"Don't be. I don't know when I've enjoyed a night this much." I ducked my head and bit my lip to keep a silly grin from breaking out on my face.
"Me too, well except when I fell asleep." His deep chuckle sent a warmth through me I didn't recognize. It wasn't something I was familiar with but it was nice. More than nice. It could be addicting.
"You'd better get to bed. You've got that early class," he said softly.
I nodded then stood up and made my way to Cage's bedroom door. Turning back before I disappeared inside I called out, "Good night."
"Good night Low," his deep voice rumbled in the darkness.
"Hey baby, I'm home and I'm clean. I scrubbed in the shower and used half a bottle of mouth wash," Cage murmured as he crawled into bed beside me. I forced open my sleepy eyes to see the sunrise on the horizon. I nodded and rolled over to get another hour of sleep before I needed to get up.
"I'm sorry I stayed out all night. I didn't mean to," he whispered reaching out and clasping my hand in his. I didn't allow him to snuggle up to me in bed. It never ended well.
He'd get a hard on and start trying to feel me up. We'd tried a few times and I always ended up frustrated with him and threatening to sleep on the floor. I didn't want things to get heated with us. Cage was my family. He'd never be anything more.
"S'okay," I muttered
"Did you have a good evening? I saw you made pizza and left me a few slices in the fridge."
I nodded against the pillow.
"Did Marcus eat with you?"
I nodded again.
"He isn't like us Low. You know that right." I knew what Cage was saying. Marcus was out of my league. He didn't want me thinking there could ever be anything between me and his roommate. I was low class.
Marcus was a rich kid.
"I'm not stupid Cage."
"No you're f**king brilliant. And a guy like Marcus would never get just how f**king perfect and brilliant you are. He'd never see past the other stuff."
I wanted to be mad at him but I knew he was right. If Marcus ever saw what I came from, what I was, he'd never give me the time of day.
"I know," I whispered into the dark.
"I love you Low"
"I love you too"
"Then take this," he said as he slipped a key into my hand and closed my fist over it. "I'll be able to relax knowing you have a key. Please take it."
I didn't respond. I wasn't sure what to say. The fact was I wanted that key. It gave me a warped sense of reassurance that I would be able to see Marcus even more frequently.
Within seconds he was softly snoring in my ear. I lay there staring at the ceiling. Fate wasn't fair. It loved playing cruel jokes on me. Marcus Hardy was its new joke.
I hadn't expected Marcus to be awake when I walked out of Cage's bedroom at seven in the morning. And I really hadn't expected him to be standing at the stove cooking eggs and bacon.
"Good morning," I couldn't help but smile at how cute he looked cooking in a pair of sweats and t-shirt that covered his yummy chest I'd had a peek at last night.
"I didn't want you going to class hungry. So, I figured since I was up I'd go ahead and fix you something." My heart melted a little. No one had ever made me breakfast. Not even my mother. Oh fate really did suck. Why did this amazing wonderful sexy guy have to be a freaking Hardy? Why couldn't he be one of the guys from my neighborhood? Someone who understood the life I'd lived and didn't judge me or see me differently because of it.
"That's really sweet."
He grinned and reached for a plate.
"Then I believe my mission is accomplished." Laughing softly so I didn't wake up Cage, I walked over and took the plate he was offering to me.