Crawford pins me with a heavy-lidded stare. “Dammit, woman. Why is your mattress so bouncy?”
That’s one way to start a conversation. I huff at him, tacking on an eye roll for good measure. “Didn’t hear any complaining when those springs were working in your favor.”
“No, you definitely couldn’t over all that screaming.” A low growl rolls out of him. “Kinda surprised your voice isn’t shot to shit.”
I feel my face go up in flames and fight the instinct to burrow under the covers. “It takes a lot more than that.” In reality, my vocal cords are rubbed raw and scratchy.
His brows shoot up. “I find that hard to believe.”
“You would.”
“Without a doubt.” Crawford rolls toward me, the comforter shifting to give me a peek I didn’t need.
The gleam in his greenish brown eyes reflects immense satisfaction. I’m sure mine mirror the same. He’s sleep rumpled, yet more attractive than any man should be. His hair is disheveled, much like the rest of him. Lines from the pillow crisscross his cheek, adding to the already angular edges of his scruffy jaw. Just gawking at him gets my engine purring again. Good grief, I should be more than sated. I’ve had more sex in the last eight hours than the past three years combined.
He gives me a lazy perusal, those hazel depths scorching a path along my body. I tremble as the embers of lust spark in my lower belly. In that moment, and not a second sooner, I become all too aware of my nakedness. With a yelp, I tug the sheet up to my neck.
A devious chuckle drips off his lips. “I’ve seen it all, wildcat. No reason to hide.”
I quirk a brow at the nickname, not entirely sure it’s warranted. The bite mark where his shoulder meets his neck says otherwise. Guess I’m not the only one with lingering evidence. “It’s morning.”
He glances at the window, catching the glowing outline that’s framing the blinds. “So it is.”
I tuck some tangled hair behind my ear. “I’m surprised you stayed.”
“You wore me out. No way was I getting on my bike after all that.” His soft expression oozes charm I’m certain he’s not aware makes him exactly my type. I could easily fall for him and reap the inevitable consequence for being reckless. Getting attached isn’t an option. I drop my gaze from the enchanting possibilities. My heart can’t withstand another fracture.
“I need to shower.”
“That almost sounds like an invitation,” he purrs.
“It’s not.”
He lets another rusty chuckle loose. The gritty sound tickles my exposed nerves. I curl my toes into the blanket so I don’t do something reckless, like straddle his face.
“Damn, are you always this snarky?”
I bristle at his implication. “No, this is only reserved for those deserving.”
He grunts. “I feel special.”
“You shouldn’t.”
He straightens, fixing me with a glare meant to intimidate. “Fuck, Keegan. What’s your deal?”
I grind my molars. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
Crawford shakes his head. “Try again. Even I know ‘fine’ does not mean fine.”
I open my mouth with a snappy retort, but think better of it. This is going nowhere, just as planned. “All right, whatever. Thanks for the, uh…”
“Sex?”
“Mh-hmm, exactly. It was great.”
He hooks a brow up at me. “Maybe we’ll do this again sometime.”
“It’s probably best if we don’t.”
A furrow lines his forehead. “Oh?”
“This was…fun. But it’s over, and we can’t let it happen again. I don’t want to give Millie another reason to get attached.”
“Ouch, Kee.”
I twist my lips to one side. “Now I’m Kee?”
A single shoulder lifts. “I’m good at dishing out nicknames. Who knew?”
“Not me, but that’s not surprising.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His tone clangs with the echo of going on the defense, but I ignore it.
“You’re one rung above a total stranger. I know next to nothing about you.”
“Why give anything away when I get nothing in return?”
I toss my hands up. “And that’s fine. I didn’t ask for details. We aren’t dating.”
“Thank fuck for that.”
A scream tickles the back of my throat. “But you’re still lying in my bed.”
“You’re kicking me out?” His expression is stony, cut marble and granite.
“This is my house.”
“Didn’t realize my welcome was worn out.”
I repeat my mantra. Remaining indifferent is vital. “One night, remember?”
“Trust me, I didn’t forget.”
“So, what’s the issue?”
“You’re trying to get rid of me.” He slaps a palm to his chest.
“Because this is what we agreed to. I can’t do a casual fling, Ford.”
“Never mentioned that.”
“Fine, hooking up, whatever you want to call it. I’m not looking to get involved with anyone, especially for random sex. I have Millie to think about. Things get messy.”
“I’m a sloppy loose end?”
“No, that’s why we tie it up right now.”
“Right, got it.” He rolls out of bed, stalking to his lump of clothes.
I swing my legs out from under the covers. “Am I the bad guy here?”
He widens his stance, naked and totally unashamed. “Nah, we’re square. Give and take. We can share the blame.”
A frosty chill zips through me when my feet land on the cold floor. “I’m confused. Why are you mad? I thought we had—”
“And that’s your problem. Assumptions ruin the best of intentions.”
“Do you regret this?” I motion between us.
He barely spares me a glance. “I do now.”
Within seconds, I can feel my self-preservation kick in. Fight or flight? I stand and snatch a discarded shirt, wrenching it over my head. The thin material does little to hide my modesty but anything is better than standing completely nude. Woodsy smoke and pine swirl around me, but the heady aroma is chased away by a cloud of red. “Nice to see you again, asshole. I was beginning to wonder when those true colors would bleed through.”
Crawford mocks a wince and clutches one of his
