"It's not that cold."
He gives me a look that says we both know that's a lie.
"Okay, it's cold but I have the new sweatshirt you gave me. I'll wear that."
"You're not going," he says, walking to his dresser. "Take the bed. It's yours." He takes out a t-shirt and puts it on, then comes over to me. "If you need extra blankets, just let me know."
"I'm not—"
"You need to sleep," he says, taking my arm and walking me to the bed. "You can barely keep your eyes open."
"Same for you." I sit on the bed, already loving the feel of it. The firm mattress topped with some kind of soft squishy topper. The down comforter. The soft sheets.
"I'll sleep on the couch." He stands over me, smiling. "Do I need to tuck you in?"
"No." I look down at the white sheets and feel dirty just sitting on them. "I'll just sleep on top. I don't want to get your sheets dirty. My clothes are...well, they haven't been washed for awhile."
He holds his hand out. "Give them to me. I'll put them in the washer."
"I can't. I won't have anything to wear."
"Go in my dresser and take whatever you want. I'll wait downstairs."
He's gone before I can figure out what to do. I decide to do as he suggested and find something else to put on. I open one of his drawers and find a stack of t-shirts. I pull one out and quickly change out of my clothes. The t-shirt is so big it hangs down to my knees, making it more like a nightshirt.
"Done yet?" Miles calls out from below. I can't see him so he must be in the kitchen, which is right below the bedroom.
"Yeah. I'm done."
"I'll be right up."
I gather my dirty clothes and wonder if I should add my underwear. Washing it in the sink, I never feel like it gets very clean. I hear Miles walking downstairs and quickly slip off my panties and hide them in my dirty clothes.
"Here you go," I say, handing him the clothes as he reaches the top of the stairs.
"Anything else? This isn't very much for a load."
"That's all I brought. If you have stuff of your own to add, go ahead."
He goes back downstairs and moments later I hear the washer running.
"Need anything else?" he asks, appearing in the bedroom again. I'm now snuggled in his bed, lying on the soft sheets, under the warm comforter.
"I'm good," I say, smiling as I pull the comforter over me. "I like your bed."
He chuckles. "I'm glad."
"Wake me up when you need to go. I'll get out of here."
"Where am I going?"
"To the bar. To see Giselle."
He walks over to the bed and sits beside me. "Raine, I'm not going to the bar."
"Why? Because of me? Because I'm staying here?"
"No. Well, yes, that's part of the reason. But even if you weren't here, I wouldn't go. I'm not really friends with Devin, or the other guys at the office. I get along with them at work but they're not the type of people I'd want to hang out with outside of work."
"What about Giselle? Don't you want to at least go there and have a drink with her? See if there's something there?"
"There's nothing there. I already went out with her."
"You did?" I sit up. "When?"
"We had lunch last week. It wasn't planned. We just happened to be at the same restaurant and she asked if she could sit with me."
"And what happened?"
He shrugs. "We just had lunch and talked. I thought I made it clear to her I wasn't interested but I guess not if she's wanting to meet up at the bar tonight."
"Why don't you like her?"
"Because I—" He stops and takes a breath. "I just didn't feel anything for her."
"But you don't know really know her. You should give it more time. Go out with her again."
"Why are you trying to set me up?"
"I'm not. I just think you need more time before deciding if you like a person."
"I don't need time. I know right away." He pulls the comforter over me and I lay back down. "Get some sleep."
He gets up to leave and my heart jerks forward, like it's reaching for him, trying to get him back. I want it to stop but it won't. My heart wants Miles. It likes him more than it should. It has feelings for him it shouldn't have.
"Miles?" I call out as he's about to go down the stairs.
"Yeah?"
"I'm worried about Gladys." It's true, but it's also the only thing I could think of to make him stay. I want him here with me while I sleep. Before, when I thought he had feelings for me, I wouldn't have dared to even consider having him lie next to me, but knowing he only sees me as a friend, I want him beside me.
"I know you're worried," he says, walking back to me. "Can I do anything to make you feel better?"
"Will you stay with me?" I swallow and look down at the bed. "I don't want to be alone right now."
"Um, sure," he says, sounding uncertain. He goes around to the other side of the bed and lies on top of it. "This okay?"
"I guess, but you might be cold without the covers."
He looks at me. "You sure?"
"We're just napping," I say, tossing the covers back. "What's the big deal?"
He gets in beside me and pulls the covers over us. I slide up next to him, resting my head on his chest but keeping the rest of my body a safe distance away. I'm not worried about him making a move. I'm worried about me. Worried I'll act on my attraction to him.
He's warm. He smells amazing. And his muscular body is right beside me in bed.
"Goodnight, Raine," he says, his arm closing around me.
"Goodnight, Miles."
And with that, I put aside my dirty thoughts and fall asleep.
17
Miles
I wake up to the feel of Raine cuddled up beside me. I slowly open my eyes and see her arm resting on my abs, her hand over my chest. Her head is up by my shoulder, her soft hair falling over my bicep.
For a minute I'm confused and think I must be dreaming. I've had this dream before, of Raine in my bed, but it's usually not as innocent as this. Actually, it ends like this but the main part of the dream involves both of us naked and me pleasuring her in every way I know how.
My dick hardens at the thought, and the images that go with it. Shit. I can't think about that. Not when she's in my bed and we're only supposed to be sleeping.
Why did she suggest this? She knows how much I like her. How much I want her. Is this some kind of test to see if I can resist her? If so, I'm failing miserably because now that I'm awake, I want her more than anything. Her gorgeous body. Her smooth skin. Those soft lips. I've fantasized about being with her more than I should but my mind can't help but go there.
She moves a little in her sleep, her hand slipping down to my waist, just above my now rock-hard cock. Damn. I hope she doesn't wake up and find me this way.
The sheet is pulled back and I notice I'm shirtless. When did that happen? I must've taken it off in my sleep. I do that sometimes but I don't know how I did it without waking up Raine.