The Locker Room(37)

“Felt stiff, wanted to loosen up a bit.” He shakes his shoulders. “I like your shampoo, smells all fruity and shit.”

“You used my soap?”

“And towel,” he says unapologetically.

Who is this guy?

I slowly sit up and rub my eyes with my hands, needing the bathroom immediately from all the water I drank last night. I throw the blankets off me and start to get off my high bed when Knox grabs my arm and helps me. I’m about to tell him I’m not a ninety-year-old, but when my feet hit the ground and I wobble, I’m grateful for the assist.

“Bathroom?”

“Yeah, but I can do that myself.” I laugh and pat his hand.

I quickly pee, brush my teeth, and give myself a brief once-over in my mirror. Silk pajama set, no bra, and bedhead . . . could be worse. No. He’s already seen worse. I tame my hair a little, pinch some color into my cheeks, and then walk into my bedroom where Knox is sitting on my mattress, hands behind him, propping him up. His eyes burn a trail up my body and stop directly at my chest.

My nipples are hard, I know they are, I can feel them pointing against the silk fabric of my camisole, but with zero shame, I walk toward him.

He licks his lips and sits up as I reach him, his eyes lazy, his hands falling to my hips.

I reach out and caress his cheek, his stubble rough against the palm of my hand, a delicious feeling I completely forgot about up until now.

How is that possible, to forget the feeling of a man’s coarse cheek under my touch? It should be something I crave, something I long for, but then again, Neil changed that. He changed everything about our relationship as we grew older. He took the simple things away from me like my right to touch him intimately. I tried, but toward the end he always pushed me away when I tried to hug him, or his kisses were barely a peck on my cheek if I was lucky.

I miss this, being intimate with another human without being overtly sexual.

“I’m sorry I ruined your plans last night.”

He wastes no time in pulling me between his legs, keeping me in place with his hands. He’s such a big man and since my bed is higher than normal to fit storage underneath, he’s looking down at me.

“You didn’t ruin everything. Plus, I can see perfectly down your shirt right now, which is a pleasant morning surprise.”

I roll my eyes and attempt to push away from him but instead he hops off the bed, picks me up, and carefully places me on the bed where he joins me, his large body eating up the entire mattress.

“Next time we spend the night together, it’ll be at my place because your bed is tiny.”

“You think there’s going to be another time?”

Lying on his side next to me, his upper half hovers over my body, deliciously trapping me in place.

His fingers trail up the side of my arm, a shiver spreading over my skin.

“There will be another time.”

“You’re so sure of yourself.”

“Babe, your nipples are so goddamn hard, so if that’s any indication, there will be a second time.”

My face flushes but I don’t let it deter me. “That’s just how my nipples are in the morning, excited for sunshine.”

He laughs. “Yeah, they’re not excited for anything else?” His fingers glide over my collarbone and I swear, my nipples grow even harder. Is that even possible?

“Nope,” I answer, even though it’s a weak nope from me having to catch my breath.

He lowers his head to mine, inches apart as his hand travels down my arm to the hem of my shirt. Not waiting for a go-ahead, his hand slips under my shirt, and his fingers spread over my stomach.

I suck in a sharp breath, and for some reason, my legs fall open. He’s nowhere near that area, but that doesn’t stop my body from reacting. A deep, needy throb starts to ache between my legs as his hand travels higher to my ribcage. I shift underneath him, realizing how much I want him to touch me, kiss me, do wicked things to my body, not even caring that my two best friends are a wall away.

“Do you want me to kiss you, Em?”

I should have guessed he’d come out and ask. He’s yet to be subtle since I’ve known him.

And yes, badly. I badly want him to kiss me, even though starting something with someone right now is not what I was planning on. I’m a woman, after all, and saying no to Knox is practically impossible, especially with his hand up my shirt and my body yearning for his touch.

“Kiss me?” I ask, my chest rising and falling at a faster rate. “Is that what friends do?”

I’m nervous.

I know I should say yes, I should pull his head down to mine and lock our lips, but this is the first guy I’m going to kiss other than Neil, and that’s huge. Am I ready for that big step? Am I ready to start something with someone who has taken over my thoughts this semester?

“You’re calling me your friend now?” His brows rise.

“Well, since you have your hand up my shirt, I’d say we’re at least friendly.”

He chuckles. “I like being known as your friend, Em.”

“Yeah?”

He nods. “You’re cool, one of the coolest chicks I know. It’s why I can’t seem to tear myself away.”

His confession makes my heart rate pick up. If I were honest, I like him as a friend too. I’ve found such ease in being around him, like we were meant to be in each other’s lives this entire time.