No matter what I did, I couldn't detach my eyes from Tucker's perfect torso. The shirt left nothing to the imagination. My mouth watered at all the things I wished I could do to him with only my tongue. Stop, Addi. Get some control back. No men. You don't love them anymore. You. Are. Over. Them.
Ignoring the heat in his stare, I resumed my conversation with a group of women. We talked about plans for tonight once the yacht brought us back to the shore. No matter how much I refused to give him any attention, I couldn't help the way my body reacted to him. It was aware of his presence. It felt him everywhere. Even from a distance. That had never happened before. With a palm splayed over my breastbone, I urged my pulse to hush. To stay indifferent and in control.
Mid-dinner, I cornered Tucker as he went to the restroom. It seemed like it had become a new thing between us. Me following him to the men's room. Right now, I was a bit tipsy on wine and cocktails, ready for the party to start later. Dinner was great, but I couldn't wait to hit the town.
"How is it going, Groom?" I asked, giving him my most flirty smile, batting my lashes as fast as I could. Booze helped me forget about my new no-men resolution.
"Wilde, you gotta stay away from me. Every time you're around, I get into trouble."
I dragged a fingernail across his chest and felt the shivers running through him. His nipples hardened. And so did his dick. His clothes did nothing to hide the effect I had on him. And I relished every second of it.
"Go, find yourself a woman, and I'll do the same. Not playing with you tonight. I promised I wouldn't. And I'm a man of my word. Bait someone else."
"Tsk-tsk. Don't be so boring, Tuck. We're bride and groom tonight, remember? And I'm sure Nick and Dahlia's rules don't apply in this case. We're gonna pretend we're madly in love. Isn't this what it's all about? You asked for a fiancée. Don't make me regret playing the part. A little fun never hurt anybody. Did you already forget what we did last night?" His throat worked. I had him exactly where I wanted. Men were the weak species. All of them. Nothing equaled the thrill coursing through my veins when they surrendered their power to the simple promise of a good time between the sheets. Tucker stepped back, putting some distance between us, his eyes luring me in even though his words told me otherwise.
"Anyway, I'm just here to tell you it's speech time and after that, we're splitting up. I'll miss my groom. Will you miss your bride?" I asked with puppy dog eyes.
He flinched but recovered quickly.
Shaking his head, he adjusted the crotch of his pants, not even being subtle about it.
"You're playing with fire, sweetheart. Soon you'll get burned. Never say I didn't warn you." He released his junk and pushed past me, going back to where our friends were, still seated at the table. I breathed out. No idea why I did that. Something about Tucker made me want to be bad or brave. To test his limits. And see if I could break him. Now that all my doubts had vanished, I knew I had as much effect on him as he had on me. This pre-wedding weekend was pure torture. Men were my addiction. Always had been. I had to learn to live without one around. To be on my own. To break the heartbreak circle once and for all. Tucker was out of reach. And lethal. My best friend was right when she had served him a warning. He owned enough power to hurt me if he got too close. The zing we shared couldn't be faked. If we yielded to the temptation of our sizzling attraction, reality would haunt me once the sheets turned cold. One-nighters weren't my thing, but Tucker made me want to get out of my comfort zone and seize new opportunities.
Two hours later, some of us were cramped up in a limousine. Half the party had left to go to an underground bar owned by a friend of Carter, while the other half drove around town, bubbly pink drinks in hand, our bodies half out the panoramic sunroof of the vehicle.
Dahlia snaked her arm through mine, her head resting on my shoulder. "Because I was pregnant and everything went down so fast, I didn't have all this the first time," she said, gesturing around her. "Thanks for doing this with me. It means the world. I love ya, girlfriend."
I caressed her hair and caught the lone tear tracing her cheek. "I love you too. Are you okay?"
She slurred a little, but her level of intoxication was far less than mine. She huffed and smiled, the glossiness in her eyes quickly switching to happier memories.
"I am. For a while, I never thought I'd be smiling again. Nick makes me happy, and my knees weaken whenever he's around. He's mine. I love him so much. We're two halves of the same heart. Even rain is exhilarating when he's there. He's my person. My soulmate. I want that for you too. You deserve this. Love. Butterflies. The whole package."
I pressed my head against hers. "Dah, I want it too. But I just never meet the right one. I'm tired of being used by my lovers. Starting to feel like I'm replaceable, like I don't mean as much to them as they mean to me. To trust them with my whole heart when they couldn't care less about protecting or cherishing it. They always deceive me in the end."
"Were you serious when you told me you were done with them, though?" Dahlia cocked her head to look at me.
I shrugged. "Yes. No. I don't know. I'm just scared to put my heart out there again. Guess we'll see."
"What did you do last night?”
I could read the worry in her gaze. My best friend really cared. And I loved her so much for always having my back and never judging my actions.
I avoided her eyes for a second, then shook my head.
"Do you think I could've inherited my father's gene…you know…the one?"
"Do you see any similarities?" she asked.
"Not really. Every time I'm down, it crosses my mind. My last relationship wasn't marriage material. I know it now. But it really shattered me when it ended. Made me doubt myself. And that propelled me into this spiral of anger and sadness. The idea of love—never mind, it's stupid.”
"Addi, it's not. It's normal to wonder. I would too. Wanna talk about it?" she asked.
"Nah. Tonight is your night." I breathed in, ready to change the subject. "What about that karaoke bar we used to go to? I haven't been there in ages. Do you feel like owning the stage for a few hours?"
Dahlia's contagious energy returned as if I'd just shot her with a dose of adrenaline. Drunk Dahlia was easy to convince and was always ready for some fun. Any other time, I would have helped to plan tonight's events, or I would've even organized the entire thing myself. I always reveled in coordinating events for my friends. But she was right when she said my latest breakup had affected me. For the last three weeks, I hadn't been feeling like myself. Sure, I was bummed about being single once again. But more than that, I was hurt. Hurt that someone I believed I loved not only cheated on me, but also gambled with my trust. Now I knew our relationship was not meant to survive the test of time, but still, I had respected him once. We were friends. Or I thought we were. Until it all blew up in my face.
"Addi, I loooooove that bar," Dahlia singsonged the words, breaking my train of depressing thoughts, and squeezed my arm tighter. "I wanna sing something with you. Like we used to. Let's ask the rest of the party to meet us there. It'll be fun."
I dropped down and reached for the phone in my purse and messaged Tucker. He was the groomsman, so I figured he had to be the one making the calls. Sorta.
Me: Hey groom of mine.
He answered almost instantly.
Tucker: Wilde. What's up? Miss me already?
Me: Karaoke. You. Us. Ask Cart, he knows where. Thirty minutes. You in?
Tucker: With ya? Not sure. It sounds dangerous. For me.
Me: Always. But you love how much more fun your life gets when I'm in it.
He didn't answer for a whole minute. I was about to message him again when his reply came through. One simple word.
Tucker: Okay.
Me: Don't be late.
"All set," I said to my best friend, returning to my position next to her. "They'll meet us in half an hour. Let's go.”
The song ended, and the two women who had taken the stage climbed down and disappeared into the crowd. The dive bar was just how I remembered it. Dark, not so clean, and filled with people only there to have the best time. No one here took themselves seriously. And I liked that about our little local hangout spot.
"Listen, all y'all. We have a bride and groom here with us tonight," some guy announced through a microphone. People cheered and applauded. "Let's give a warm welcome to the future newlyweds. Please come up on stage. We have something for ya." Damn it. The last thing we needed was to grab people's attention.
As if her thoughts mirrored mine, Dahlia's fingernails dug into my forearm as her voice became strained with tension. "Addi, I'm not going. How did they know we were here? There's a difference between singing something with you while people are busy chatting and drinking and being up there for everyone to stare at. What if people recognize me? Not that it matters, but I don't want them to recognize Cart, or he'll feel obligated to sing and might leave so that we can enjoy the night without being bothered. You gotta go, Addi. You and Tuck. Pretend you're us. Please. You're wearing the bride and groom T-shirts. No one will suspect you're faking it."
Next to her, Nick nodded. "She's right. I know people in Nashville usually let famous people be and stuff, but are we willing to take the risk and have them come here just because Carter is hanging out with us tonight? And hassle him for autographs and pictures?”
Dahlia and I both shook our heads.
"We all agree," he said. "What's the plan?"
"Sorry, babe," Dahlia said to him as she wrapped her arms around his torso.
He pushed a strand of her hair, gently smiling. "It's okay. I know the drill. That's what happens when I'm about to marry a superstar. I love you. Don't worry."
He kissed her, and I averted my eyes as Tucker grumbled on my left.
Carter moved closer. "Guys, it's fine. I'll sit in a dark corner if it gets too much. I'll just—"
"No, Cart, you're allowed to enjoy the night too. Dahlia and Nick are right. Tuck and I will go up there. I'm sure it's just a silly game they want us to play or a how-well-do-you-know-your-spouse kinda stuff. Nothing we can't survive."
A deep frown carved my groom's forehead as he heard the plan. "Fuck no. Not becoming your circus monkey again, Wilde. Forget it. Been humiliated enough for the rest of my life tonight. I must have been asked to smile for two hundred pictures by now. My face will be all over social media. If it isn't already. Find other people to play a happy couple with." He folded his arms across his broad chest, every single muscle of his defined arms bulging. That T-shirt would be ripped sooner than later. Yeah, Tucker Philips was tall and well-built, and it still didn't add up in my head he was a hedge-fund banker. My fingers itched to trace the planes of his abs, my mouth longing to kiss his pouty lips and to feel his hard body wrapped all around me. I didn't have any leftover recollections of our time together to hold on to. And now my mind felt obligated to compensate. To make up dirty scenarios. Each time, I wondered if they were fantasies or repressed memories.
"Why do you always have to be such a baby about everything? I thought you liked challenges?" I asked, locking my eyes with his. Something passed between us. I had no idea how to describe it. Electricity buzzed on my skin. And I got drunk on his smoldering stare. My stomach tightened. My knees wobbled. No, even though he symbolized all my weaknesses in one man, I wouldn't get all hot and bothered for Tucker 'Player' Philips. I'd resist his charm. I'd resist him. I was a strong and confident woman. And men were so twentieth century.
"C'mon up, people. Don't be shy," the guy on the microphone said. "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause for the bride and groom.”
Beside us, a man pushed Tucker and me forward. "Don't be pussies." He pointed at us over my head because, well, Tucker was too tall, and yelled, "They're here." No way could we hide wearing T-shirts with lights flashing on our backs. Nobody would ever believe we weren't the future Mr. and Mrs. Whatever.
"Wilde, you'll pay for this. Count my words," Tucker threatened me with gritted teeth, his jaw flexing. He firmed his back and followed me to the front of the bar. Ire radiated from him. And in some crazy ways, it turned me on even more. Genetic or not, I had a sickness in me. Or I was more fucked-up than I thought.
People wolf-whistled as we took the stage. Tucker's eyes were like machine guns, ready to shoot me dead. A rush of excitement swirled through me at the heat he cast on me. One I refused to escape.
"Nice shirt," a man yelled from the crowd. My groom's eyes narrowed to slits. He puffed his chest, ready to attack, stretching the taut fabric over his torso. I crossed my fingers, hoping it wouldn't tear apart. Carter was right. Tucker looked like he'd dressed in the kids' section of a store.
I touched his forearm, silently begging him to let it go. He relaxed under my palm, the tension in him evaporating.
Our hands linked together, and I hoped I could infuse him with some courage for standing here in front of all these patrons. With me.
The guy with the mike neared us, and my groom tensed again. "We have something special for the happy couple tonight. First, let's ask the future Mrs. Bride to sit," he said, pulling a wooden chair in the middle of the stage. I avoided looking at Tucker, knowing how upset he would be right now. Once seated, I forced the biggest smile over my lips and crossed my legs at the ankles and linked my hands together on my lap. Very prim and proper. Things were about to get interesting. I could feel every molecule of excitement in the air surrounding us.
"Now, Mr. Groom, you gotta pick a song for your future wife. Let's see your options." A list of songs appeared on the screen behind the stage. Tucker clenched his hands at his sides, his knuckles turning white. Even pissed and out of his comfort zone, he looked adorable. His eyes narrowed. He scanned the room as if trying to come up with an out. I bet he was.
My groom was cocky and sure of himself to a fault, but I doubted he ever volunteered to humiliate himself in front of a cheering crowd. Always dressed to impress, no doubt tonight was making him very uncomfortable. Naked and vulnerable. And I was the one to blame for every decision. My heart wrenched at his predicament and admired his fortitude to stand by me. From the moment we met, he had followed me in all my crazy ideas, and here we were. Tucker walking beside me on the stage. Ready to make a fool of himself. For me.
Standing close to me on my left, he swallowed and raked a hand through his short hair. I could almost see the sweat blooming on his nape from my spot, his skin glistening under the golden lights like tiny diamonds. He cracked his neck, and our eyes met. My smile vanished. He stole all the air from my lungs. A series of knots tightened my stomach as his uneasiness washed through me. Why were we so in sync all the time?
Studying my face a little longer, he picked a song, and the man announced, "You'll sing for her, man. With all your heart. You'll have the lyrics on that screen, just in case. C'mon, show us how much you love your woman. Give it your all. Show her how much you adore her. This is your chance. Rock her world." The man clapped Tucker's shoulder and handed him the mike. My groom turned to face me in the slowest slow-motion movement I'd ever witnessed, all colors draining from his face now. He shook his head and murdered me on the spot with his heavy, threatening gaze. I yelped but forced myself to look unaffected. Inside, my blood sizzled, and flutters partied around.
"Not doing this, Wilde. I'm dressed for Halloween, and I can't sing for shit. No way am I doing this in front of all these crazy folks. Forget it. I'm outta here," he said, just loud enough so only I could hear him.
I stretched my arm to graze his fingers. "Hey, look at me. We're doing this. Together. It's only me. We're alone. It's all pretend. Nobody is listening. We're just fooling around. Another little challenge between us. I'm right here, okay? We've got this."
He exhaled, his face twisting as if in pain.
"I'll owe you one later. Do this for Nick and Dahlia, okay? I'm with you. I'm not going away.”
The music started playing, and a cheer resonated through the room as the crowd went silent. No doubt it was my best friend, worrying about us up here. I could feel her eyes on us. We can do this, I repeated in my head.
"You okay?" I asked.
He nodded. His Adam's apple bounced in his throat.
Once again, he would go through a situation he disliked. For me. With me. And it meant a lot. Because he trusted me.
He rolled his lips over his teeth, staring at me with something I didn't recognize.
"Take one for the team, big guy." A wave of fierceness had my body shaking with need.
Tucker shut his eyes for a few seconds, forced his shoulders back, and brought the microphone to his mouth, his jaw so tight that I feared he'd grind his teeth to dust.
His eyes snapped open as the first words left his lips. He had chosen a Carter Hills original. How ironic. The crowd started singing along with him. Everybody knew this country song. It was one of Carter's biggest hits as a solo artist. No doubt my friends were the ones behind the chorus. Their voices buried Tucker's. But still, all I could hear was him. Everything I could see began and ended with him. His eyes were transfixed on me. Kindling my body with awareness.
He relaxed his stance. The tension in his back left. He had played his role. Now there were devilish sparks shining in his irises. He kneeled before me, grabbed my hand, and sang as if we were alone in the crowded bar.
My breath caught in my lungs. Every cell in me danced to his voice. Heat pooled between my thighs. My nipples tingled under the intensity of his smoldering stare as he undressed me with his gaze.
For a moment, I forgot this was all fake.
It looked so real. Felt so real. Enough to turn me into a blazing inferno.
The way Tucker intertwined his fingers through mine. The way he ate me up with his stare as if I were his. The way he held my gaze hostage as my heart jackhammered in my chest.
I had never been on the receiving end of so much ardor. And my heart frizzled behind my ribs. How could any of this be fake?
...And when you need a hug, my arms will hold you tight
A girl like you belongs with a guy like me...
The song ended, and people applauded. We stood still. As if time had stopped. And everyone around us had vanished. Air rushed in and out of my lungs. Why was I panting?
A crooked smile slowly appeared on Tucker's face.
The beating of my heart hastened.
The uplift of his lips reflected mine.
My groom used the back of his hand to wipe his forehead and sighed. "Wilde, how did I do? Tell me I didn't make a fool of myself. Tell me you believed it?"
I tightened my grip on the fingers still laced through mine. Believed it? A part of me still had a hard time grasping it wasn't real.
"Are you kidding? You were perfect." Adrenaline pumped inside me, the rush addictive.
"Kiss him already," someone yelled from behind us.
"Kiss him. Kiss him. Kiss him," the crowd chanted.
We'd go to hell for this.
I didn't care.
Right here and now, all I craved was kissing the man who'd just sung to me the most romantic song ever. Because my head, and my heart, still hadn't comprehended it was fake. That I didn't mean any of this to him.
Without wasting a single second, I wrapped my arms around Tucker's neck and pulled him close. We fixated our gazes on each other, my breathing shallow and my heart thumping. So fast I was certain he could feel it. "Just kiss me," I pleaded.
Without holding back, his mouth crashed on mine, robbing me of all the oxygen molecules. Goosebumps bloomed on my nape. Lightning ignited my being. And my soul. And together, we caught fire.
Tucker devoured my lips as if we were still alone here. Tongues dancing. Hands grabbing. Hips grinding. Nothing chaste or meant to be witnessed by others. A bruising kiss that had my toes curling and me panting, aroused.
In that instant, I belonged to him.
He sucked my tongue deeper in his mouth while his hands grabbed a handful of my ass. I purred at the friction of his swollen sex between my legs, begging to be acknowledged. Every swipe of his tongue branded my body. Each cell thrummed with the force of the desire he aroused in me. Tucker was staking his claim.
My fingernails dug into his biceps, requiring his solidity to stay grounded in this world.
"Fuck, Wilde, you taste good.”
Unquenchable thirst brimmed in his gaze as he plunged forward and lifted me into his arms, my legs winding around his midriff. He kept a hand over my backside to prevent me from flashing my panties to the patrons.
I held on to him, hypnotized by the pull he had on me. We stared into each other's depths, and like a beacon drawing me in, I slipped my tongue back between his hungry lips, attacking his mouth.
He groaned, meeting me thrust for thrust, tasting every corner of my mouth.
He fisted my hair and arched my head, deepening our connection. I lost the ability to breathe on my own, Tucker being the only source of air I required to survive.
Spellbound in our own world, in the frenzied beating of our hearts and the intimate moment we shared, I relished his tongue against mine and the heat of his erection nestling where it ignited my core.
A symphony began in my chest, and Tucker became the maestro playing with the strings of my desire.
The dark clouds hovering over me for weeks parted. Life didn't feel so flavorless anymore.
I felt more alive in his embrace than I did with any other man before.
Tucker's strong hand curled around my nape, holding me in place as he kissed me some more. His lips, shaped to mine, injected me with something potent and dizzying. I felt wanted and important. Understood and desired.
Last night must have been incredible.
Shivers spread all over my skin at the thought of the events I couldn't even remember.
Our bodies spoke the same language like a well-rehearsed choreography. If right now was any indication of how well we danced together, Tucker and I were a force to be reckoned with. Something great and powerful.
My heart pinched at the realization that I'd never experience the first time with him ever again. That I would never have a chance to know how wonderful it must have been to be loved by him for a night. To be the center of his universe. Even for just a couple of hours.
When Tucker lowered me back to my feet, we were both breathless, intoxicated, watching each other with barely contained lust. My face felt flushed, my lips sensitive and raw, my breasts plumper. Little knots lingered in my stomach. A sirocco swirled inside me.
The man who called us onstage guided us toward the stairs leading down.
More applauses and wolf-whistles.
How long had we lost track of time? My finger traced my lips, reminiscing about the kiss that tipped my world off its axis. It made me believe I could be loved. And cherished. One day. That I could feel the same pull with someone else in the future.
My groom tugged at my hand and led me offstage.
I breathed easier now that all eyes weren't on us anymore.
People clapped our shoulders as we walked past them. Others congratulated us. Still surfing a cloud of bliss, I had a hard time differentiating reality from fiction. I offered them nods and smiles, sure I had the latter engraved on my face forever.
"Oh my god, this was amazing. You guys killed it up there. Here," Dahlia pushed a shot glass into our hands as soon as we joined them, "drink this." We chugged them before she offered us another one. "Thank you for filling in for us. You were incredible. No way could anyone have suspected you weren't getting married. It looked so real. Even I believed it for a moment. I felt like a voyeur watching a love story unfold before my eyes. It was epic."
The server came to us with a bottle of tequila. "On the house. For the future Mr. and Mrs. You guys rocked. Enjoy."
My friend pointed two fingers toward her eyes and then twisted them in Tucker's direction as if to say, "I'm watching you."
I yanked her hand down. "Stop, Dah. This is silly. We were just pretending. Give the guy a break."
Tucker's chuckle at my friend's not-so-subtle threat warmed my insides.
"She asked for it," he said with a wide smirk, showing off his pearly whites. And not one ounce of shame. "I serviced her like she begged me to. Dah, you should thank me for taking care of her needs. Happy to oblige."
I shrugged. "How could I not? It was hot." I fanned myself to amplify my words.
Tucker winked at me. "Anytime, sweetheart."
"Ohmygod, your ego, big guy," I said.
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my cheek.
My body still hadn't comprehended none of this was real because a fresh wave of flutters took over my stomach. My fingers itched to intertwine with his. To anchor myself to him.
"You guys. I swear this is a déjà vu. I have dreamed of this scenario. You two teaming together and creating chaos," Nick chimed in, nearing us, unable to hide his amusement. He spun to face Tucker. "Like you would ever listen to my warnings. I should've known better." He shook his head, his smile reaching both ears. "I thought you would swallow her up there. Are you—" The surrounding noises drowned out his words, and I missed the rest of their conversation.
Dahlia took me to the side. "Addi, you didn't have to put on that much of a show. I'm sorry you felt like you had to. But, wow, we could feel the heat even from here."
I shrugged, hoping my flushed face wouldn't betray me. "No worries. Tucker spoke the truth. I asked for it. How could I not want him to? Have you seen him up there? Even if it was all fake, butterflies danced in my belly."
"Girlfriend, you'd tell me if it meant something more, right?”
I nodded.
"Are you okay?" she inquired.
"Yes. I am. The guy is handsome, and he sang to me. It was a onetime deal. Anyway, let me say this: Tucker Philips can kiss."
"That good?" She wiggled her brows.
"Yep. How about some tequila?" I asked, trying to change the subject. Fast. Before I exposed my inner thoughts.
"Come on," Dahlia said, her arm snaking through mine. "Let's drink to your performance. Or rather, Tuck's performance. And then we'll sing something together. Just like old times."
It was four in the morning when we came back to the hotel, all looking like we'd been up for days. Dahlia's hair was a tangled jumble; no doubt mine was too. She had mascara stains under her eyes. The last time I checked, I did too. Our lipstick had been gone for hours. And our heels hung from our fingers as we shuffled to our rooms.
My best friend leaned in and kissed my cheek. "Night, Addi. Thanks for everything. You are amazing. I'll remember tonight forever. I love ya."
I squeezed her arm. "I love you too. See ya later.”
Nick kissed my cheek and hugged Tucker before leading his woman away.
In the hallway, I watched them exchange tired smiles, in love with each other.
My heart bled in my chest. Why couldn't I be the one stupidly in love for once?
Dahlia deserved her happiness. She'd been through so much. But somewhere deep inside me, I prayed for the same thing. To feel something close to how I felt on that stage earlier. Someone's most precious person.
I nodded before returning my gaze to the lovers moving to their suite.
Melancholy filled me and I sealed my lids, refraining from crying, too tired to sort things out in my head.
"Wilde, are you sleeping on your feet?" Tucker asked from beside me. "If you are, it's kinda disturbing. Just a thought."
I opened my eyes and poked my tongue out, offering him an excuse I hoped he wouldn't challenge. "I forgot you were still here. Got lost in my head. I'm so tired. I'm sure I could sleep upright if I had to. You did great tonight. And you can keep the shirt; it suits you. My best man gift to ya. Good night."
Tucker eyed me with an expression I couldn't decipher for a second but added nothing. I melted from the heat in his stare. My heart lurched in my throat. His brows furrowed as he gave me a once-over before shaking his head and sauntering away, his shoulders dropping and hands tucked in his pockets. The white lights blinking at the back of his T-shirt was the last sight of him as he turned the corner, and I found myself alone in the hotel hallway.
Forcing my gaze away from the direction he left, I resumed my breathing and fumbled with the keycard.
Once in the safety of my room, I backed against the closed door. Exhaustion and alcohol made it harder for me to order my thoughts. And my feelings.
The kiss Tucker and I shared had been replaying in my head since the moment we broke apart on that stage. And hours later, I still believed it was as real and breathtaking as it could get. Letting the attraction we both couldn't seem to escape affect my judgment wasn't an option. Or I'd be in trouble.
Resolved to move past tonight's episode, I shut my thoughts, ready to crash into bed and for the weekend to be over.
The sound of a soft knock behind me rebooted my lethargic brain. I spun on my heels, and using the wall as a support, I cracked the door open.
My heart leaped in my chest when I spotted Tucker standing on the other side of the ajar door.
His hand rubbed his nape, and he looked unsteady on his feet as he said, "Wilde, lost my card. It was in my shirt. I think. The one that got ripped apart." He paused and rubbed his eyelids with the heels of his hands. "Can I sleep in your room? Please help a guy out. I'll take the sofa. Let me lie down. Before I crumple."
My eyes found his exhausted ones. He was a breath away from collapsing.
"Yeah. Sure. Okay."
I let him in, and his hand connected with my lower back as he kissed my cheek, shooting warmth through me. "Thanks."
He walked past me, and I followed him with my eyes, missing his comforting touch.
Without even taking the time to undress, Tucker crossed the room and fell face-first on the cushioned piece of furniture.
To remove what used to be makeup off my face, I took a quick shower and padded back into the room, dressed in a nightshirt. No way would I sleep naked with Tucker around.
Ready to escape into my dreams, I slid under the pillowy comforter of my bed. But sleep evaded, even when it tempted me. I tossed. Then I turned. And counted sheep. I drilled my fingers into my ears, trying to tune everything out. Nah. Not happening. No matter how tired I was, this didn't do the trick. Tucker's snoring was all I could hear. It sounded like an old truck's muffler. I cursed under my breath as I left the cocoon of the bed and neared him. With my finger, I nudged his arm.
"Wake up, big guy. You snore. Real bad. Turn around or something. I gotta sleep too. Please."
He groaned but didn't budge.
I balled my hands.
Why did I agree to let him sleep here? Such a bad idea. Whichever way I spun it around in my head, it didn't sound better.
"C'mon, Tuck. Move," I said, shaking him with both hands now. He tilted his head, already gone so far away from here, his eyelids heavy with sleep. He almost fell off as he flipped to his side, watching me with a confused frown.
A few swear words left my mouth, and I hated myself for an instant. "I'll regret this tomorrow," I said, mostly to myself, before pulling at his hand. "Let's get you in bed; you'll be more comfortable. The couch is way too small for ya."
Tucker muttered something in his sleepy state but soon moved to his feet as I helped him up.
"You gotta brush your teeth first. My room, my rules."
He growled something I didn't catch.
In the bathroom, he removed his Groom T-shirt and dropped his pants on the tiled floor in one move, leaving him in only white boxer briefs. Damn it. Why did he have to look so good? All ripped chest and muscled thighs. I had him all to myself last night. This was unfair. I should be able to remember our night together. Everything he did to please my body. His expert hands and very capable mouth.
A heat wave washed through me.
With a sigh, I pushed the disturbing thoughts away before they could affect my imminent sleep and slid back under the covers.
Once Tucker finished brushing his teeth, he circled the bed to climb onto the king-sized mattress from the other side. The warmth from his body enveloped me even from a few feet away, and this time, with nothing to disrupt my sleep, I dozed off in seconds.