Playing for Keeps

Chapter 8

“Come on, guys! Let’s go back. Those women were hot!” Mitch said for the hundredth time since they'd left the club.

“No,” Brad and Jason said in unison.

Mitch let out a frustrated sigh as they walked into the hotel foyer. “I know why Brad doesn’t want to, he’s married, but why don’t you?”

He shrugged. “I just don’t want to. Is that okay with you?”

“All night you turned girls down. What the hell is wrong with you?” Mitch demanded.

“Nothing,” he mumbled. He wasn’t in the mood for this conversation or for Mitch. All night he resisted the urge to punch the a*shole. When he wasn’t thinking about punching Mitch he was kicking himself for leaving Haley. He should have stayed and taken care of her. She was cool enough to bring them with her to catch a really great game and they ditched her like a bunch of ungrateful bastards. Plus, if he was going to be honest, he probably would have had a better time with her just sitting around watching a movie than going to a club and having a bunch of women rub all over him.

“Problem guys,” Brad said as he walked back to them from the desk clerk.

“What is it?” he asked.

“They gave our room away since we didn’t check in and there are no more rooms available.”

“Shit.”

“Yup.”

“Hey, where are you going?” Jason asked Mitch’s retreating back.

Mitch stopped and gave him a "duh" look. “We don’t have a room. I’m going back to that club to find a warm body and a bed for the night.”

That son of a bitch.

He’d been trying to get between Haley’s legs for a week and wouldn’t stop it. Now he was trying to get laid just for a bed. Jason had no doubt come morning he’d be back sniffing around Haley.

“Are you coming or what?” Mitch demanded.

He shook his head in disgust. “No, you go have fun. I’m going to bed.”

“Whatever,” Mitch muttered as he headed out.

Jason nudged Brad. “Let’s go beg for mercy.”

Brad looked relieved as he nodded and gestured for Jason to lead the way.

They walked up to Haley’s room and knocked. After a few minutes they knocked again. Finally the door opened revealing a sleepy eyed Haley.

“What is it?” she asked, trying to stifle a yawn.

“They gave away our room,” he said with a pout.

She rolled her eyes. “Well duh, you didn’t check in this afternoon.”

“You don’t have to rub it in.”

“That’s not me rubbing it in, trust me. If I was doing that I would give you an evil little laugh and shut the door in your face.”

“Good point,” he said, wincing, while hoping she didn’t do just that. He was exhausted and didn’t feel like fighting with Brad over the backseat of his car.

“So what do you want?”

“Mercy?”

She rolled her eyes. “You want to sleep here? There isn’t enough room for all four of us.”

Obviously she hadn’t noticed Mitch’s absence.

“Mitch went elsewhere for night. It’s just me and Brad.”

Something in her expression shifted. Was she upset that Mitch wasn’t here? The idea pissed him off more than he wanted to admit.

“Alright, guys. Come on in,” she mumbled as she made her way back to the first bed. Jason of course took the time to note the cute little tank top and matching cotton shorts that hugged her round backside rather nicely.

She climbed onto the bed and flopped down beneath the covers. Obviously she was all set to go to sleep and wasn’t giving them a second thought.

“Ah, Haley?” Brad said hesitantly.

“What? Please tell me you two don’t need me to brush your teeth and tuck you in,” she mumbled into the pillow.

“Ah, no,” Brad said, smiling. “Is it alright if I sleep in my boxers? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

She waved a hand at him without looking. “Knock yourself out.”

“Okay, good night,” Brad said, heading for the bathroom.

Jason looked around the room, noting only two beds and no other furniture except for a chair and shrugged. He yanked off his shirt, pants, and shoes and began to climb into bed with Haley.

Her hand came up in a stopping motion. “Hold up there, buddy,” she said, turning to face him. She pointed to the other bed. “Have a good night.”

Jason frowned at the suggestion. “You can’t expect us to sleep together.”

“Yup.”

“Nope,” he said, climbing onto the bed quickly and flopping onto his stomach. She pushed him, well tried to anyway. He did outweigh her after all.

“Out.”

“No.”

“You’re not sleeping in the same bed as me.”

“Yes, I am. Unless you’re planning on sleeping with Brad and I don’t think you want to do that. His wife will kick your ass.”

She groaned.

He smiled.

“Look, I’ll stay on my side and you stay on your side. We’ll both sleep. Problem solved.”

“No way.”

“Afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off of me?” he teased.

Haley rolled her eyes and dropped back onto the pillow. “Fine, but just so you know, anything that comes over this way will be chopped off.”

“Duly noted,” he said, snuggling deeper into the bed.

“Oh, and if you snore I’ll kill you in your sleep,” she mumbled.

“Ditto.”

***************

“Ah, guys?” Brad said.

Haley buried her face deeper into the warmth while she tried to block out Brad and the sunlight streaming into the room.

“Go. Away,” she muttered.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go grab some breakfast,” Brad said a little louder this time, earning a groan from her cushion of warmth.

“F*ck off. We’re sleeping,” Jason mumbled as he pulled Haley closer. Surprisingly she went willingly. Her head rested on his chest just under his chin, her arm laid across his stomach, and one leg was thrown over one of his.

She felt so good in his arms. He’d never held a woman like this, never cuddled with one never mind spending the entire night in her bed. Normally when a woman tried to cuddle he felt cornered and irritated. With Haley he felt comfortable, relaxed, and even happy. She felt like she belonged with him. He wasn’t about to look too far into that at the moment.

“If you weren’t the best mattress ever I would totally kick your ass for moving onto my side,” Haley mumbled against his chest.

“Actually, you’re both in the middle,” Brad pointed out.

“Why is he still here? Sleepy,” Haley grumbled adorably.

Closing his eyes, he waved his hand towards the door. “Go eat with Mitch or something. We’ll be up in a little while.”

Brad sighed unhappily. “Fine.”

A moment later the door was closed and they were both drifting back off to beautiful deep sleep.

*************

“Stupid pillow,” Haley muttered, trying to punch her once comfy pillow into submission.

Last night had been the worst night of sleep she’d ever had. She spent the entire night tossing and turning and trying to get comfortable only to finally fall into a restless sleep around five this morning. Now it looked like she was in for a repeat performance.

She looked over at the alarm clock and groaned. It was nearly two in the morning. She buried her face into her pillow and screamed. This sucked! She was so tired. All day she kept herself busy with grading tests and homework, and even cleaned her house, thinking by the time she went to bed she’d be too exhausted for anything else but sleep.

It looked like that plan was failing miserably.

“So tired…….” She nearly whimpered.

Damn Jason. Somehow he wrecked sleep for her. She’d never slept in the same bed with a guy before. Sure she cuddled with a few boyfriends in front of the television after a heavy make out session, but it always felt awkward. With Jason if felt so good. He was a thousand times more comfortable than her bed or down comforter.

How was she supposed to get comfortable on a pillow top mattress after sleeping in his arms? She couldn’t. There was no way she was going to be able to manage work tomorrow on less than two hours of sleep in forty eight hours, but she couldn’t call in because they were preparing for finals.

“Move over,” Jason said, startling her.

She jumped up, clutching her chest, trying to catch her breath as she watched Jason push up her window screen and climb into her room. He closed the screen behind him and lay down on her bed.

Still gasping, she sucked in a breath and said, “What the hell is wrong with you? You just scared the hell out of me!”

“Look woman, I don’t know what you did, but I haven’t been able to sleep since we got back from New York. I’m tired and bitchy and all I want is some sleep so cuddle your ass up with me or so help me I will kill you,” Jason snapped.

“Wow, you are bitchy,” she mumbled.

“It’s your fault.”

“Whatever.”

“Let’s go,” he said, holding out his arms expectantly. When she hesitated he wiggled his fingers. “You know you want to.”

“Just for tonight,” she clarified.

He nodded quickly. “Just for tonight. Now, let’s go, I’m cranky.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” she said dryly, but she did as she was asked. She was too exhausted to do anything else at the moment.

It didn’t take long for the beating of Jason’s heart to lull her into a deep and peaceful sleep.

The alarm went off waking Haley from a deep comfortable sleep. Instead of feeling jumpy and attacking the alarm clock after only getting five hours of sleep she felt oddly well rested.

Jason yawned as he sat up and shut off the alarm. He rubbed his eyes and turned around to lift up the screen.

“I’ll see you at work,” he mumbled.

“Okay,” she said, getting to her feet. “This was a onetime deal,” she said more to remind herself than him. She could quickly become dependent on the comfort and warmth he offered and that wasn’t a good idea with a guy like Jason.

He gave her one of his lopsided smiles. “Of course. It was just a onetime deal.”