“Right,” I said slowly.
His lips tugged to one side. “The movers will start tonight at your house if you’re good with that.”
“Tonight. My house.”
“For someone so good at writing words, you aren’t doing too hot on the speaking them, are you?”
I shook my head and slapped his thigh. “Stop it. I’m tired.”
“Just how much sleep did you get last night?”
I scratched my nose. “I’m not entirely sure. All I know is that I’m running on not a whole lot right now.”
He stroked my hair back from my face. I’d come over with my hair still wet from my shower, so it was a little on the puffy side of smooth right now. “Why don’t you go to bed for an hour? Take a deep breath, have a glass of water, and sleep for a while.”
“I have to finish this and—”
Brett stood up. He bent over and yanked me right up with them, and then he picked me up. It wasn’t quite over his shoulder, but it was close enough. Regardless, he had one hand clamped around my upper thighs, literally right below my ass, and the other was splayed across my lower back.
“Put me down!” I squealed, wiggling in his hold.
“Nope. You’re going to sleep.”
“Put. Me. Down!”
He ignored my protests and carried me right through the house. By the time he reached the stairs, I gave up. He wasn’t going to listen to me, and all I was doing was making myself even more tired.
Brett carried me into his room where he finally set me down onto my feet. “No more fighting?”
I shrugged. “Were you gonna put me down?”
“No.” He grinned playfully. “Now take off your shoes and get into bed.”
“You want me to sleep in my clothes?”
“I don’t want you to do anything in clothes. Ever.”
“That isn’t what I was asking.”
“Yes,” he answered, contradicting what he just said. “Because if you sleep in your underwear, I’m not going to be able to leave this room until I’ve fucked you and you need to sleep.”
“Or you could exercise a little thing called self-control.”
“I could, but I don’t want to.”
“So I have to do it for you?”
“Lani?”
“Yes?”
He stared at me, but he was smiling. “Stop arguing and get into bed.”
I shoved his covers to the side. “Yes, sir.”
He laughed and came over when I tucked myself in. His hand slid across my face, and he touched his lips to mine softly. “Sleep,” he murmured against my mouth.
I yawned and saluted him.
He didn’t need to tell me again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
BRETT
I sat in front of Lani’s laptop at the desk in the library. I’d tried to pass some of the time while she slept by doing some work, but it was almost impossible.
Camille was still at the hospital with Connie. Mom was overlooking the removal of the things Connie had stated needed to go from what was now their house—things that included the sofa—and Dad had finally given in to my pleas and was taking Aunt Bel home.
I didn’t know what Lani was planning, but obviously it was some kind of article. I didn’t know how many she’d agreed to with my father, and truth be told, I hadn’t ever cared to ask. A part of me still thought it was all ridiculous. Articles weren’t going to change the way people thought about me.
That didn’t change the fact that I was torn between looking at what she was writing or waiting until she was done.
This was the first one I’d cared about. Would she pin the blame solely on me? Would she keep my family out of it? Protect them? Defend them?
I didn’t care what she wrote about me. I never had. It was all in my family.
My phone buzzed next to her laptop and I picked it up.
Lani: I’m awake.
Me: Good morning.
Lani: I slept forever.
Six hours, to be exact.
Lani: Is Connie home yet?
Me: No. I need to text Camille. I spoke to her an hour ago and they said they wanted her to keep another meal down before they’d be happy to discharge her.
Lani: I bet she’s a fucking delight. Can you bring me my laptop so I can finish what I was doing?
Me: Only if I can read it.
Lani: When it’s done. PS: I’m in my underwear.
It was like fucking magic those words. I grabbed her laptop and charge cord and carried it upstairs. I didn’t even intend to fuck her, but I’d had a glimpse of her black bra and, well. I wasn’t gonna pass up a damn opportunity to see that, was I?
I reached the top of the stairs and opened my bedroom door. She was lying on her side looking at her phone and she glanced up when I quietly said, “Hey.”
“Hey.” She smiled, put her phone down, and stretched out. “Thanks. I feel like I can focus on this now.”
“Why? Because I was right?” I had a smug grin on my face and I knew it. I didn’t give a shit either.
“You know full well I’m not going to answer that question, Brett Walker.” She sat up. “If I say yes, I’m never going to live it down.”
“You not answering tells me I was right.”
“Shut up and give me my laptop.” She reached forward for it and in the process, the covers fell away from her chest.
The black lace bra hugged her round, firm tits perfectly. Desire tingled across my skin, and my gaze hovered on her cleavage when I handed her the laptop.
“Can you shut your bedroom door? I’m comfortable around your family, but not working in your bed in my bra comfortable.”
I laughed and did as she asked. “When can I read it?”
“When I’m done,” she huffed. “Now please be quiet.”
I held up my hands and sat on the other side of the bed. I grabbed the TV remote from the nightstand and turned on the TV, but I couldn’t help but flick my attention over to her laptop.
And her tits. I couldn’t help it.
“Stop staring.” She gave me the order without looking up from her screen. “Jesus Christ, don’t let me write tired again.”
“Why? What did you write?” I leaned over and craned my neck.
She elbowed me. “Get lost.”
“At least kiss me if you’re going to beat me.”
“I never realized how needy you are.”
“You mixed ‘needy’ up with ‘greedy.’“
She side-eyed me. “No, no. I meant needy.” Her lips curved up and I knew she was teasing me.
“Can I read it now?”
“No. Is this going to be like road-tripping with kids?” She hit two keys on her keyboard and looked right at me. “Are you going to ask me every two seconds if you can read it yet?”
“Yes,” I answered honestly.
“Ugh.” She groaned and leaned her head back. “Fine. Let me finish reading it. Ten minutes. Can you survive that long?”
“Just about. It might be torture though.”
Lani held up a finger. “If you keep bugging me, I’m going to put my shirt back on.”
I mimed zipping my lips. She was playing dirty with that, but hey. She won. Well... “Can you at least lie on your front so I can stare at your ass?”
“I’m putting my shirt on.” She moved the laptop to the end of the bed and bent over.
“No!” I grabbed her and pulled her back against me. “Come on, that’s mean.”