Page 137 of Everything She Wanted

He walks me to his front door, holding me close with one arm while unlocking his door with the other and then leads me down the hall.

“You can lie down for a bit if you want.”

I murmur something that sounds like, “Sure.”

He practically carries me to his room and lays me on the bed. The room I wanted to visit for so long.

“I’ll get you some water.”

I peel off my blazer and then my stiff, uncomfortable work pants and lie down under the covers in a haze, too drunk to be self-conscious.

He comes back and stands next to me with a glass in his hand.

“Drink this.”

I sit up and take a few sips of water before handing it back to him.

“I’ll let you get some rest.”

I reach over and grab his wrist, almost tumbling off the bed in the process.

“Lie down with me?” Now that he’s here, I realize how much I missed seeing him, and I don’t want him to leave.

He hesitates.

“Please.”

He softens, and I shift over as he lies stiffly next to me.

“Under the covers.” I don’t wait for him to respond but pull the duvet around him too.

He lies back, and I wrap my legs around him, desperate to feel his warmth and his body next to mine. He holds me close. I look up at him, tracing his lips, and I see his breathing quicken.

I can’t resist and push my lips onto his. He relents for a second before gently pushing me away.

“Nisha, no. You’re drunk.”

I run my hands down his chest and brush my fingers over the front of his pants.

“Does it matter?”

“It matters to me.” He pulls my hand away, but then brings it to his lips.

“Get some rest.”

He makes to leave, but I hold on to him.

“Stay.”

He squeezes me back.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I wake up to the smell of coffee and bacon, and for a second, I wonder where I am. My brain is foggy, and it takes a minute.

A hotel? Can’t be. Home? No, Rachel doesn’t eat bacon or any meat for that matter.

I rise and lean on my elbows as my mind flashes back to Lumberjack from last night, and fear grips me thinking of what might have happened, but then I remember running into Nick and him bringing me back to his place. I sag back into the bed with relief.