The Girl Next Door

“Come here.”

Holy shit. Is this really happening?

It feels like a dream. Maybe a nightmare. Or some place in between.

My mind flips through the past two hours as I try to figure out how I’ve ended up in Beck’s bed for the night. It doesn’t make sense.

My motto has always been avoid, avoid, avoid.

This is the complete opposite.

Unconsciously, I close the distance between us. I blink to awareness when Beck’s fingers tighten around mine. With a tug, I stumble forward into his embrace.

His other hand wraps around my waist. “You good?”

Even though I jerk my head into a nod, I have no idea if it’s the truth. This is unchartered territory. Maybe if he would stop touching me, my mind would clear enough to think rationally. But his grip doesn’t loosen. Another unwanted bolt of arousal shoots through me before settling in my lower belly.

When it seems like I’ll explode from the thick tension that has gathered between us, his fingers fall away and he turns, yanking back the covers.

I stare, unsure what to do. Am I supposed to slide into his bed like this is normal?

Just another Saturday night spent with Beck?

When I hesitate, he says, “Nothing will happen that you don’t want.”

That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.

All I can think about are his hands on my body.

Against my better judgment, I climb onto the mattress. It’s as soft as a cloud. My movements falter when he groans, his hand sliding over my bare backside. Everything in me tenses as I scamper to the far side of the bed. That little caress leaves my body vibrating.

The mattress dips as Beck settles on top of it and we both stretch out, our heads resting against the thousand count Egyptian covered pillows. It takes a bit of adjustment before I’m able to find a comfortable position on my side, turned away from Beck. Even though I try to ignore him, I’m ridiculously aware of his six-foot frame next to me.

A few silent moments tick by as I force myself to relax. One by one, my tense muscles lose their rigidity. I stare at the far wall before trying to close my eyes. Okay. This isn’t so bad. Beck will stay on his side and I’ll remain on mine. It’s a king-sized bed and there’s plenty of space for both of us. In fact, there’s plenty of room for three or four people. I’m sure Beck has tested that theory out for himself. My guess is that he’s no stranger to threesomes.

Why that thought irritates me, I have no idea. But I banish it from my head before I can inspect it too closely.

As soon as the sun peeks over the horizon tomorrow morning, I’m out of here. Or maybe I’ll wait for Beck to fall asleep and sneak home. Is he really going to care at that point? It’s not like he can hold me hostage in his bedroom indefinitely.

The moment I find a comfy spot and melt into the mattress, Beck wraps an arm around my ribs. I yelp as he drags me toward him until my backside is aligned with his front.

Holy hell.

I stiffen like a board as his arm drapes around my body and holds me so every part of him is pressed intimately against me.

And I do mean every part.

One of his hands slips beneath the hem of my T-shirt and settles against my lower abdomen. My breath becomes clogged in my throat until it feels like I’m going to pass out from lack of oxygen. The warmth of his palm singes the skin beneath it. It’s all I can focus on.

“Relax,” he rumbles against my ear.

Is he joking?

How am I supposed to do that?

“You know,” I say, voice shaking like a leaf, “I’m fine. I could—”

“You’re staying here. End of story.”

I press my lips together until they feel bloodless. As much as I want to argue, I know it won’t do me any good. Beck isn’t going to release me until he’s damn good and ready. So I’m stuck. Pressed against him. I blow out a breath and try to do as he instructed.

The noise of the party fades as my eyelids droop. I listen for Beck’s steady inhalations as my muscles gradually unlock.

I refuse to stay here.

There’s no way I’ll fall asleep.

He can’t keep me against my will. A little longer and I can slip out of his embrace.

I stay perfectly still, listening as his breathing becomes deep and rhythmic. For some reason, it calms me from the inside out.

All I need to do is wait.

Then I can…

Drift off to sleep, wrapped up in Beck’s embrace.

Chapter Three

Mia

Undiluted sunlight slants across my face, lighting the back of my eyelids and making it impossible to stay submerged in my cocoon. With a groan, I turn away from the brilliance and promptly come in contact with something solid and unyielding.