I was completely creeped out and becoming more clear-headed by the second.
“What do you want?” I asked. I wanted to close the door to my room, but that would require stepping closer to him, and I didn’t want to do that.
“I’ve been hoping to talk to you, but I haven’t seen you without that friend of yours for the last few days.”
“Friend?”
“Briggs. You know, I don’t quite buy it. I can’t quite put my finger on the reason, but I just don’t think you two are in a relationship.” His hand went to my cheek. “I’m not going to back down so easily.”
I shook my head, and he stepped even closer, until only a couple of inches of space separated us. I started to worry that he was trying to back me into my room. Things were about to cross the line from creepy to completely inappropriate.
Suddenly, a large hand reached around from behind Cole, grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away from my face. I watched, shocked, as Briggs twisted Cole’s arm behind his back and shoved him against the wall.
“What the hell, man?” Cole cried out, surprised and frustrated.
“I think it’s time for you to get the hell out of here,” Briggs snarled, his voice deep and intimidating.
“Fine,” Cole snapped. “I-I’ll go, just get the hell off of me.”
Briggs did, giving me a good look at his expression. He was pissed, more so than I’d ever seen him. His jaw was set and his lips were pressed together in a thin line. I knew that his anger wasn’t directed at me though. He watched Cole walk down the hall, staring until the man reached the elevator and disappeared inside.
“Are you okay?” he asked, and I could see the worry in his eyes.
I nodded, not sure that I could even speak around the lump in my throat. Briggs came closer, scanning my body as if he needed to make sure that I wasn’t hurt for himself. I truly didn’t think that Cole intended to hurt me. He just wasn’t used to not getting his way and came on a little strong. But I wasn’t going to float that theory to Briggs. He was too worked up.
Without warning, he scooped me up into his arms, carrying me bridal-style into my room and closing the door behind us. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he brought me to the bed, laying me down on it. I thought about this afternoon, the rough sex we’d had in the shower, and I expected more of that now. But instead of initiating anything like that, Briggs went to the foot of the bed and pulled off my shoes.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“You need to sleep. We’ve both had a lot to drink tonight.”
I had almost forgotten all about the night’s activities after what happened with Cole. Briggs must have gotten back from the bachelor party before ours was over, and he’d probably drank just as much as me.
A part of me was disappointed that he wasn’t interested in sleeping together again, I didn’t get nearly enough of him earlier today, but I also felt overwhelmingly sentimental about his decision not to take advantage of me while I was inebriated. He was a good man. Covering me with a blanket, Briggs turned to leave.
“Wait,” I said, sitting up. “Stay with me. Please.”
He turned back and a smile crossed his face. I wondered if he was just waiting for me to ask as he kicked off his own shoes and pulled back the blankets. Joining me in the bed, he pulled me close. His strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind and he pressed a kiss to my neck.
I relaxed into him, my eyelids feeling heavy. I was safe with this man and even more important, I was happy as I drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER12
Briggs
Ihadn’t woken up with a woman in my arms in years. But even when I had, it had never been with a woman like Sage. I was surrounded by the smell of her perfume—light and floral—and her soft hair was tickling my nose. I opened my eyes to see that she was still asleep, her breathing deep and even.
I laid there for a while, content with the feel of her in my arms. She was soft and warm, and her ass pressed into my groin. I let her sleep while I enjoyed the peaceful morning. I felt like I could wake up like this every day. When she started to stir, she turned over, blinking the sleep out of her eyes and giving me a lazy smile.
“Morning,” she said.
“Good morning. How do you feel?”
“Great, actually. I guess I didn’t drink enough to have a hangover.”
“Then, you’d be up for going out for lunch?”
“Lunch?” She lifted her head enough to see the alarm clock on the nightstand. “Oh, wow. We really slept in.”