Parting Chances (Fighting Chance #1) (20 page)

My mind kept wandering over the possibility of sleeping with Eli, and I barely noticed as Owen, once again, phoned in the answer.

I caught Eli smirking at me out of the corner of my eye.

“What?”

“Stop overthinking it. I mean, we
have
slept in the same bed before, but I’ll sleep on the floor.” He turned to the computer as the next question was read. My mind was still reeling that I missed it again.

Clearly I’m bringing so much to the team right now.
I pretended to type something into the Google search box, but it didn’t matter; Eli had found the answer and was calling it in.

“I can’t let you sleep on the floor,” I said as he ended the call. I look a long drink of water to keep my hands occupied, so I didn’t do or say anything embarrassing. You know, like how I really wouldn’t mind sleeping with him.

“Great. Then I’ll sleep with you.”

Water sprayed from my mouth and landed all over Eli. My eyes widened, and I felt my cheeks heat.
Please let the Earth open up and suck me in right now. Please!
My hands pressed over my mouth as I willed myself to both stop the giggling that was about to escape and the tears that were threatening to form. Owen was also trying to contain his chuckle from across the table, while Eli just sat there shocked.

This is it. This is when he tells me to leave.
I braced myself as his mouth opened, but the only sound that came out was laughter. I sat frozen while Eli and Owen doubled over their computers laughing hard. My embarrassment swelled to an all-time high. Before I could keep my pity party going, Eli reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze.

“If you didn’t want me to sleep with you, you only had to say the words.” His chuckles continued, and I just wanted to hide. Why did all the embarrassing things have to happen in front of Eli?

Somehow the two guys composed themselves and answered the last few questions of the shift. When the three guys on the next shift arrived, I was met with relief and panic. Eli and I never had come to a decision on where he would be sleeping, and it was go time. We closed our computers and moved them from the table so the next shift could have our spots. I gathered our trash from the table and threw it in the garbage. Eli was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs when I reemerged from the kitchen.

“Ready for some sleep?” he asked with that lopsided grin of his.

Yeah, right. Keep giving me smiles like that, and I’ll never be able to sleep.

“Um, yeah.” I mumbled as he grasped my hand and led me up the stairs. My heart thumped hard and fast against my chest the closer we got to his room. The first thing I noticed upon entering was my duffel bag sitting on his bed. I had no idea when it got moved or by who, but it was clear that it had been known I was sleeping in here…by everyone but myself. I lifted the bag from the bed and hurried into the bathroom with it. When the door closed behind me, I leaned against it in semi-relief. I’d have a few minutes alone to calm myself before I had to face Eli again.

I went through my nighttime routine, slipping into my pajamas, washing my face and brushing my teeth—twice. If I was going to be sleeping anywhere near Eli, my breath was going to smell minty fresh all night long. When I was unable to hide in the bathroom any longer, I returned to Eli’s room. Eli sat on the edge of his bed, holding his clothes in his hand when I entered. He glanced up when I set my bag in the corner and gave me a soft smile.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to take a quick shower.” And with that, he left me alone in his room.

Right. Make myself comfortable.
That was easier said than done. Especially since he was just down the hall…in the shower…naked.

Oh god, Haley! Focus on something else.
Anything
else.

I stared at his bed, unsure of what to do. If he really was planning on sleeping in the bed with me, I didn’t know which side he usually slept on. Or was he more of a “take up the entire bed” kind of guy. Oh man, it got more awkward the longer I stood there. Instead of crawling under the covers like I wanted to do, I perched myself on the edge of the mattress and scrolled through my phone. It was too early for any normal person to be awake, but I needed something to do while I waited for Eli to get done with his shower… And there I went, thinking of him naked again. Damn it.

I was flipping through Instagram when a freshly-showered Eli walked back in. He wore those sweatpants I’d seen him in before, and thankfully he had a shirt on. He chuckled when he saw me sitting on the very edge of his bed, but didn’t say anything as he continued to his closet.

“Sorry, I didn’t know which side you usually slept on.” That made him freeze and turn slowly back towards me.

“I usually sleep on that side but end up taking up the whole bed.” He grinned at me sheepishly. “But I thought I was sleeping on the floor.”

Great, we were back to this point. “The bed’s big enough for the two of us.” Had I really just said that? By the look on Eli’s face, yes, yes I had.

“You sure?” He was still standing by his closet, and his question gave me an out. But I was positive I didn’t want it.

“Get your butt in bed.” I grinned at him as I slid under the covers. The flash of heat in his eyes was noticeable as he took me in, lying in his bed. My heart sped up as he continued to stare at me. “Okay, seriously, you sure do know how to make a girl feel uncomfortable,” I mumbled. I kind of hoped he hadn’t heard me, but by the way his posture changed, I was pretty sure he had.

He quickly climbed in next to me and pulled me close to him, resting my head on his chest. “Sorry. You just have no idea how much you affect me.” The sound of his heart beating was lulling me to sleep. I’m pretty sure I mumbled something about how I
did
know, before I fell off to sleep.

***

Beep! Beep! Beep!

My body jolted at the sound of an alarm going off. I reached my arm out to smack the snooze and hit something warm instead.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Oh hell, that was so annoying. When had I changed my alarm from music to the annoying buzzer? I hit at the clock again, and once again, hit something warm and soft.

What the…?
I turned my head to see what was in the way and lost my breath when Eli’s face came into view. That soft warm thing I was hitting was his face.
Oh god.
I groaned and yanked the blankets up to my face to hide my embarrassment.

Beep! Beep! Beep!
Where the crap was his stupid alarm? I propped myself up on my elbows and glanced at the table on his side. It was empty of a clock. Looking over at the table on my side, I found the culprit. I tried smacking the top, like I would to mine, but nothing happened. The stupid beeping just kept blaring. A few more beats from my fist, and nothing happened. If anything, it seemed like the beeps got louder. Throwing myself back on my pillow, I let out another groan.

“Eli! Your stupid alarm won’t shut up!” I elbowed his ribs, finally managing to wake him.

“Woman, stop hitting me,” he mumbled and attempted to turn over. I caught his arm and clutched tightly.

“
Eli
,” I whined. “The alarm.”

He finally seemed to acknowledge the beeps and reached his arm out to hit it. I shifted my head just in time, before his arm came down on the pillow.

“Pretty sure I’m still here.”

Eli turned to face me, his eyes wide. “Crap, sorry! I usually wake up alone.” He scrambled across me and finally shut off the alarm. The silence that filled the room was deafening. And I would have questioned his choice of words. He
usually
woke up alone. What did that mean? But any coherent thought flew from my mind because in the process of him shutting the alarm off, he had managed to position himself right over me. He was now propped up on his elbows staring down at me.

“Sorry about that.” He grinned. His legs straddled mine and his hips pressed into me. Heat shot straight through my body.

“Oh, you know. I just love the annoying sound of the buzzer.” I tried to laugh it off, but my voice came out shaky. As if he knew the effect he was having on me, he shifted his hips slightly causing my stomach to tighten and heat to flood the area. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and tried to stifle the moan that I knew was coming. It didn’t help, and a breathy sigh escaped. Eli’s eyes darkened as he stared down at my lips, and he shifted his hips again. I didn’t even bother covering up the moan that escaped this time.

A slow smile spread across his face as he leaned down. He stopped when his nose brushed mine, his mouth only centimeters away. My heart beat wildly in my chest; I was pretty sure he was able to feel it. His chest pressed against mine, and I felt his heart keeping the same speed. The thought that he was just as affected by me as I was by him made me grin. The smile didn’t last long though as Eli brought his lips down and brushed them against mine.

Holy hell.

I’ve been kissed before, but just that light brush was better than anything I’ve felt before. I’m pretty sure you could actually
see
the sparks when our lips met. He pulled back slightly, meeting my eyes with his as he gave me a questioning look. Why on Earth was he questioning this? Couldn’t he tell from the moans that I was so ready? To answer his unspoken question, I lifted my hips slightly, circling them against his. The sharp hiss that escaped his mouth almost undid me, but I got my point across. His lips crashed into mine, consuming me with his want. I matched his pace and couldn’t stop the moan building in my throat. His tongue ran against my lips, and I parted them, letting him in and our tongues danced with each other. The minty taste that lingered in his mouth broke me out of the trance I was in for a moment, wondering what mine smelled like. But Eli kept stroking my tongue, bringing me back to the present. He didn’t have an issue with it, so I didn’t either.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. My hips moved against his in perfect rhythm, our lips never breaking. A groan rumbled through his throat, making the fire burn through my body faster. This was worth the months of sexual tension that had built between us. I slid my legs to the outside of his and wrapped them around him. The sensation increased as I switched position, and the moan that passed through my lips echoed throughout the room. He moved his lips down my neck, kissing and nibbling from one side to the other. He moved one hand to my stomach and started rubbing small circles over my tank top. He kissed his way back to my mouth as his hand slowly trailed up my body. His thumb brushed the underside of my breast. My body trembled under his as a throaty groan escaped my lips. I felt his hand move up more and…

Bang! Bang! Bang!
Eli jerked back and rolled off me to his side of the bed. Our breaths came out heavy and uneven as we both stared at the door. Had I been too loud? Did the entire house know what we were doing?

Bang! Bang!
“Hales? Hales are you awake?” Kyler’s voice came through the door.

“Um… yeah.” My voice came out shaky and hoarse.

“Good! So I forgot my computer at home. Can I use yours for this shift?” Kyler yelled through the door. I heard Eli grumble and felt his head slam into his pillow.

“Yeah, sure. You didn’t even have to ask.” I bit my lip and tried not laugh. I’d forgotten the house was full of people.

“Kind of did. I don’t know your password.”

“Oh, right.” I sighed. “It’s Cavanaugh. All lowercase.”

“That’s such an easy password. Anyone could steal it.” Kyler laughed from the other side of the door.

“Ky, I think if someone is accessing my computer, we’d have bigger issues than just them logging onto it. You know, like them
stealing
it first.” I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see.

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks Hales!” Kyler said. “Carry on with what you were doing.” Oh shit, had she heard? “Good morning Eli.” Kyler laughed through the door before I heard her feet on the stairs.

Yep, she knew.

Eli started laughing and pulled me to his chest. I wasn’t sure if it was funny or if I should die from embarrassment, but I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped.

“Kill me now,” I groaned into his chest. His arm tightened around me, and his laughter continued.

“Oh no. That was the best wake up I’ve ever had.” He kissed the top of my head. I closed my eyes, smiling at what had happened between Eli and I, but drained from all the emotions I was just put through. I snuggled in closer and let his heartbeat sing me back to sleep.