With that ominous warning hanging between us, I glance over his shoulder at Oak before marching toward the front door once more, only pausing to grab a bottle of expensive whisky on the way out.
“Don’t wait up,” I hiss as I leave them behind, more than ready to find the promise of darkness that lingers at the bottom of the bottle.
5
OLIVIA
The bed dips behind me and strong arms slide around my waist.
“Reese?”
“Go back to sleep.” The deep rumble of his voice rolls through me like thunder.
He tucks his face in the crook of my neck and tangles his legs with mine, pulling me as close as possible.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, smiling to myself.
He’s here.
After fleeing my room this morning and disappearing for the day, he’s here. In my bed. Holding me.
“Needed to see you.” His warm breath brushes my skin, sending shivers down my spine. But I also smell the liquor on his breath, the overpowering scent of top-shelf whisky.
My spine goes rigid. “You’re drunk.”
“I might be a tiny bit drunk.” He smiles against my neck, his fingers dipping under my pyjama top.
“Reese…” I cover his hand with mine.
“Shh, sweet cheeks.” His lips brush my cheek. “I just want to hold you.”
“You… Reese Whitfield… want to spoon?”
“Fuck yeah, I do.”
I smother a chuckle, melting back against him as silence envelops us. Just when I think he might have fallen asleep, I whisper, “Reese?”
“Yeah?” he murmurs.
“Nothing.” I chicken out from saying everything I want, swallowing the words on the tip of my tongue.
“Stop overthinking it.”
“I’m not—”
He pulls away and pushes me onto my back, staring down at me. “I know you, Olivia. I know the way your mind works.”
“You sound awfully confident.” Reaching for him, I push the strands of hair from his forehead. His eyes shutter as he inhales a sharp breath at my touch.
“You care.” My voice cracks.
“Even if I do… we both know this can never—”
“Shh.” I press my finger to his lips. I don’t want to hear about how we can’t be together. Not now, in this moment.
The air crackles and shifts around us, his eyes dipping to my mouth.
“I want to kiss you so fucking badly.” He reaches for my face, cupping my cheek and dusting his thumb over the ugly bruise there.