Playing Patience

Page 46

I didn’t think he would, but he pulled his jeans down, revealing a pair of black boxers with guitars all over them. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
“More guitars?” I asked.
“Yes, more guitars.” He mocked me. “Do you want a T-shirt and some shorts?
The thought of sleeping in Zeke’s clothes warmed me and I shook my head yes.
He went over to his dresser, pulled out a black T-shirt and a pair of gray boxers, and then tossed them to me.
“I won’t peek,” he said as he dropped to the pallet of blankets on the floor and attempted to get comfortable on his back.
“Why can’t I just go in the bathroom?”
“You might wake up my dad.”
“Oh, okay. You promise you won’t peek?”
I didn’t really mind the idea of him seeing me naked and that freaked me out a little.
“If I wanted to see you naked, then I’d just get you naked.” He yawned and threw his arm across his eyes.
There was no way I could respond to that. It bothered me that he didn’t want to see me naked, but at the same time, I didn’t want him to try and get me naked. I could say all day that he wouldn’t be able to get me out of my clothes, but something told me I’d eat those words if he ever tried.
I turned my back to him and peeled off my top. I thanked every god I could think of that I’d worn a bra even though Megan swore I didn’t need one. I snatched up the shirt and pulled it over my head. I peeked behind me to see his arm still over his eyes, so I unbuttoned my jeans and pushed them down. They were tight, so tight I couldn’t get them off as fast I wanted. Once they were down around my ankles, I bent over and pulled them off. Zeke’s boxers slid over my panties as I threw them on like I was dressing for a fire.
The shirt almost reached my knees when I tugged on it. I turned quickly to turn off the light and ran right into Zeke. Staring at his naked chest, I sucked in a deep breath. When I exhaled, I could feel my heated breath against my cheeks as it reflected off of his skin. I was so close, too close. My usual reaction would have been to jerk away immediately, but my palms landed on his hard pecks and they stayed there as if they’d melted into his hot flesh—not because I was feeling him up, but because I was so shocked by being this close to a naked man and it not being a tragedy.
I should’ve been appalled. I should’ve been thoroughly disgusted given my history with the opposite sex, but I was none of those things. Just like in his car when he touched my leg, my body buzzed and hummed and physically I wanted to mold myself to him and swim in his warmth. However, the mentally disturbed parts of me were still present and making themselves known in the back of my mind.
I felt his heartbeat racing beneath my palm. Looking up at him through my lashes, I was struck once again by how handsome he was. He peered down at me with his steely gaze that I was now accustomed to and the air around us crackled and popped. I knew I needed to say something or do something, but my legs felt boneless and I couldn’t seem to find my voice. When I finally did, I said the first thing that popped in my head.
“You promised.” It was barely a whisper.
My body tensed against my will when I felt his hands slide up my sides. The corner of his mouth tilted up and his small smile tugged at his lip ring. His dark eyes could see inside me. I was almost positive of that and it freaked me out more than him touching me.
I held my breath as he leaned his face closer to mine. Technically, I’d never been kissed and secretly I was hoping Zeke would be my first kiss, but instead of pressing his lips to mine, he brought his mouth to my ear.
“I told you I was a bad guy. You can’t trust guys like me.” His deep voice worked its way down the back of my neck, leaving goose bumps along the way.
He told me before that I shouldn’t trust him, but the funny part was that I did. I don’t know why I did; I just did.
“I trust you.” My voice sounded foreign to me, like I had something stuck in the back of my throat.
“If you knew what I was thinking you wouldn’t. My mind is filthy. I’m not sure you could handle it.”
He was right. I probably couldn’t handle it, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to know what the hell he was thinking.
“I can.” My voice shook like a scared little girl’s.
“Is that so?” he asked as he nuzzled my neck.
I started to get jittery. My insides were shaking so hard and I couldn’t decide if it was from fear or excitement.
“Remember the other day in my car, when you told me you’d let me do things?” His tongue flicked over my ear lobe and I let a soft hiss slip through my teeth.