Nobody Knows (Razes Hell 1)

God, I love him so much.

Our skin was damp with sweat, but I snuggled in closer, not wanting to break the connection we’d built. Drew enveloped me in his arms, and leaned forward to kiss the top of my head.

“I love you so much,” he whispered, as if he’d heard my thoughts.

Aftershocks made way for butterflies and warmth, filling me from head to toe.

“I love you, too. So much.”

I closed my eyes, losing myself in him, safe in the knowledge that no matter what happened in the morning, this night was ours.

Just ours.

Don’t open your eyes.

I heard the voice in my mind as I woke up, and for a moment, I took my own advice, afraid that when I allowed myself to re-enter the real world, the magic of the previous night would be snatched from me. I reached out, sure the only thing I’d touch would be empty space. Wrong. Drew was still sleeping beside me. I softly brushed my lips across his shoulder before resting my head against his chest.

It really happened.

I’d never let myself imagine how it would feel to sleep with Drew. Sure, my brain tried to take me there every time I watched him play a gig, or if he hugged me and his fingers lingered a bit too long on my waist. But I’d needed to block those thoughts out in order to look him in the eye without blushing. The real thing was better than anything I could have dreamt, and my pulse quickened at the memory.

Like everything with Drew, sex was intense. I’d never felt more connected to another person. That awkward, first-time-with-someone-new thing didn’t exist between us. Instinct steered us in the right direction, drove us to know exactly what the other wanted, needed.

Once was not enough.

Drew’s hand trailed down my back, and he mumbled, “Good morning.”

The corners of my mouth turned up as I lifted my head for a kiss. He met my lips without hesitation and I sank into him, memories of the night before still strong at the front of my mind.

“Good morning.” My voice came out in more of a sultry purr than I’d intended.

But damn, he looked good. The twinkle in his still sleepy eyes, and his slightly overgrown stubble. Flying high on the things we’d done together, plus the fact we were still naked, it was hard to keep control of anything, including my voice.

“Eleanor Jane,” Drew said, smiling. “You sound like a porn star again.”

“I’m okay with that.”

From somewhere underneath my pillow, my phone rang. The intrusion was completely unwelcome, especially as I’d barely woken up yet. With an enormous sigh, I pulled it out.

Mum.

Parents call at the most inconvenient times.

If she called at this time of the morning, it usually meant bad news, and with a jolt of panic, I realised I was probably the bad news. The bad news in the papers. A post-sex glow, followed by the best night’s sleep ever had helped dim the severity of Jason’s dinner outburst, but it all came swarming back in a dizzying blur. With a shaking hand, I pressed the button to answer the call.

“Hi, Mum.”

“Ellie, what the hell is going on? Do you know you’re in the newspapers?”

Her frantic babbling did nothing to calm my nerves.

“I haven’t seen them yet. But yes, I thought I might be.”

“Why didn’t you warn us? Your dad nearly choked to death on his porridge when he saw you! And Lucy says there are all kinds of rumours about you on the Internet!”

Trust my sister to investigate further. I couldn’t blame her. I’d probably have done the same if the roles were reversed.

“Is it true?” Mum yelped. “Is any of it true?”