“Why don’t you head home and get some rest? I need you up bright and early, okay?”
“Yeah, that might be best. I’ll call an Uber.”
“We can take you home,” Colt offers.
“No. You should stay. I don’t want to ruin your night.” I give him a tight smile. Of course, he knows I don’t want him to come with me.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re basically family now. If you don’t feel well, we’ll take you home and make sure you’re taken care of.” Nix places his hand on my shoulder, and a wave of oohs and aahs moves through the surrounding guests.
It takes every ounce of self-control not to roll my eyes and slap his stupid hand off my shoulder.
“I think that’s a good idea. If you don’t feel well, I don’t like the thought of you being alone,” my mom tells me before turning to the guys next to me. “Thank you for being so thoughtful and taking her home. Leni is so lucky to have you.”
Unable to hear another word of this bullshit any longer, I stand up from my seat so suddenly the chair almost tips back. I murmur a quick goodbye to everyone before scurrying out of the restaurant with Colt and Nix hot on my heels.
“What a way to make an exit.” Colt chuckles.
“Look. I’m really not feeling well. Can you please just leave me alone?” I hurry past the hostess and push open the heavy door leading to the street. Stepping out on the sidewalk, I suck in a lung full of fresh air, hoping it will clear my head.
Unfortunately, it has the opposite effect. Maybe it’s the sudden oxygen increase or the change in temperature. Either way, my head spins, and my vision goes blurry. I feel my whole body sway to the side.
Just when I think I’m going to pass out, four hands are suddenly on me. As those hands grab onto my arm, I’m jolted upright.
“What the fuck did you take?” Nix snaps at me.
“Hydrocodone… it’s just for pain.”
“That’s some strong shit. How much champagne did you drink?”
“Um, two… I think.” Closing my eyes, I breathe through my nose, trying my best to get it together. My legs remain wobbly, and I have to lean against something just to stay upright.
“Great. Can you go and get the car. I don’t feel like carrying her.” Colt’s voice is so close, almost like my head is against his shoulder or something.
Nix curses under his breath. I’m vaguely aware of footsteps in the distance, and whatever I’m leaning against starts to move.
“Don’t drool on my shirt.”
Why would I drool on him? I don’t have the energy to say it out loud. My tongue is heavy in my mouth, and my eyes won’t open even a little. All I want to do is go to sleep.
Something wraps around my torso, and suddenly, my feet are not on the ground anymore. In the distance, I hear a car door open and close. My body is being moved, and then I’m placed on something flat. I instantly relax, curling up on my side, tuck my hands under my head like a pillow, and let the warm fuzzy feeling pull me under completely.
CHAPTER12
“Get her zipper.” Colt’s voice sounds far away, but the way each of his words vibrates against my ear makes me think my cheek is pressed against his chest. I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are so damn heavy. I only get a glimpse of the inside of my room before they fall back shut.
I try to lift my head, but none of my muscles work. My body is almost paralyzed, trapped in the space between sleep and wakefulness.
Someone unzips the back of my dress, and cool air washes over the skin I usually keep covered up. An odd sense of freedom overcomes me. My back is exposed, and even the air in my perfectly heated room feels cool and unusual on my back. This sensation normally fills me with so much anxiety I seldom let it happen in the first place. Something is different today… today there is no fear, no shame, or embarrassment.
All I feel is warmth.
I’m being put on my bed. The soft fabric feels good on my skin, while the pillow cradles my head perfectly. I try to pry my eyes open once more, just in time to see the outline of someone crawling onto the bed with me. The mattress dips, and a warm body covers me like a weighted blanket.
That same body gently pries my legs apart and settles between my thighs. Only then do I realize I’m completely naked. Something is wrong.
A surge of panic zaps through my body, making me squirm.
“Relax…” A male voice says before placing a soft kiss on my lips. I’m so confused by his actions and the way he tries to calm me that I don’t recognize Colt’s voice right away.