Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
LYLA
Jesus. I set my phone face down on the table with a thud, startling Adam and causing him to whip his gaze from his menu up to my face.
I smiled. “Sorry. The girls just wanted to make sure we got here safe.”
He raised a brow, like he wanted to challenge me, because we both knew they could be a lot sometimes, but after a moment he went back to looking at his menu.
My friends were obviously not going to be any help.
They were probably still having their own conversation.
When I’d updated them this morning with what happened last night with Adam and the arsonist, I never said I didn’t know what I wanted.
Not sure where they got that from. All I said was I needed time.
There was a lot at stake. The thought of losing Adam in any way was enough to make me sick to my stomach.
What if we rushed into something and it didn’t work out?
But did I want to know what it felt like to have his lips on mine again? To feel his hands and his mouth roam my body. Or his cock moving in and out of me while I ran my hands over his muscular back and shoulders. Dug my fingers into his ass.
I shifted in my seat as desire throbbed between my legs. Because, yes, I definitely wanted all of that. And more.
“Lyla?”
I glanced up at Adam. He wore a concerned expression, leaning his muscular inked forearms on the table.
“Yeah?” The one word came out breathy. Heat crept up my neck and into my face.
He leaned further across the small table with a smirk. “Have you decided what you want?”
Did he know what I was thinking about? I bit the inside of my lip to stop myself from letting it slip that he was what I wanted. He tipped his chin toward the menu in my hands and my face heated even more at the realization he meant what I wanted to eat.
“Uh, not yet. Sorry.” I lowered my gaze and focused on the choices, trying to ignore the feeling of his stare burning into me.
The waiter showing up and taking our order only gave me a quick reprieve. Then I was right back to being aware of his gaze locked on me.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yep.” I cringed at how squeaky my voice sounded. Why was I being so ridiculous?
“Lyla.” He reached across the table and grasped my hand. “Relax, love.”
God. Why did that one word make me feel all warm and tingly? It didn’t help that it rolled off his tongue so easily, like he’d been calling me that for months.
“Just talk to me.” His thumb brushed back and forth over my skin, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake. “Like you always have.”
Did he not understand that I couldn’t even think straight right now? That the way he kept looking at me, the way he touched me, was turning my brain into mush?
He squeezed my hand, grabbing my attention again. “Are you excited to help with the photo shoot this week?”
I smiled and nodded. Apparently, Zack had assigned Violet and me to help with the dogs and kittens from the shelter. “Totally excited. I’m all about getting to hang out and play with some animals.”
He shook his head with a chuckle. “Yeah, I told Zack you’d be up for that.”
“I have physical therapy that day, so we’re just planning to go right from there to the shoot?”
“That’s what I was thinking. Maybe grab a bite to eat between the two.”
As we waited for our food, we filled the time talking about the rest of the week.
Specifically, his work schedule and my physical therapy schedule.
By the time the food came, I was no longer a nervous mess.
Things once again felt normal between us, like they always had.
But as we walked back to the room after sharing a great meal with comfortable conversation, the worry crept back in.
Would it be weird to share a bed? It wasn’t weird last night. But even I could admit the circumstances were different. Nothing was going to happen in the firehouse. Here though, in the privacy of our hotel room, it definitely could.
Did I want something to happen? Maybe the girls were right and I had no clue what the hell I wanted.
Dammit. I was starting to find myself annoying. I could only imagine what Adam thought.
My thoughts continued to spiral even as he unlocked the door and we stepped inside. I needed space, and some time to think.
“I’m going to get in the shower,” I blurted, making a beeline for my duffel that sat on a chair.
Rummaging around, I picked out my sleep shorts and tank, and then froze, staring at them. Shit. I always dress super cool for sleep. If not, I wake up drenched in sweat. Obviously, I never considered we’d be sharing a bed, but maybe I should have packed something else.
“I’m not going to wash my hair, just my body.”
He groaned and I cringed, pinching my eyes shut as I replayed those words in my head.
Just shut up, Lyla. Stop talking.
I spun, clothes in hand, and hurried past him to the bathroom. Once the door was shut, I let out a long breath and leaned back against it.
I took my time in the shower and with my thoughts. In the end, I decided it was okay that I needed some time to figure things out. I wanted to be sure because a lot was at stake.
Adam was already under the covers, engaged in his phone, when I stepped back into the room. I shifted on my feet, pulling the shorts back down my thighs as far as I could. He looked up at me, and his pupils flared.
My skin warmed as his gaze ran over my body.
There was no way I could deny I liked the heat in his eyes.
Making my feet move, I climbed into the bed.
Last night, I laid on his chest and snuggled into his side.
Could I dare to hope he would do that again?
Or was that simply a byproduct of the circumstances?
As usual, like he could read my mind, he put his phone on the end table and reclined back, reaching his arm out. “Can I hold you again?”
I nodded and scooted over, laying my head on his chest.
“Good night, love.”
And that warm feeling low in my stomach was back. “Good night.”