Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2)(7)

Just the opening I needed. I jumped up and sat down on the end of the couch and stretched my legs out in front of me.

“You don’t have to tell me twice. I was just being polite.”

Willow chuckled and brought a blanket over to the sofa with her. She didn’t sit at the opposite end which surprised me. Instead she sat down next to me just far enough away that our bodies didn’t touch and held up the blanket, “Wanna share?”

“Yeah,” I wasn’t the least bit cold but an offer to get under a blanket with Willow wasn’t something I was going to pass up.

“Alright,” she announced as she spread the cover out over both of us, “here we go.”

The dark room was illuminated by the television screen. The warmth from Willow’s body was so tempting. I wanted to close the distance and run my fingers through her hair. I’d been dying to see if it was as soft as it looked from the moment I’d opened the door last night to see her standing there in tears. As if reading my mind she scooted over toward me and laid her head on my shoulder.

“I hope you don’t mind but I’m a cuddler when I watch movies.”

I almost choked on my words. “Uh, no I don’t mind.”

Even though she’d closed the distance I forced my arm to remain on the back of the sofa and not find its way to her hair.

“I didn’t even get a romantic comedy. I thought about you when I rented it and you don’t appear to be a romantic comedy type of guy. I went for Sci-Fi instead.”

With her snuggled up against me on the couch I would watch the damn Princess Diaries I abhorred since my sister had forced me to watch it over and over when she was little.

“Sci-fi is good,” I assured her knowing I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything with the sweet smell that reminded me of honeysuckles wafting up from her hair.





Chapter Three





Willow



“Low,” Marcus voice whispered in my ear. I snuggled closer to the sound and breathed deeply. He smelled so good I wanted to curl up inside his clothes.

“Low, you need to wake up,” his voice said a little louder. I stretched and opened my eyes. It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. But the first thing I saw was the very defined six pack of Marcus Hardy’s stomach peeking out from underneath the dark blue t-shirt he was wearing. My next realization was my head was in his lap.

“I’m sorry I had to wake you but it’s after two and I figured you might want to get to bed before Cage gets home.”

The warm cotton of his shirt was clasp tightly in my fist. I stared at my hand and quickly released the grip I’d had on his shirt. What the heck? Had I been trying to undress him in my sleep? God, I hoped not.

I sat up and a yawn escaped.

“I’m sorry I fell asleep on you,” I mumbled feeling my cheeks grow warm.

He grinned and his green eyes twinkled with mischief, “Don’t be. I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a night this much.”

I ducked my head and bit my lip to keep a silly grin from breaking out on my face.

“Me too, well except when I fell asleep.”

His deep chuckle sent a warmth through me I didn’t recognize. It wasn’t something I was familiar with but it was nice. More than nice. It could be addicting.

“You’d better get to bed. You’ve got that early class,” he said softly.

I nodded then stood up and made my way to Cage’s bedroom door. Turning back before I disappeared inside I called out, “Good night.”

“Good night Low,” his deep voice rumbled in the darkness.





“Hey baby, I’m home and I’m clean. I scrubbed in the shower and used half a bottle of mouth wash,” Cage murmured as he crawled into bed beside me. I forced open my sleepy eyes to see the sunrise on the horizon. I nodded and rolled over to get another hour of sleep before I needed to get up.

“I’m sorry I stayed out all night. I didn’t mean to,” he whispered reaching out and clasping my hand in his. I didn’t allow him to snuggle up to me in bed. It never ended well. He’d get a hard on and start trying to feel me up. We’d tried a few times and I always ended up frustrated with him and threatening to sleep on the floor. I didn’t want things to get heated with us. Cage was my family. He’d never be anything more.

“S’okay,” I muttered

“Did you have a good evening? I saw you made pizza and left me a few slices in the fridge.”

I nodded against the pillow.

“Did Marcus eat with you?”

I nodded again.

“He isn’t like us Low. You know that right.”

I knew what Cage was saying. Marcus was out of my league. He didn’t want me thinking there could ever be anything between me and his roommate. I was low class. Marcus was a rich kid.

“I’m not stupid Cage.”

“No you’re f*cking brilliant. And a guy like Marcus would never get just how f*cking perfect and brilliant you are. He’d never see past the other stuff.”

I wanted to be mad at him but I knew he was right. If Marcus ever saw what I came from, what I was, he’d never give me the time of day.

“I know,” I whispered into the dark.

“I love you Low”