The Moth and the Flame (When Rivals Play #2) - B.B. Reid Page 0,95

my balls weren’t. I couldn’t even be bothered to beat my dick knowing it would never be enough. So I’d gone to sleep hard, drunk, and utterly pathetic. I had hoped for escape, but all I did was dream about taking what she so naïvely had offered.

Groaning, I tried to sit up but quickly realized there was a weight on my chest keeping me down. It took some effort to get my eyes open. Sleep clouded my vision, and the room spun, but I still recognized Lou’s dark head of hair and her hand resting on my chest. Her leg was hooked around my thigh causing my T-shirt she wore to bunch around her waist. My hand found her bare ass, and the moment I felt her warm, soft skin, I was up and at ’em. My hangover forgotten as well as my honor, I allowed my fingers to slip over the curve of her ass and down to her thigh. I didn’t stop. Her heat became searing the closer my fingers got to her pussy, and I licked my dry lips anticipating finding her wet and ready for me.

I’d only just grazed her swollen lips and felt the wetness pooling there when I heard, “Morning, bestie.”

Those words were like a bucket of ice water, and I was grateful for them. I’d been so preoccupied with touching Lou that I hadn’t noticed she had awakened. I’d almost—

My throat felt clogged when I tried to speak, so I cleared it and tried again. “What are you doing here?”

She smiled and stretched lazily. “Getting groped by you in my sleep, apparently.”

I shot to my feet, and she yelped as she tumbled to the floor. I immediately held out my hand to help her, and she glared at me before shoving it away and standing.

We stared at each other, neither of us willing to say what we were thinking until I broke the silence. “I’ll make coffee.”

She nodded and looked away, and when I found the courage to look over my shoulder, she was gone. I was pouring coffee into two of my grandmother’s mugs when she returned, clutching her rucksack. I almost lost my grip on the coffee pot when panic set in. Was she leaving? Had I gone too far?

“You’re not leaving.”

Her brows drew together, confusion marking her pretty face. “I’m not leaving,” she confirmed. “But I do need to do laundry.”

It was my turn to frown. “You’ve only been gone four days.”

“I packed light.” She then dropped her bag on the counter and grabbed one of the steaming mugs.

I sat down and watched her sip at the coffee with a look of pleasure. I wanted more than anything to keep that expression on her face. I’d work tirelessly for hours, all night if I had to.

“I’m glad to know you’re good for something,” she praised, chasing away my thoughts.

You have no idea. “I didn’t think you were going back,” I said, referring to the Hendersons.

“I wasn’t,” she admitted casually. “I was trying to find you so we could run away together.” She winked, and though her tone was playful, I knew she was completely serious.

“I would have,” I blurted unwisely. It was the first honest thing I’d said in a while. “I would have run away with you.” I had no idea where we’d go or what we’d do, but I would have taken us far away from the city and the people that had stolen so much from us already. And consequently, I would have spent the rest of my life running from my past and hers.

She had no idea how deeply they were entwined.

Our gazes connected over her coffee mug, and I had the feeling she was as lost in mine as I was in hers. “I know.”

Nodding, I took a quick sip of my coffee before stepping around the island and grabbing her bag. “Come on.”

She followed me to the laundry room where I watched her dump a week’s worth of clothes inside the machine without bothering to separate them. When she reached for the bleach instead of detergent, I quickly stepped in.

“Jesus, Lou! You’re going to ruin your clothes.” I removed the white T-shirt she’d shoved inside with a pair of red jeans. “Haven’t you ever done laundry?”

“Of course, I have. I’m just a little distracted by your hovering.”

Shaking my head, I nudged her aside and took over while she hopped on the dryer and began swinging her legs. I could feel her studying me, and