Underneath the Sycamore Tree

Kaiden.

Just as I’m about to wiggle my way out of his grip, he tightens it. “It’s too fucking early,” he mumbles, voice muffled by sleepiness.

“What are you doing?” I hiss, trying to get out of bed.

He won’t let me. “I’m trying to sleep, but you’re being annoying.”

Scoffing, I try prying his arm off me again. “I can’t believe you’re in my bed. You do know there’s one right over there if you wanted to sleep!”

He grumbles and pulls me against his body. Being pressed against him is like having my own personal heater, which I normally wouldn’t complain about. My back is against his solid front, and I wonder how much time he puts into working out. When his lips brush my ear, I freeze in his hold. “Do you really want me on that bed, Mouse?”

I’m about to tell him off when I realize he probably doesn’t mean it in the way I think. His voice isn’t cocky or slimy, it’s knowing. Closing my mouth, I glance at Lo’s made bed. It isn’t even the same one she slept on. The one she passed away in was taken away a few days after the funeral. I’m surprised they even put a new mattress in the room. It’s not like anyone would need it.

“That’s what I thought,” he says, letting out a tiny breath that tickles my cheek. “You were shivering, so I thought this might help warm you up. Now stop talking.”

He makes himself comfortable, his nose nuzzling in the crook of my neck and causing my arms to pimple with goosebumps. I wish I were uncomfortable, but there’s not even a lick of pain I could use to get him away. As if he knows that, his arm hugs me to him, molding my body to his.

Oh my God.

Is this spooning?

My heart is going haywire in my chest. I’ve never cuddled with a boy before, much less slept next to one. The fact he’s so content only makes my anxiety worse.

“Kaiden?”

“Go to sleep.”

“What are you doing here?”

I jerk when I feel his teeth nip the top of my shoulder. “I thought we established that. I’m—”

I wiggle away from him only to press my butt against something hard. “In my hometown, Kaiden.”

He groans and holds my hips still. “I need you to stop moving around unless you’re willing to help me out.”

Brows pinched, I consider his words in silence while his breathing evens out. When I put two and two together, my throat thickens and I carefully scoot away until I’m on the edge of the already tiny bed. Gripping the mattress, I stare at the carpet and wait for him to answer.

“I was bored.”

“Most people watch television or, I don’t know, hang out with friends.” Trying to get comfortable leaves me struggling for balance, and I almost fall on the floor until Kaiden hooks his arm around me and yanks me over to him.

Body heating when he moves to hover over me, I try looking at anything but him. His large frame takes over my senses though as he cages me in. All I see is how his red cotton shirt drapes from the collar just enough to see the sculpted body underneath. His natural woodsy scent reminds me of the trees I climbed once upon a time. But it’s his eyes, dark and penetrating, that get me the most. Once I lock my gaze on them I’m stuck there.

Licking my dry lips, I murmur, “It isn’t like you don’t have a following of minions you could force to hang out with you. If you were that bored, you could have asked Rachel. I doubt it would take much.”

His lips curve. “That sounds oddly like jealousy, Mouse. For the record, I’m still pissed at Rachel for pulling what she did. I didn’t know she took your key at school or grabbed the one outside.”

We stare for a moment.

Then I shrug.

I vaguely remember Rachel bumping into me at school. I dropped my things and watched as she picked a few of them up. Silly me for thinking she was being nice.

He flicks my chin. “Rach and I used to be close when we were younger. Honestly, she annoys the shit out of me now.”

I hesitate to reply. “So why do you hang out with her?”

He doesn’t answer.