“I want to,” I admit, feeling shy now. “I mean, I have written some but—” I shake my head. “Never mind.” I turn back toward the TV.
I’m a history major with a minor in English. I love to read and write and I’ve read everything I can get my hands on since I was a kid. I was always drawn to history.
“Historicals.” Vaughn steps in front of the TV, blocking my view. I hadn't seen him move. “That’s what you’ve written, right?”
I shrug noncommittally even though he’s right.
“Don’t shrug it off. That’s fucking cool. You should let me read some of it.”
“You want to read it?” I snort, but his face doesn't change. It’s not playful and there’s no smirk pulling at his lips. He’s serious.
“I’ll think about it,” I give in.
I’ve never let someone read something I’ve written that wasn't for work or school. Not even Collins. She knows I dream of writing, but I figured I’d end up doing research or working for a museum of some kind, maybe even a library. One of my professors actually offered me a job after graduation but I turned it down. My plans were always to go back to Collins, but now she isn't there anymore.
“You think about it while I cook.” This time I see his cocky grin. “But I always get what I’m after,” he finishes before giving me one of those killer winks and walking into the kitchen.
I have a feeling he’s after more than reading my stories. The problem is this is real life. A man like Vaughn could leave me broken hearted since happily ever afters aren't guaranteed.
Chapter Five
Vaughn
“How could you do this to me?” Berkley moans as she rubs her belly.
I laugh as I set the last dish on the drain and wipe down the counter. She’s laid out on the couch pretending to be unable to move while I clean up the kitchen.
“You didn’t complain when you had it in your mouth.” Her eyes pop open and I wink at her before she scowls at me. “It’s okay if you like it.”
“I would say something just as smart-mouthed back to you, but I’m too stuffed with good food to be witty.” She throws her arms over her head dramatically as she stretches and points her toes. Her couch is so tiny even she hangs off the edge of it and can’t lie on it fully. There’s only one bed in this studio flat and there’s no way either of us could sleep on that couch comfortably.
“So, about the sleeping arrangements.” I dry my hands and walk over next to her and wait. After a moment she tucks her feet and makes a small space for me to sit down.
“Wait, you’re staying in my apartment?”
I laugh and cock my head to the side. “Where did you think I was going?”
She shrugs and then looks around as if the answer will pop up. “I guess I just thought you’d get a hotel or something.”
“You trying to get rid of me?”
She rolls her eyes but I see the tinge of pink in her cheeks. “No.”
“Not after that dinner, right?” I feel the grin pull at one side of my mouth and she tries to hit me with a pillow. I grab it from her and lean in close. “You’re not kicking me out, and I don’t trust anyone but me to keep you safe.”
She swallows before she raises her chin in defiance. “Awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“I’m sure that no one is more concerned about your safety and well-being than me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” She licks her lips and I follow the smooth silky trail the moisture leaves behind. “My sister cares about what happens to me.”
“Oh sweet thing, I know she does.” I lean in and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “But I have no plans to ever take my eyes off this body of yours, so where you go, I go.” She looks up at me through her lashes as I lean in a little closer. “Believe me, Berkley, you’re not going anywhere.”
“So if you’re not leaving, where are you going to sleep?” I feel her breath against my lips as I move just inches from her.
“I think we both know the answer to that question.” And instead of kissing her like my body is screaming for me to do, I place my lips next to her ear and whisper. “On your sofa.”
She playfully smacks my chest and I sit back on the couch, giving us both some much needed space. Jesus Christ, the air between us has a magnetic pulse like there are bolts of lightning crackling between us.
“There’s no way you can fit on my sofa. You’re huge.” When her eyes roam down my chest, then dart away, all the blood in my body flows to my cock.
“So you’re giving me your bed?” I tease her, and it earns me another smack.
“Not a chance. I can't even sleep on this thing, and believe me, I’ve tried.”
“Will you let me cuddle with you if I promise to be good?” I give her my best innocent look but she pretends to be annoyed as she gets up off the couch.
“Fine. But you better not snore.”
“I don’t think you’d notice if I did.”
She looks back over her shoulder at me and narrows her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Only that you’re cute when you talk in your sleep.”
“I do not!” Her mouth falls open and she looks around for something to throw at me, but by the time she grabs a pencil I’ve got a pillow up to block it.
She laughs with me and then tries to cover a yawn.
“Come on, let me put you to bed. You’ve had a long day.”
“I’m not a toddler. I can manage to get into bed on my own,” she says, but doesn’t stop me from following her.
I go over to my bag in her room and grab a shirt out of it. “Here, you can wear this.”
She looks at it for a quick second and doesn’t protest as she takes it from me and goes into her bathroom. I hear the water running and a few moments later she comes out fresh faced and wearing my shirt. Her hair is down and over one shoulder, and damn, she’s never looked more beautiful. I can see her eyes are tired and she’s probably stressed from all of the travel these past few days and then studying and oh, that threat on her life hanging over everything. More than anything I want to be able to give her a little peace, so when she slides into bed and under the covers I kick off my shoes and move my hands to my belt.
“What are you doing?” Her eyes widen as she watches me unfasten my pants and take them off before folding them neatly and placing them on the chair.
“Getting ready for bed.” Her eyes roam over my chest just before I take off my shirt and drape it on the chair too. “Don’t worry, sweet thing, I’ll sleep on top.”
Her lips part a little as I climb onto the bed and tuck the covers around her. She’s frozen solid for a second until she realizes what I meant as I make sure and wrap her up. God, this is almost worse than me just spreading her legs and going to town. Somehow the innocence of this is intimate and deeper than a lust-filled frenzy. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see how soft her thighs feel on either side of my face, but this is so much closer than that.