Overnight Sensation(63)

I really hope Silas isn’t home yet. We weren’t exactly quiet.

“You told me that men always treat you too carefully. Because they’re intimidated by your daddy.”

“It’s true.” I sigh, trying to slow down my breathing.

“Nah,” Jason says with a chuckle. “I think they’re intimidated by you.”

“What?” I gasp. “That makes no sense. I’m not intimidating.”

He rolls over to look at me with those big brown eyes. They’re full of warmth. “See, your fearlessness is a real turn-on for me,” he says, reaching out to wrap a lock of my damp hair around his finger. “But some men can’t handle that. It makes them wonder if they’re enough.”

“But you can? Your exceptional ego can handle it?”

He grins. “Most of the time.”

“I don’t know if I buy it,” I confess. Still, it’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.

Jason’s smile doesn’t dim. I’ve never met anyone like him. My other boyfriends always wanted me to agree with them. Jason seems just as happy when I argue. Now he reaches out and pulls me onto his chest. He smooths my hair back with one hand and lets out a contented sigh.

I never expected him to be cuddly, damn it. It’s nice. I like it a little too much.

“My ego didn’t like one thing, though,” he says. “What’s this bullshit you were spinning earlier about spending the night in Bayer’s bed?”

“Ah.” I’d meant for him to get the wrong idea, and I guess it worked. “It’s true that I was going to sleep there. But Bayer wouldn’t have been in the bed. He can’t climb up the loft stairs, so he’s sleeping on his sofa. I should text him and see if he needs anything.”

I sit up to look around for my phone.

“Not yet. Don’t go.” Jason pulls me right back down again. It’s gentle, but still bossy.

“You just manhandled me,” I complain from a comfortable spot on his pec. My fingers find his happy trail, and I trace it softly.

“We’re still naked, so I’m still in charge,” he says, stroking a hand down my shoulder. “Now tell me about the rest of your week.”

“Oh, it was just the usual. Working at the rink. Looking for cheap apartments and grocery shopping for hockey players. Oh! Listen—I had an idea for Silas’s birthday next month.”

“Time to hire the strippers!” His perfect abs bounce with a chuckle.

“No!” I argue. “My idea is so much better.”

“I’m only kidding. When it’s someone’s birthday, we usually go out for a ridiculously pricey dinner and make a rookie pay. But what’s your idea?”

“Well, my plan is still pricey. I saw that Delilah Spark is playing Madison Square Garden the night before his birthday. And the team should be flying back from Seattle that morning.”

Jason cackles. “You think we should buy him a ticket to her show?”

“No, we should buy a bunch of tickets. Let’s get a block of them—maybe even VIP access. It would be a hoot.”

“Holy shit! If Silas met Delilah Spark he’d wet himself.”

“It would be a really cool gift. It’s not often when you can give a grown man something that would make him so happy.”

“That is true.” Jason puts his lips against my cheekbone and gives me a slow kiss. “You made me happier tonight then I’ve been in a long time.”

My heart gives a stunned little flutter. “I don’t know what to say about that.”

“Just say you’re happy, too.”

“I am happy,” I say slowly. “But what happened to Mr. One Time Only? I don’t know what to think.”

“You don’t trust me,” he says.

“Would you?”

“Well, I’m pretty great. You just need more convincing. Now, how do we get these concert tickets? Won’t it be sold out?”

“There’s a price for everything.”

“Ah. And I’m sure I’ll be paying it. Do I actually have to go to this concert? Her music is not my taste.”

“Someone has to go. And why not you?”

“Let’s make a deal,” he says.

“What kind of deal?”

“I’ll go to the Delilah Spark concert and sit in the front row. I’ll give her a standing ovation after every song. But only if you’ll be my date.”

“But…” Did he even do the math? “It’s a month away.”

“I heard you the first time. You and I are going to be a thing.”

“A thing? What’s that?”

“It’s whatever we want it to be. It’s our thing.”

“And our thing lasts a month?”

“At least.” He shrugs maddeningly. “A month from now I’ll still want you in my bed. Isn’t this nice?”

It is, damn it. But I don’t know if I can have an ill-defined relationship with Jason Castro. “I didn’t agree to date you yet.”

“You will.” He says this like it’s not infuriating. “Hey—did you get those cookies I asked for on my shopping list?”