Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)(43)

Adrian led me up the stairs just as he had away from the bar, his solid arm secured around my waist. I took the opportunity to breathe in his scent once more.

“Mmm.”

“What?” He looked at me from the corner of his espresso eyes.

Crap, I said that out loud? “Nothing.” I let my head rest on his shoulder.

“Hold on as tight as you can.” He said gently, as if he was talking to a child which, really, is how I was behaving.

When we reached my door, I pushed my clutch in to his stomach, his rock hard stomach. The door graciously supported me as Adrian unlocked it. He resumed his hold on me as he opened the door and flipped on the light.

“Thanks. You’re sweet,” I slurred into his ear as he set my heels by the door.

He walked me over to the couch and guided me down before heading to the kitchen. He returned with a large glass of water and sat down next to me.

“Drink this, ya drunk,” Adrian teased as I took the water from him. I rolled my eyes and took a huge gulp.

“Why are you being so nice?” I demanded, setting the glass down.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” He seemed shocked by my question.

“I don’t know. I was just prepared for the smug bastard I worked you out to be in my head.” What little conversational filter I carried was long gone.

Adrian laughed and shook his head, looking at the floor.

“Smug bastard, huh? Well, I guess I deserve that after tracking you down and assuming you’d want to meet me for a drink.” He left his forearms on his knees and looked up at me, his face unreadable.

“That’s right you deserve it. Especially when you tell me you really loved me five years ago. Why would you say that?” I guzzled more water but still felt incredibly drunk.

“Because it’s true. And, I panicked. When I talked to Cavanaugh . . .” He stopped himself. What is it with these two and using each other’s’ last names only?

“When you talked to Bo, what?” Bo. See, filter gone.

“I think he likes you, Ember.” His eyes squared in complete seriousness.

“Do you now? And what would make you say something like that?”

Besides the fact you’ve had song sex, real sex, and he feels like he’s known you for . . .never mind.

“I could tell tonight. He had this look on his face when you and Monica tore out of Finnegan’s, and again when he saw you at the other place.” Adrian struggled to find the words.

“It’s like he was protective of you, like he was seeing the stars for the first time, or something.” His mouth took on a disappointed frown.

“When the hell did you become an expert face reader, and poet, Adrian ‘all the ladies want me’ Turner?” I was anxious for his answer.

“Because, November, it’s the same look I saw when I looked in the mirror every single day that I was with you.”

Oh.

“Adrian, I . . .”

“Come on, you need to get to bed.” He stood quickly and held out his hand.

I held his hand all the way to my bedroom and, for a second, it felt like the old “us.” Unexpectedly, he turned toward the window as I unabashedly took off my pants and crawled into my bed.

“Nothing you haven’t seen before, Turner,” I deadpanned. He didn’t respond. When I drew the covers up, he turned around with his hands in his pockets.

“You’re so drunk. I don’t feel comfortable leaving, Ember.” The poor boy looked tortured.

“So don’t,” I yawned and rolled over.

I patted the side of the bed next to me, and he obliged. Adrian removed his shoes, and nothing more, before climbing in to my bed and folding his hands behind his head. Instinctively, I rolled over and nuzzled into his chest. He sighed a conflicted huff, reached down, and stroked my hair. I suddenly wished Bo was with me, and I was again mad at him for not being there.

I clumsily propped myself up on one elbow and looked into Adrian’s eyes. The sexual tension between us was as palpable and undeniable as ever. The intensity of the moment overtook me; I leaned in, my lips reaching for his.

“Ember . . . Adrian pressed on my shoulder, stopping my downward motion.

“What?” I said rather petulantly.

“You’re drunk. Drunker than I ever remember seeing you. I can’t do that to you, and I can’t let you do it to yourself.”

His words were rather sobering, and my soul pulled itself out of the dark hole it had fallen into and mouthed thank you. Feeling only slightly defeated, I resumed my nuzzling of his chest; this I would not regret in the morning.

“Thank you.” I smiled up at him.

“For what?”

“Taking care of me tonight.” Sleep fell heavy on my eyes.

“Always.” He kissed the top of my head as I drifted off to sleep.





Chapter Fourteen

“Ow. What the . . . ? Ow.” I pulled the blanket down from my face, only to return it immediately at the brightness of the sun.

My memories of last night were thoroughly clouded. I recalled everything in precise detail up until the point Monica and I saw the guys walk into Lost Dog. From that point on it was just flashes of liquor and Lil’ Jon.

“How are you feeling?” A deep voice whispered from above my head, scaring the hell out of me.