Chapter 15 #2
His gaze trailed over fantastic, perky breasts and three or four inches of her slim, toned waist that her blue cropped cami top didn’t cover.
The matching shorts she wore stopped just below her sensational ass, giving him long, shapely legs to admire.
He glanced toward the counter as she walked to the door.
“Do you mind if I come in?”
“Nope,” he said before he spat his toothpaste into the sink.
She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, then dug into her small travel case on the counter, pulling out her package of birth control pills, punching out the next one in the row.
Her eyes met his in the mirror as she placed the pill on her tongue, then swallowed a sip from her bottled water. “Is it okay if I brush my teeth?”
“Brush away. I’m finished in here.”
She pulled out her toothbrush and toothpaste, wasting no time getting to work on her nighttime routine.
He left, then stopped in the doorway again. “You can take the bed. I’ll sleep in Davey’s room.”
She frowned before she spat. “What if he comes home?”
He shrugged. “I’ll move to the couch.”
She rinsed her mouth, then the sink, before she pulled out a package of makeup wipes, making fast work of wiping her face with smooth strokes.
“We’re going to have to share at the compound.
I live in the guesthouse on the property, but Mac will notice if you’re camping out on the couch.
It’s safe to say she notices everything. ”
He’d known that their sleeping arrangements would eventually come up. He was just glad that she was broaching the subject first. “Are you ready to go there?”
She hesitated, then nodded as she added moisturizer to her flawless skin. “Yeah, I’m okay with it. Are you?”
“Yeah, I’m comfortable if you are.”
She zipped her stuff back into the bag, then moved to the far side of the bed, which was perfect because he definitely had a preference. “Is this your side?”
“Nope. What we’re doing is working just fine.”
She nodded, pulling back the covers as she got in.
He hesitated, then unbuttoned his shirt, tossing it toward the hamper. “I usually sleep in my boxer briefs. Is that a problem?”
She shook her head. “I have, in fact, seen boxer briefs before.”
He grinned as he let his shorts fall, then got under the blankets.
She smoothed the comforter over her legs while she still sat up. “So, this is us, officially sharing a bed.”
He looked at her, sensing that she felt as awkward as he did. “Are you still comfortable?”
She nodded. “It’s a little weird, I guess, but it’s just another layer to this crazy game we’re playing.”
He grinned as he shut off the light.
She settled on her pillow, turning to face him as he got comfortable under the covers.
Turning on his side, he stared into her eyes in the glow shining in from the city. “You’re still good?”
She nodded, smiling at him. “Tonight was really fun, Ty. I had a good time.”
He smiled back. “Me, too.”
“You were right about our mystery destination. The view from the clock tower was stunning. As surprises go, it was a great one.”
He smiled again, loving that she’d loved it. “What are we thinking about for tomorrow? Do you want to go home or stay for another day?”
She shrugged. “We can do whatever you want. Both options work for me.”
“I guess we can figure it out in the morning.”
She nodded, frowning a little as she nibbled her bottom lip. Clearly, there was something on her mind.
“What?”
“I don’t know,” she said with another shrug. “I’m lying here in your bed, and it has me thinking about your friend with benefits thing.”
He grinned. “Oh yeah?”
She nodded again. “How does it work exactly? Do you bump into her at work and wiggle your brow?”
He laughed. “No. We’re not even on the same squad, so we don’t see each other all that much at the office. One of us usually sends a text.”
“And what does this text say?”
He shrugged. “Usually, it says something like ‘what are you up to tonight’ or ‘do you have any plans?’”
“Interesting. Vague but not really. Then what happens?”
His smile was back. “We have sex.”
She laughed as she shook her head. “I mean, does she come here? Do you guys do it and then snuggle, or do you do your thing and then one of you gets up and leaves?”
“I always go to her place. And we don’t spend a whole lot of time cuddling—none actually. Sometimes we talk about one of our cases afterward, but for the most part, we’re scratching an itch.”
She winced. “Gee, Ty, that sounds so romantic.”
He grinned. “I’m not looking for romance. Neither is she.”
“I guess it works out, then.”
He shrugged. “I have no complaints.”
“And things were like that with your other friends with benefits?”
“Yeah, pretty much. It’s a simple, no-strings arrangement.” He got more comfortable on his pillow. “So, what about you? You don’t hook up with anyone?”
She shook her head. “I can take care of myself.”
He raised his brow as he puffed out a breath, barely stopping himself from groaning. “That’s sexy as hell, Lyd.”
She laughed. “I guess.”
“Are you kidding? A beautiful woman getting herself off? Let me repeat myself. That’s sexy as hell.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s normal and healthy. You don’t ever…”
He nodded. “Of course, I do. It’s just hotter to think about you doing it.”
She laughed. “Well, hot or not, I like knowing that I don’t need a man to take care of my needs.”
“Hey, more power to you.”
She chuckled. “You and I have some very interesting conversations.”
He certainly talked about things with Lydia that he never did with anyone else. “They keep me entertained.”
She laughed as he grinned. “Are you sleepy yet?”
“I’m getting there. Are you?”
“I’m sure if I close my eyes, I’ll fall asleep.”
His smile faded, hating that his mind wandered to the case—the entire reason they were here in the first place. “Do you think that we might be able to talk about Massachusetts tomorrow?”
She held his gaze, exhaling a long, quiet breath as the easiness of their night together evaporated. “There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to tell you about my life up there.”
“We leave in a few days, Lyd.”
“I know.” She looked past him to the wall before she met his gaze again.
“They’ve always been so good to me. They’re all that I have left of my dad.
When Uncle James laughs, I can hear Grandpa Beau.
When he smiles, I see my dad and Burke. Today with Gram-Gram…
I feel like I’m diving deeper and deeper into the waters of betrayal. ”
He took her hand, nuzzling her soft skin against his cheek, loathing that every time he brought up the Monroes, he hurt her.
Everything about being with Lydia was new for him—sharing his life with her, sharing his bed. They were things that didn’t happen—things he’d never done with anyone else. But as he stared into her big, trusting eyes, he knew he wanted to do everything right. “How about we get some sleep for now?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He kept her hand captured in his. “Good night, Lyd.”
“Good night.”