The Accidentals(50)

“You’re staring at me,” he says. “Like you never saw me before.”

“Maybe if you put on a shirt I wouldn’t stare.” It embarrasses me to say it. But it’s here with us in the room—the question of what will happen between us now.

Haze picks up my hand from where it lies on the couch, and then he brings it up to his bare chest and holds it there. His eyes lock onto mine. Then he leans toward me, and I watch the approach of his mouth as if in slow motion.

When his lips connect with the corner of my mine, they’re softer than I remembered. His kiss lingers there, while I feel my heartbeat in my throat.

“Mmm…” He sighs, and I get chills. Everywhere.

Nervous, I close my eyes and focus on the warmth in his hands, which are pulling me into his chest.

“Rae…” His lips move along my jaw to my ear. When I bury my face in his neck, he smells like Haze. He smells like home.

His big hand lifts my chin, and his mouth fits against mine. His kiss is slow, like he knows I need to warm up to the idea.

And I do. Soon enough I’m leaning in for more of that affection. As his kisses build, I bask in the steadiness of his arms and the warmth of his body. He pulls me into his lap, and we keep going.

Until someone knocks on the door.

I lurch backward as panic sets in. Maybe someone did report Haze’s presence in my dorm room? My eyes fly to the clock. It’s ten thirty. Way past the legal hour for a boy to visit.

The knock comes again, and Haze eases me off his lap. Then—having more experience breaking rules than I ever will—he stands up and slips stealthily into my bedroom.

I get up and run to the door, my heart in my mouth. “Who is it?”

“Jenna from downstairs.”

Okay, calm down. At least it isn’t the dean standing there. I open the door. “What’s up?”

My curly-haired neighbor drops her voice. “Do you have a shot glass we could borrow?”

It takes my freaked-out brain a moment to process the question. “You mean, for alcohol?”

She gives me the side-eye. “You know another use for it?”

“Sorry,” I say quickly, feeling like a giant dork. “I don’t have one.”

“Ah, well. We’re playing quarters if you want to come downstairs.”

“Thanks, but I’m, uh, really tired. Going to bed.”

“Suit yourself.” She turns away to look elsewhere for a shot glass.

I lock the door and breathe a sigh of relief.

When I go into my bedroom, I expected to find Haze laughing about that bit of drama. But he’s stretched out on my bed looking exhausted.

“You look beat,” I say, patting his knee. “You should get some sleep.”

“I haven’t stretched out in two days.”

“Get comfortable,” I urge him. “I’m going to get ready for bed.”

I take my nightie into the bathroom in the hallway. I change and brush my teeth.

When I get back to my room, Haze has taken my advice. He’s lying in my bed looking cozy. “Come here,” he says, looking at me with heavily lidded eyes. “Let me hold you.”

I’d assumed I’d sleep in Aurora’s bed. But I’m not good at saying no. And besides, he looks so inviting lying there. I slide into the bed with him and put my head on his chest. Our bare feet tangle. He’s stripped down to boxers, his body warm and hard under mine.

“This is why I came,” he says thickly. “To hold you and make sure you’re all right.”

“I’m all right.” Mostly.

“After my dad died, nothing was all right for a while. Wasn’t sure I’d ever be okay. Didn’t want you to feel that way.”

My heart gives a happy squeeze, and I snuggle closer, while his arms hold me tightly.

“Goodnight, honey,” he says. And then he falls asleep.





When morning comes, I can’t wake up. Somehow Haze extracts himself from the bed without dumping me on the floor. And the empty bed becomes so gloriously roomy that I roll over and keep sleeping.

When Haze returns, he fits his warm body against my back. I’m barely conscious as he begins dropping kisses on my neck. My shoulder. My jaw.

Wakefulness arrives slowly as his hands began to skim down my hip and around to my belly. His lips are soft and teasing on the tender skin just below my ear.

“Rae,” he breathes, and I turn my face toward the sound. He kisses me, his tongue minty as it sweeps over mine. I break out in goosebumps as he nudges me to lie flat on the bed, then covers me with his body.

Those dark eyes look down at me so lovingly. Then they fall closed as he kisses me again.

A flash of heat washes through me as his mouth connects with mine. We kiss, and for a couple of minutes I let myself enjoy it. But then his hand wanders under my nightie, his fingers skimming my tummy. When they reach the elastic of my panties, Haze tugs them down.

The next kiss seems to deprive me of too much oxygen. He lowers his hips onto mine, and suddenly everything is way too serious. His erection pokes me in the belly, and I’m not having fun anymore.

“Haze.” I turn my face away from his to get some air. “We have to stop.”

“Why?” he asks, his hand skimming up my ribcage, then palming my breast. “Is there someone else?”