Breaking Stars (The Celebrity 2)

“I just want to hold you in my arms all night, if that’s all right with you.”

“It’s more than all right,” she breathed out before standing and reaching out her hand for mine. She led me into the bedroom, kicked off her shoes and looked at me. “What do you normally sleep in?”

“Nothing,” I said with a big smile.

“I figured. But what will you be sleeping in tonight?” She walked over to my dresser and opened up the top drawer before closing it. Opening up the drawer beneath it, she smiled and pulled out a pair of my workout shorts. I assumed they were for me to sleep in, but she unbuttoned her jean shorts and dropped them to the floor. My eyes fixed on her bare thighs, her hips, and the tiny piece of red cotton covering her skin. She pulled my shorts on over her underwear and I blinked.

Her hands gripped the bottom of her tank top and pulled it over her head as she walked toward my closet and flicked through my hanging shirts. Long brown hair hung down her back, and I realized spending the night just sleeping was going to be more difficult than I had imagined.

“Where are all your T-shirts?” she turned and asked, her breasts practically busting out of the top of her bra.

“Dresser,” I mumbled, watching every move she made. When she pulled out a Texas University shirt and slipped it on, I hardened even more. Seeing her dressed from head to toe in my clothing was a ridiculous turn-on.

“Your turn,” she said softly as she reached for the bottom of my shirt. It was such a bold move, but it felt right in her hands. I lifted my arms above my head as she pulled it off and tossed it to the floor near her discarded clothes.

This was a side of Paige I didn’t even know existed. This Paige was confident and bold and seemed completely unafraid, while I stood there half-terrified, feeling like my soul had been stripped bare and laid out in front of her. I hoped she’d be gentle with it.

Once she reached for the button on my jeans, I stopped her and did it myself. I trusted Paige but I was emotionally spent, and having her unbutton my jeans crossed the line from where my sanity and self-control lived. I wanted Paige in my arms. I needed to feel the closeness between us after what I’d just shared with her, but I wasn’t ready to push the boundary. Yet.

“I know this probably seems crazy to have you here like this and not…” I paused as I pulled the covers back on my bed. “Well, you know.”

“It’s not messed up. Do you have any idea how many times a girl would just like to be held, or have an amazing talk like we just did and have it not end up in the bedroom? I’m happy to spend the night with you. I’m even happier that it has nothing to do with sex. You have no idea how much of a relief that is for a girl.” She climbed in bed beside me, my shirt hanging well past her hips. “Especially for someone in my position.”

My emotions still raw, I pulled her against me, still thinking about my dad and feeling vulnerable. She rested her head against my chest and I kissed the top of it. “Thank you. For understanding.”

“Thank you. For not being typical.”

“Yeah, I’m definitely not normal. Pretty sure I’m broken, or damaged, or maybe just clinically insane.”

She looked up at me. “Pretty sure you’re amazing. And I’m lucky to have found you.”

“Pretty sure you’re just as messed up as I am,” I teased, before finding her lips and kissing her until I could barely stay awake.

A New Kind of Trust

Paige

My eyes fluttered open as the weight of someone’s arm reminded me that I wasn’t alone in bed. Memories of last night flooded through my mind, and I smiled as I buried my face in Tatum’s arm. I tried to turn over, but I couldn’t move. His body pressed against mine as he held me so tightly.

It was in that moment that I started to freak out, realizing that his mom would know I had spent the night with her son.

“Oh my gosh, Tatum,” I said, trying to shake him awake. “Tatum, wake up.”

“What’s up, babe?” he mumbled.

“Your mom.”

“What about her? Is she here?” He shot up.

“No. But she’ll know I spent the night. Oh my gosh, she’s going to kick me out of your house.” I dropped my head into my hands and closed my eyes.

Tatum wrapped one of his arms around me and squeezed. “She’s not going to do anything except probably bake us both more pie. She’ll be pleased as punch.”

“Pleased as punch?” I said, turning my head slightly.

“It’s a Southern thing. It means happy.”

“How do you know?”