Bare Skin (Skin Deep 5)

“No,” I replied, seeing that Cara was just checking in, letting me know everything was okay. “It’s fine, but we should probably start heading back anyway.”

He inclined his head and reached for my hand again, threading his fingers through mine as he turned and walked back toward the park entrance, tugging me along with him.

“We in a hurry all of a sudden?” I asked, confused as to why he was practically dragging me back to the car.

“Nope. Just thinking, the quicker I get you to the car and back to the hotel, the quicker we can settle in a just chill for a bit.”

He didn’t sound cocky when he said it. Just matter of fact, and it gave me a thrill in places that were still too thrilled from the kiss earlier. But, seriously…wasn’t he presuming a little much? Or was it just me?

“I can practically hear you thinking over there, Red,” Calland said, casually.

Since when did I become so transparent?

We got back to the car in no time, and I guess I must have been in my head way too much while he was driving, because it seemed like I barely blinked and we were pulling up at the hotel. He stopped in the drop off zone by the front doors and put the car in park before he turned to look at me.

“Ball is in your court. I wasn’t trying to assume anything when I said that earlier. You know what they say about people who assume, right?” He paused, only continuing when I gave a small jerk of my head. “It makes an ass out of you and me.”

I blinked at him, but my lips still curled up slightly on the sides. “I haven’t heard that in forever,” I said lightly. “How do you know I was thinking that, though?”

He reached over and softly ran the tip of his finger down my nose as he answered. “I just do. You’ve been sitting over there overthinking everything. I can tell. So, just go on in and cuddle up with Kade. You have my number, just text me when you want to see me again. Okay?”

I reached for the door handle, slightly dazed that I felt like he was just kicking me out. He kept me completely off guard all the time and I should totally hate that. But I don’t somehow. Which is why, without turning around, I asked very quietly, “Come up with me?”

He didn’t reply, just put the car in gear and pulled into a parking spot. We both got out and walked silently inside, not touching, not looking at each other, but still content with the silence that surrounded us. It seemed to be the theme with us.

The silence lasted through the elevator ride, only being broken when I introduced Calland to Cara before she filled me in on everything Kade that had happened while I was gone.

“He’s still been kind of fussy, but he did eat pretty well for me. He fell back to sleep probably no more than half an hour ago, but I just checked on him right before you came in.”

I sighed. “He was cranky all afternoon. I think he’s teething. Thanks, Cara,” I said, handing her some cash and giving her a hug.

She thanked me and said she’d call to check in on him if I didn’t mind before she waved to me and Calland both, then left, shutting the door softly behind her.

And then we were alone. Well, as alone as we could be with a sleeping child across the room.

I glanced over to see him watching me, his eyes hooded, expression closed off, yet watchful.

I cleared my throat and said, “I’m going to check on him real quick. Do you want something to drink?”

He shook his head, adding a soft, “No, thank you,” and a smile before I turned away to check on the sleeping baby.

He was sleeping so peacefully, so I barely brushed my hand over the top of his head and straightened, turning to see that Calland had settled himself in the bed farthest from the baby, his back against the headboard, remote in his hand, flipping mindlessly through channels on the muted T.V.

Since he was distracted (sort of), I grabbed a soft t-shirt and a pair of thin sleep pants with little rabbits all over them and went to change. When I was done, I stepped up in front of him, eyebrow raised. He simply grinned as he looked me up and down, and then patted the mattress beside him. It took me all of two seconds to wage an internal war with myself, knowing that I was going to give in, no matter how stupid that decision might end up being. Especially when, instead of walking around the bed and crawling into the other side, I simply crawled over Calland, the heat of his body searing my thighs for the brief moment that I was straddling him before settling at his side, curled up in the curve of his arm.

Once I was situated, I realized that he had gone rock solid beside me, his jaw tensed, breath hissing through clenched teeth. He was still staring at the T.V., very obviously refusing to glance in my direction.

I turned my attention to the T.V., but was still unable to help the small smile that graced my lips at his blatant attempt to control himself. I should feel horrible for tempting him the way I did, but I couldn’t bring myself to. It had been so long since I’d actually felt desirable for who I was, rather than just simply my looks…or other reasons I didn’t want to get into.

We sat that way for what seemed like forever, both of us staring at the screen in front of us, but knowing that neither one was really seeing anything there. It was still muted, and silence was heavy in the room. But it was a comfortable, if not very thick and sexually charged, silence, rather than an awkward and uncomfortable one.

Until his arm tightened around my shoulders…