She nods, so I don't dally. We make it outside to see several girls hauling themselves out of the pool.
"Thanks," Raya snickers, making my grin grow while I shake my head.
"I never recommend wearing white to one of my parties again."
When she laughs, my chest tightens in a way that worries me. I love her laugh.
"I agree," she says with a smile in her voice.
After we're comfortable, conversation between us takes off easily. She listens to everything I say, and I'm completely enchanted by anything that comes out of her mouth. It's the most relaxed and comfortable I've felt in so long. We're two people getting to know each other.
Each time she gives me that sweet look, the tightness in my chest grows, but it feels good. It's new. Raya is a bit of an enigma still, but I love the fact that I can just be myself around her. In fact, she prefers it.
When the night is close to being over, I pull her up from her seat, wishing we could stay up all night, but I have too much to do tomorrow.
"I'm spent. I'll warn you, there will be people still passed out in the morning, so don't run around in your tank and panties."
When her cheeks turn pink, I can't help but chuckle softly. "You staying to party more?" I ask, knowing I'll stay up if she says yes. No way in hell is she staying up without me.
"Um... no. I think I lost Ember, though."
Who? Oh. Her friend who barely hung out with her. Not that I'm complaining. It left Raya free for me, and after tonight, I'm pretty sure this platonic thing between us isn't going to work. That kiss... it changed a lot. A hell of a lot.
"She'll turn up. I'll walk you to your room."
Because I can't help but touch her right now, I keep my hand on her back to guide her up the stairs. She doesn't seem to mind, which makes it harder not to do something stupid.
Opening her door is a big mistake. Garbled moans strike my ears before the drunken sex catches my eyes. Ember's face is barely visible against the moonlight, and I hold back a shot of laughter when Raya squeaks.
"Ohholyshit," she utters with sheer mortification, stumbling backwards while slamming the door.
She gets tripped up because of her sexy heels, and I catch her, enjoying yet another excuse to touch her.
"I guess Ember just showed up," I quip, reveling in her maroon face.
"I couldn't tell who it was," she breathlessly mutters, implying that she looked down at the connection instead of up at the visible face. Interesting.
"I should have warned you to lock your door. Looks like you'll need another mattress," I say through a small laugh, helping to steady her. And then genius strikes. Though I'm sure my cock will forever hate me after this. "Come on. You can sleep in my room. You'll find something a hell of a lot worse in all my other guest rooms. Mel's game always gets people riled up."
"I can just crash on the couch."
Yeah... I didn't think it'd be that easy, but it was worth a shot.
I snort, trying to lay it on thick. "With this many people still here? Not happening. These people are notorious for pranking the sleeper. It's no big deal. My bed is massive. It'll be like you're all by yourself."
I don't want her sleeping anywhere but with me, because people will notice if she and I aren't in the same room. I had a feeling something would be going on in her room, which is why I may have accidentally forgotten to mention something about locking her door.
Am I a bastard? Probably. Do I care? Not in the least. Raya is going to be in my bed. My cheeky grin stays discreet.
She follows me without further argument, much to my relief. This is actually a little easier than I thought it'd be. Maybe tonight has warmed her up to me.
"I'll grab you a shirt and some shorts," I say after keying in the code to unlock my room and flicking on the light. Just to tease her and lighten the air, I add, "Unless you want to run and grab something from your room."
"Hell no," she says promptly, shuddering a little in disgust, and I can't help but let a deep laugh loose.
She looks nervous and unsure, as though she's waiting on me to say something. So, I do. "Shut and lock the door."
It sounds a little bit like a gentle command, but it works.