True Colors (The Masks #1)(47)

I was in Eric’s arms. I was safe.

With that knowledge, I drifted off to sleep.





Chapter 21




My head was aching as my mind worked towards wakefulness the next morning. Hands gripping me and hurting me slammed into my brain and I came to with a jerk. The arm around my waist squeezed tight.

“You okay?” And the voice behind me made my insides sing.

He’d stayed. All night, he’d slept beside me.

My hero. I internally giggled at my swooning self. In spite of yesterday’s events, I now felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

“My silver lining,” I muttered.

“What?” Eric’s head popped up. He rested his stubbly chin lightly against my ear. Rolling over, I ran my fingers down his perfectly carved face and grinned.

“You’re my silver lining,” I whispered again, bringing my lips to his.

Morning kissing is the best way to wake up. I’d never done it before, but it didn’t take more than a micro-second to come to this conclusion. Eric’s tongue wrapped around mine as his arms slid up my back. I flung my leg over his hip, pulling him closer, relishing the feeling of his firm body against mine.

Finding an opening, I wriggled my fingers beneath his T-shirt, spreading my hand flat against his back and gliding over his skin. Each curve of his strong muscles felt divine, and I was once again struck by the unbelievable notion that Eric Shore wanted me. With a soft groan, he pushed me onto my back, his weight pressing me into the bed. Running his hand from my knee to my thigh, he cupped my butt before sliding his hand beneath my shirt. His lips worked down my chin and over my neck, sending spikes of pleasure running through my system.

I held him tightly to me, lost in the intoxicating dance. My temperature was rapidly soaring as our breath mingled together, our kissing growing urgent with our mounting desire. I started to tug at his shirt, wanting easier access to his amazing skin...his entire body. But then he jerked and pulled away.

I felt naked as he leapt off me. He ran a hand through his hair as he breathed in through his nostrils. The light brown tendrils fell around his face and he tucked them behind his ear.

“I have to um...” He pointed behind him. “Mind if I take a shower?”

My confused frown must have been interpreted as a yes, because he spun and left my room. Thirty seconds later I could hear the water running.

What the hell?

I frowned, slowly getting off the bed. I rubbed my slightly tender stomach that I had blissfully forgotten about, feeling fragile and worse for wear. Padding down to the second bathroom, I braved a look in the mirror and was pleased to see the grazing on my face was quite minor. My skin was a little puffy and there was definitely a bruise, but it was pale and would hopefully fade quickly.

My fingers shook as I ran the tips over my wound, but it wasn’t because of yesterday. It was because my hot next-door neighbor just leapt off my bed and looked as though the last thing on earth he wanted to do was have sex with me. The thought was a depressing lump in my gut. I clutched my shirt, noticing how dirty it was. Whipping it off, I threw it into the laundry as I walked past, unzipping my fly on the way to my room. I wiggled out of my jeans and was tempted to waltz into the bathroom in my underwear just to gauge Eric’s reaction, but I didn’t want to see the look on his face. Would it be disgust?

Fighting tears, I reached for a comfy pair of sweatpants and my pink Roxy T-shirt. They were both a little tatty, but I didn’t care. Eric obviously didn’t want me, so it’s not like I needed to dress to impress.

I was thumping my way down the stairs when the front door jiggled open. I paused at the entrance to the living area to see who it was. My heart tripped and stumbled as I wondered if someone was trying to break in. I gripped the corner of the wall, ready to scream...until I saw my older brother walk in.

“Seth? What are you doing here?” My insides skittered. My brother, who was old enough to be my father, was a straight arrow. His perfectly cut blond hair and dark blue eyes always took in everything. He was basically a replica of my father...and he would so not be cool with a guy he didn’t know sleeping over at his kid sister’s place. I crossed my arms in an attempt to quell my jitters.

“Hey, sis. Just checking in.”

I rolled my eyes and blocked his way before he could come any further into the house. He didn’t really want to be here, but he felt obliged. I could read it on his face. He was a busy guy with kids of his own; he didn’t want responsibility for his kid sister as well, but he was a good boy and if Dad had asked him to do it, he was going to follow through.

“Did Dad send you?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

He grinned. “I promised him I would, okay. Give me a break.” His forehead wrinkled. “What happened to your face?”

“Um...” Brushing the back of my hand over it, I went for casual. “Got hit with a ball at school. Didn’t even see it coming.”

“Huh.” Seth nodded. “Sounds like you.”

“Thanks.” I scowled. “Look, I’m fine. The house is fine. Nothing’s on fire. Would you just go please?”

His eyes narrowed. I noticed how his wrinkles were starting to show. I guessed he was turning 40 next year.

I lifted my chin to counter his suspicious glare.

“What’s the rush? Why do you want to get me out of here so badly?” He looked over my shoulder, down the hallway. I followed his gaze, feigning confusion. “Whose Jeep’s in the driveway?”