided it wasn’t as bad as he expected.
I looked at him, scrunching my nose. “What game?”
“The Blackhawks are up against the Wild tonight. It’s a pretty big one.” Jacob changed his tone on the last word, almost like he was asking a question. “I figured you already knew about it.” He nodded to the worn-out Blackhawks sweatshirt I wore. I got it at a thrift store a few years ago. I didn’t know the first thing about hockey.
“Do you mean hockey?” I asked, and Jacob laughed loudly, dropping the plastic fork onto the now empty plate. He nodded. “I… uh… don’t know anything about sports.”
“I’ll teach you.” Jacob gathered the plate and napkin, standing up from the chair. “I’ll pick you up from your room at five o’clock.”
I took the last drink of my coffee. “I didn’t say I would go.”
Jacob winked, reaching for the empty cup. “But you’re going to, aren’t ya, red? Don’t pretend to say no just to show up there anyway. We already know you’re going with me.”
I handed him the cup, grinning when our fingers met. My skin tingled where it met his. “Yeah, okay. I’ll go.”