The Play Mate (Roommates, #2)

Evie

The room was too warm. That was the first thing I realized as I blinked open hazy eyes. The second thing I realized was that I was butt naked and sprawled out over Smith’s body.

As I scrambled off him into a sitting position, my body ached in places I had never ached before.

“Evie?” Smith’s sleepy voice asked.

Rubbing my eyes, I looked at the digital clock and saw it was just past midnight. We’d made love twice and then had fallen asleep in each other’s arms.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Be right back,” I whispered, climbing from the bed. Padding naked and barefoot into the adjoining bathroom, I flipped on the light and sank onto the toilet to relieve myself.

After washing my hands, I tiptoed back into the bedroom. Smith was lying quiet and still in the center of the bed, the sheet draped over his waist. My throat tightened as I watched his chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm.

This night was everything I’d dreamed it could be. It had been the most amazing sexual experience of my life, and Smith had been the perfect man to share it with. He was so attentive, so giving and loving, and I’d been completely lost in the moment. But now? Now I was freaking out a bit.

Feeling around on the floor, I located my underwear and jeans, and slid them on. My bra was hanging off the back of a chair, and my shirt was nowhere to be found.

Exiting the bedroom as quietly as I could, I headed for the living room and spotted my shirt on the hallway floor.

The need to be in my own space outweighed everything. I had to process what had happened tonight and my growing feelings for Smith. And I needed to do it in the safety of my own home.

I’d grown closer to Smith in these past few weeks than I’d ever imagined was possible. It was no longer just about sex. Yes, we’d had an amazing time between the sheets, and I was sure no man would ever compare, but things were so much more complicated than that. He’d let me into his life, introduced me to his lovable yet chaotic family, shown me what it was like to let go and have fun.

And now that it was over? I was more heartbroken than I’d ever imagined.

Dressing quickly, I slipped on my shoes and coat, scratched out a quick note, and fled.

• • •

Pushing open the heavy glass door to the office Monday morning, I forced my mouth into a smile. “Morning,” I said to my brother.

“Hey, Evie,” Cullen said, his eyes still trained on his computer screen. “Is there a reason you’re”-his gaze dropped to his wristwatch-“forty minutes late?”

I sniffed. I’d been frozen in fear this morning, sure that my brother would read guilt and heartache all over me. “Sorry about that. I’m not feeling very well today.”

His gaze swung over to mine and softened. “If you need to go home and take it easy today, it’s no big deal.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

We worked in silence for a few minutes until I couldn’t help but ask the question burning a hole in my brain. “Where’s Smith? Did he call in sick or something too?”

Cullen shrugged. “I haven’t heard from him at all, other than a very weird conversation last week. Regarding you, actually.” He paused, and when I pulled my gaze away from my laptop, I found Cullen looking at me expectantly. “Did something happen between you two?”

The image of Smith moving on top of me flashed through my brain, and the memory of his naughty game of keep-away where he wouldn’t let me touch him burned inside me. The inner thoughts and dreams and fears we’d shared . . . it all felt like a mountain of deceit inside me.

With tears filling my eyes, I grabbed my purse and rose to my feet. “I’m not telling you anything. You’re my brother.”

Then I stormed from the office, set on hiding out the rest of this decade, safe in my own apartment.