Page 40 of Swerve (Boosted Hearts 1)

I didn’t really, but I wasn’t sure what the alternative was. I had a sneaking suspicion it involved him and me pressed up close in Josh’s tiny twin bed again. So, I said, “Sure.” And took my seat again.

Neco walked back into the living room, but instead of taking the seat he had before, he sat down beside me—close—legs spread so his thigh was pressed against mine.

“Is . . .” My voice sounded weird. I cleared my throat. “Is Jude coming back?”

Neco didn’t look at me, kept his eyes on the TV and shook his head.

I started the movie back up and we stayed quiet after that. His leg stayed pressed against mine the whole time, too.

When the credits finally started rolling, I got to my feet as fast as I was able. “I’m ah . . . I’m just going to grab a shower and hit the sheets.”

He didn’t say anything, just stared at me with those crazy, sexy, beautiful green eyes that were currently heavy lidded and intense. My belly squirmed.

“There’s spare blankets and stuff in the cupboard by the bathroom,” I said, then I got the hell out of there and didn’t look back. Grabbing what I needed, I locked myself in the bathroom. I could hear Neco moving around in the apartment when I turned on the shower—I assumed getting a blanket and setting himself up on the couch.

When I walked out a short time later, the lights were out, all except for a lamp by the couch. I didn’t look too closely. The last thing I needed before bed was another eyeful of his bare chest, or . . . whatever he’d decided to sleep in . . . or not in. Tiptoeing down the hall, I peeked into Hunter and Lulu’s room one more time. Josh looked utterly peaceful. I smiled and opened the door to “my” room . . . and halted in the doorway.

Neco stood by the window, phone in hand, texting, by the looks of it. Streetlights washed him and his bare chest in a multitude of colors. He didn’t have his jeans on this time, just a pair of boxer briefs. Very snug boxer briefs that hid nothing. His head twisted on his strong neck to look at me, eyes traveling the length of me. I was in a ratty pair of old shorts and a tank that was kind of stretched out, no bra. His eyes lingered on my breasts and my nipples tightened again.

“What are you doing in here?” Jesus, I suddenly sounded like Minnie Mouse.

His head tilted to the side slightly. “We’re hitting the sheets, right?” The man looked like a panther ready to pounce.

“I thought you’d . . . the couch . . .”

He just shook his head. “I’m sleeping in here with you.”

That was it, no explanation, like it was no biggie. To him that may be the case, to me however . . . “I um . . . I don’t think . . .”

“Get into bed, Ruby.”

“Maybe I could . . .” I motioned to the door, saying without words that I’d take the couch.

He moved then, long strides eating up the space between us. “It’s just us,” he murmured. “Neco and Ruby.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “I’ve slept with you more than not, babe.”

My pulse started picking up speed and I licked my suddenly dry lips. Maybe. But until last night, I hadn’t slept in the same bed as him for a lot of damn years.

“Climb in,” he said.

I stood there for several seconds, trying to decide what to do. If I said no, I was making a big deal out of something he obviously didn’t think was an issue. If I said yes, I was going to have to spend an entire night pressed up against him in that tiny bed.

Dammit. I climbed into bed, slid off my glasses, and put them on the bedside table.

Neco dumped his phone beside them and climbed in beside me. This time I was against the wall, which meant I had no escape. He turned into me, draped his arm over my waist, and pulled me back, so I was plastered against his chest. My ass was cradling his groin. I lay there, eyes as wide as a possum, staring at the wall.

My mind raced, trying to work out what in the hell was going on here. It kept coming back to one thing, the one thing I knew it couldn’t be.

Neco did not want me, no way.

Not like that . . .

I dragged in a rough breath through my nose.

Holy freaking shit. The man is hard.

I froze. “Um . . . Neco?”

“Go to sleep,” he growled close to my ear.