30. Rose #3
“Well, try to get some rest. We didn’t mean to interrupt,” Harper said, patting them both on the shoulder awkwardly. “We just wanted to be sure you were okay. Kirin kept us updated, but seeing you in one piece is nice. We’re gonna leave you two alone and turn the music up real high.”
Harper looked pointedly at Ainsley, who chuckled behind her cup. “Right. Really loud.”
“Oh, we—” Rose started, only for Harper to lift a hand, then point at Kirin.
“You take good care of her. Make sure you let her get some sleep.” She paused and looked between them. “Or maybe keep her awake if she has a concussion?”
Kirin nodded. “Understood.”
Harper smiled, a serene look that made Rose nervous, especially when she said way too sweetly, “Enjoy your evening.”
Harper wiggled her fingers at them as Kirin chuckled quietly.
“Glad you’re okay, Rose,” Ainsley said as she walked away, lifting her cup in salute.
“Good night,” Kirin called after her roommates and got a wave from each of them before they disappeared into their rooms, the doors closing behind them.
“Are they trying to help me get laid?” Rose hissed and Kirin laughed, loud and long until she poked him hard in the side.
He grinned down at her. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”
“Shut up.” Her cheeks warmed again.
Kirin laughed as he pressed his lips against the side of her head. “I think they’re trying to give you time. They know you don’t like a fuss. Let’s get you showered, and then I’m sure we can find a shitty movie to fall asleep to.”
“You sound almost excited about that,” she objected, and he snorted. “I’m serious.”
“Oh, I know. That’s what’s so funny.” Kirin tugged her to her bathroom, and she moved willingly.
His voice was full of warmth when he said, “When are you going to realize I’d rather spend time with you than just about anyone else?
We could watch paint dry and I’d be thrilled, so long as you’re there. ”
She tilted her head when she met his storm-cloud gaze in the mirror, his grin widening. “You should not be this excited about spending the night lying in bed with me and roasting movies.”
Kirin pressed a hand to his chest and let out a dramatic sigh. “I am but a simple man.”
“Bullshit,” she drawled, and he winked at her before he dropped the dramatic pretense and turned the shower on.
“Well, while I am not as simple as I claim, I enjoy time with you.” He motioned to the jersey she was still wearing, and she wiggled her way out of it as far as she could without using her injured arm.
Kirin pulled the jersey with gentle movements until he could get it over her head and off her.
“I also wanted to ask if you would like to come to my mom’s next Monday for my brother’s birthday dinner. ”
Kirin dropped a kiss to the side of her head like it was no big deal as she asked, “Really? I don’t want to intrude or anything.”
He slung the jersey over one of his broad shoulders as he helped her out of her tank top.
She wondered if it was an effort to avoid meeting her gaze, which he confirmed with his next sentence: “Evan requested your presence, and I promised I would ask. You wouldn’t be intruding.
You’re never intruding, but I don’t want you to feel obligated. ”
She scrunched her brows, worried it was a pity invite after the shit show today. “When did he ask?”
“During that game against Nebraska before we were official. Ev stipulated later that it was only if I ‘saw this going somewhere,’” he said with air quotes.
His cheeks tinged pink in the mirror while he unhooked her bra.
When he looked up again, their eyes met in the mirror, and his voice was quiet. “So, will you come?”
“Monday night?” she asked, and he swallowed, but nodded.
Damn, he is nervous.
It’s endearing as hell.
“Well…” She shrugged with a smile while she wiggled out of her jeans and kicked them away. “If it’s for Evan.”
He scoffed and rolled his eyes, sheepish nerves disappearing as he reached down to grab her jeans and slung those over the same shoulder his jersey was hanging off of with her bra and tank top. “He’s already a fan, but I’m worried he might fall in love with you if you beat him at Monopoly.”
“I am very lovable.” She grinned up at him as she shimmied out of her torn underwear. Kirin looked at it, his jaw tightening when she dangled the lace between them.
“Yeah, you are,” he whispered, his voice husky as his hand closed around the scrap of fabric. She batted her eyes at him as she undid the brace and climbed into the shower. She kept her arm tucked against her chest to keep it protected.
Through the shower door, she watched Kirin lean against the vanity counter.
She was fascinated by the way he folded her clothes as if he was using them to hold on to his control.
When he couldn’t waste time with that, he turned and froze at the realization she was watching him through the steamed glass.
Whatever control he’d wrangled within his grasp slipped a bit as he yanked his clothes off, his muscles flexing under her attention.
She drank him in as he joined her in the shower.
He is gorgeous.
Kirin was clinical in his approach. His hands were gentle as he washed her hair and coated the ends in the conditioner, brushing through the lengths to untangle them before twirling them up into a clip so he could clean her with gentle swipes using a washcloth.
While he rinsed her, he dragged his lips over her freshly cleaned skin.
She preened under the attention, leaning into him when he traced her body. His lips had just returned to the curve of her shoulder when he asked a quiet question. “Are you thinking shitty sci-fi, action, or a rom-com?”
She laughed once and then considered her options, humming when he turned her so he could kiss down her chest. “Can’t go wrong with some B-list sci-fi.”
Kirin’s chuckle came out as soft breaths that disappeared as he licked up her neck. He pressed his mouth against her ear, his voice low enough that she shivered. “That’s my girl.”