The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2)(40)

I reached up to move his arm so I could get up and go use the bathroom.

“Don’t. Please, just let me hold you a little bit longer,” he mumbled into my hair.

“You’re awake,” I replied

“Mmmmhmmm and I’m enjoying myself. Please, just a little bit longer.”

I smiled for the first time since the Ashton incident.

“You can still enjoy yourself without me,” I teased.

He froze for a second before snuggling even closer to me and moving his hand so that his palm covered my bare stomach where my tank top had inched up in my sleep.

“I can’t enjoy it without you. You’re what I’m enjoying,” he whispered in a deep sleepy voice as he took a small nip at my earlobe.

“Ah,” I squealed and he chuckled, sending chill bumps over my arms from the warmth of his breath tickling my ear and neck.

“I missed you so much,” he replied in a more serious tone.

I didn’t need to point out I’d been with him for three days. I knew what he meant. Mentally and emotionally, I’d been checked out yesterday. My chest didn’t ache this morning and I could breathe deeply again. Maybe it was the fact Sawyer’s big arms were wrapped around me giving me a false sense of safety.

“Can I go to the restroom, please?” I asked, tickling his arm with my nails.

“Will you promise to come back?”

I had planned on jumping in the shower again and getting ready. However, as much as I hated to admit it, I’d missed him too.

“Yes, if that’s what you want.”

“I want,” he murmured in my ear and pressed a soft kiss to my temple.

Sawyer

“Bring the small bottle of mouthwash with you,” I called out when I heard the bathroom door open.

Lana walked around the bed and handed me the bottle of mouthwash. “Here ya go.”

I opened it and took a swig. Then swished it around some before swallowing it.

“You did not just swallow that!”

Grinning, I reached up, grabbed her tiny waist and pulled her down on top of me.

“I believe I did. I probably need mouth to mouth to save me from the poisoning,” I teased leaning up and taking a nip at her bottom lip.

“Mouth to mouth won’t save you from poisoning. You need your stomach pumped,” she informed me as she pressed a kiss to the side of my mouth.

“Hmmmm... well that sounds like a lot of work. I’ll think about it later.” I slipped my hands into her messy curls and brought her mouth down to mine. Just as she opened her mouth to let me inside, Lana’s phone started singing.

She pulled back from the kiss. I needed this kiss. I needed reassurance I hadn’t lost this... whatever it was we had between us. “Don’t answer it,” I begged, reaching up to kiss her chin. Laughing softly she curled back into my arms and let me get a taste of her minty toothpaste flavored mouth. But the minute the ringing stopped it started up again. Lana lifted her head and glanced over at her phone with a frown. I fought the urge to grab the phone and throw it against the wall to shut it up.

“It might be an emergency,” she said and I loosened my hold on her and let her crawl off me and check her phone. The tense expression that came over her face had me sitting up and checking to see who was bothering her. Because it obviously wasn’t a welcome call.

Mom - flashed across the screen.

Lana slipped out of bed, “I need to take this. She’ll just keep calling until I do.”

“Hello Mom,” her voice sounded tired instead of worried by her mother’s determination to get her on the phone. Lana walked around the bed and headed for the bathroom. Once the door clicked into place, I threw the pillow across the room and muttered a curse. She wouldn’t be shutting me out if I’d been there for her. I was willing to bet she’d been going to tell me what crap her parents were putting her though the other night. I wouldn’t have to worry about how to fix it. I’d know what needed to be done.

“No MOM!” I heard her raised voice and I jumped out of bed to go listen at the door. I was invading her privacy but she was upset. I had my reasons. It was a damn good reason.

“I don’t want you to call him. I don’t want you to ask him. He’s moved on, Mom. He’s getting himself a brand new family now and we are his past. Just let this go. I’ll figure this all out. Just leave it alone. Please.”

Was she talking about her Dad?

“Mom, I’m an adult. You can’t continue to try to make all my decisions for me. I get to make those now. So please, back off.”

I backed away from the door and walked over to the window overlooking the mountains we’d left last night. Why did I care so much about finding out her problems? It wasn’t like we were an actual couple. I tensed up as that realization came over me. I had no claim on Lana. If Ethan or anyone else asked her out again, I couldn’t stop her from saying yes. Someone else could touch the soft smooth skin on her arms, her thighs, her stomach, her... oh, hell no. I needed to fix this and fast. This was more than a fling now. Sure, we were going our separate ways in August but right now, I didn’t want to share. I wouldn’t be able to share. I was pretty damn sure I’d rip another guy’s arms off his body if I saw him touch her.

The bathroom door opened and Lana stepped out. A forced smile touched her lips as her eyes met mine.