Playing for Keeps (Neighbor from Hell #1)(23)

“Nope, a man. Seems the guy is rather desperate to get his son into Harvard.”

She laughed softly. “Obviously.” She yawned loudly. “I’m off to bed. Goodnight.”

“Me too. Goodnight,” he said as they walked along the small patch of grass between their properties. Just before she veered off to the right he put his arm around her shoulders and steered her off towards his house.

For the last three nights they’d slept at her house. It wasn’t that he missed his bed. He just wanted to see if the bed made the difference or if it was Haley. Plus, he’d been imagining her in his bed all day. Whenever they turned sexual he forced his mind out of the gutter. It was becoming more and more difficult as time went by.

He’d never had a female friend before and this level of intimacy was new and a little frightening for him. He made himself a promise today. He would get her into his bed and if he didn’t sleep as well as he did in her bed or that hotel bed he would go out and buy a bed matching hers and the problem would be solved. If he still slept like a baby with her then…..well, he didn’t really want to think about that just yet. He was pretty sure part of the problem was sex.

Maybe he’d go and get laid and then see if he slept as well with Haley snuggling him all night. Part of him was scared that it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference what he did. Haley was quickly becoming his world and for some strange reason it that was fine with him, hence the reason he was scared shitless.

They didn’t say anything as they walked into his house. He could tell she was nervous. Hell, he was nervous. He’d never had a woman in his bed. It didn’t matter that there wouldn’t be any sex involved. This was a big step for him. He didn’t even know if he could tolerate having Haley in his bed. Every time the panic started to surface he shoved it back down. He knew if he couldn’t handle it the he could make some excuse and they’d go back to her bed. With that in mind he led her into his room.

Still neither spoke as he handed her one of his old favorite tee shirts. She gave him a shy smile and disappeared into his bathroom. He pulled his shoes off and waited for her to come out. He heard his shower turn on and he gritted his teeth as a wave of lust poured over him.

He frowned down at the rather uncomfortable tent in his pants. “Stop causing problems.” It didn’t listen of course. It never did where Haley was concerned. He kept telling himself that eventually his body would come to accept that Haley was just a friend.

“All yours,” Haley said softly as she stepped out of the bathroom ten minutes later wearing his tee shirt. The hem of the shirt ended just above the knee giving the illusion that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. He swallowed. Hard.

He nodded woodenly and walked past her to the bathroom where he proceeded to take an ice cold shower. As he was drying off he spotted her little glasses folded on his sink counter. He picked them up and smiled as he put them back. They looked like they belonged there.

The bedroom light was already out by the time he stepped out of the bathroom. Light streaming in from the street illuminated Haley. She lay on her back on the right side of the bed waiting for him. He walked over to her side of the bed and raised the covers. Without a word he climbed onto the bed and slowly lay on top of her so that his lower stomach rested between her legs, keeping his errant erection away from her as best he could. She opened her legs wider to cradle him.

Jason laid his head between her br**sts and closed his eyes releasing a breath of content. She felt so good, so right. After a moment’s hesitation he felt her move. He wasn’t sure if she was about to shove him off or hit him. He was taking liberties in their sleeping arrangement, but he couldn’t help it. He needed her so badly.

Instead of shoving him away she wrapped one arm around his shoulders while she gently ran her fingers through his hair. That’s how he fell asleep in the cradle of the woman he trusted and cared about the most in the world. It was absolutely perfect.

Chapter 10

"No! I'm not going and you can't make me!" Haley said as she tightened her grip on the edge of the kitchen sink.

"Haley,-"

"I'm not going!"

Jason tried not to smile as he placed his hand on Haley's round little bottom, but failed miserably.

She went completely still.

"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded as she tried to shift away from his hand.

"If you don't let go of the sink and get your ass in the car in thirty seconds you'll leave me with no choice but to spank you," he said, enjoying having his hand on her ass more than he should, but clearly she left him with very little choice in the matter.

Sure, he could easily pick her up and throw her over his shoulder, but where was the fun in that?

"You wouldn't," she said through clenched teeth, glaring over her shoulder at him.

He squeezed her ass.

She gasped, jumping away from him and ran towards the front door. "Bastard!" she yelled over her shoulder before throwing the door open and leaving.

Jason followed her at a leisurely pace, whistling happily, half hoping that she refused to go a half dozen more times before he got her in the car. He stepped out of her house, locking the door behind him, and nearly groaned in disappointment when he spotted her waiting for him in his car.

Damn.

There went his plans for her ass.