Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,204

his skin with my own lips.

And with desire overwhelming me, it isn’t long before the thought is washed away, and sleep is the only thing my body craves.

9

Will

I watch her sleep despite my reluctance to do so.

When I got the call from Lex last night informing me of Amelia’s Friday night adventure into a Manhattan club, it took a hell of a lot of trawling through her social media, which, thank God, was an open account. She’d posted a story with a picture of a restaurant in SOHO, and I knew precisely which club was located next door.

But I shouldn’t have sat here watching her all night—the tiny snores she releases and the way her body is spread out in my bed. Thoughts cross my mind, things I should be ashamed of.

When the morning light streams through the bedroom, I escape to the kitchen, waiting for her to wake up.

It’s just after eight when I hear feet drag through the hallway.

“Good morning,” I greet with an overbearing smile. “Has death found you yet?”

She sits on the stool, moaning. The shirt she wears pulls up, exposing her thigh, yet she doesn’t seem bothered. I quickly shift my attention, ignoring my dick hardening at the sight. Seriously, get a fucking grip on yourself.

“Remind me never to drink again.”

“Gladly, since you’re nineteen, the law can also remind you.”

“How brotherly of you…” she mumbles beneath her breath before her face cringes. “What’s that smell?”

“It’s called hangover food. A breakfast burrito.”

“Don’t say the word burrito.”

“Take it from an old-timer like myself, it works wonders.”

A smile manages to escape her lips before she takes a bite. At first, she stops mid-chew, her face turning a slight shade of green, but soon after, she swallows and begins to look somewhat normal.

“I told you, right?”

“I do feel much better,” she admits, accepting the coffee I pour for her. “You’re quite the morning host.”

I can see where she’s going with this, but as much as I’d like to put her in her place, I take the softer approach feeling somewhat sorry for her.

“Believe it not, women don’t stay here.”

Her eyes draw up to meet mine with a curious gaze. “How is that even possible?”

“I’m quite particular about my routine and my bed.”

Letting out a small snort, she shakes her head. “I find that hard to believe. You seem to be a man who likes his women, and I assume your interest in them go well beyond the night and into the early hours of the morning.”

“Did my mother, or your mother, tell you that?”

“I drew that conclusion when I forgot for a moment where I was and opened your beside drawer to a bulk pack of condoms.”

My face falls flat but quick to save face, I tell her, “No glove, no love, right?”

“I didn’t realize a safe sex talk was part of your breakfast burrito cure. Thanks, I guess. Since I’m not exactly having sex with anyone, I think it’s fair to say that I’m as safe as you can get.”

I cross my arms, leaning against the countertop with curiosity. “How about this boyfriend of yours?”

She bows her head. “Nothing to say.”

“C’mon, Miss Edwards always has something to say.”

A laugh, though sinister, escapes her. “There’s literally nothing to say. We barely talk anymore, and I’m pretty sure if you troll his Instagram account, there’s someone else.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hey…” Her eyes meet mine, but with a hopeful smile, she releases a breath. “It was bound to happen that one of us would find someone new.”

“You’re beautiful. The guys will be lining up, just like my dad pointed out.” The second it leaves my mouth, I regret telling her she’s beautiful even though I can’t stop thinking about it. But also, the thought of her dating, let alone sleeping with other men, shoots anger through me, followed by this pang I have no idea where it came from.

“Why… um… thank you.” She clears her throat. “And you’re rather handsome, so I guess it isn’t long before someone actually sleeps over in your bed because you want them to.”

She hops off the stool the same time my phone rings, and Lex Edwards flashes on the screen.

“Lex,” I answer, which stops Amelia dead in her tracks. “Is everything okay?”

“I should be asking you that,” his stern voice echoes over the speaker.

“If you’re calling about last night, Amelia is fine.”

“She’s fine?”

“Yes, I stayed around, then she happily agreed to head home, so I drove her back to campus.”

“You drove her back?” he repeated.

I hated lying