TANGLED

by Simone Elise

  Yep. She had said what I thought she said. God. Please. Don’t be cruel. Don’t let her do it front of me. I was silently begging a higher spirit above me to not torture me.

  She was rea my expression, and if she could even pick up on a tiny bit of panic I was feeling about her stripping in front of me, she should know not to do it. Cause I wouldn’t be able to control myself. The need would overcome me. The need to explore her body- naked and in front of me- fuck it would kill me not to act on those feelings- and I’m a man of control.

  A cheeky grin and she took a step closer to me. “Do you want to undress me Josh?” Her voice went up with a hint of teasing.

  Why the fuck would she say that. I swallowed sharply. Just don’t let her see how badly I want to do it. cause yes, I did want to undress her. But then I also wanted to explore her naked skin. She linked her hand with mine and pulled me into the room, moving me back to until I was against the bed. When my legs hit the edge of the bed she gave me a firm push, landing me on my ass.

  She stepped in between my legs with the most alluring look on her face. If I wasn’t already stiff, that look would have done it alone.

  She had me ridged, scared to fucking move a muscle. Not trusting myself near her.

  She gripped the hem of my hoodie and pulled it off. Then she dropped it beside me. She hadn’t just abandoned it. She placed it down, like it was special to her.

  Then I swallowed sharply as her hand went to the strap of her long singlet. “You know what the girls said that I stripped in front of?” Her voice was low, alluring, and so fucking sweet. It would send a diabetic into a sugar coma.

  She pushed the other strap off her shoulder, threading her arms out.

  Please don’t do it. I prayed as her hands went to her breasts and she slowly pulled the fabric down.

  She dropped her mouth to my ear. “Still no idea on what they said, Josh?” I could hear the smirk in her voice.

  She was getting pleasure out of this.

  “No,” I forced out, as she picked up my hands. She placed them on the fabric of her top, on the sides of her breasts. Not on her breasts, but so fucking close—my thumbs nearly touching them.

  Slowly she pushed my hands down, causing the fabric to go down with them.

  I hissed in sharply, seeing her low-cut black bra, the top of her breasts spilling out. My eyes couldn’t move off them. She kept moving my hands down, pulling the fabric down, showing more of her beautiful snow white skin.

  She was going to kill me. Tempting and waving a drug in front of me. That drug being her body.

  The singlet got to her hips and she took her hands off mine, and my hands stilled on her hips.

  She leaned in towards me, linking her arms around my neck. “You doing to finish the job, Josh?”

  I was breathing in sharply and out even sharper, trying my best to keep my shit together.

  “Come on, Josh, I’ve done most of the work.” Her words were like velvet to my ears.

  Don’t do it. Don’t fucking do it. I kept repeating over and over in my head, telling myself to take my hands off her. But what do I do instead? Instead of fucking listening to myself…

  My hands started to push the fabric down. I don’t think I could believe my luck. If you had told me hours ago I would be stripping her, I wouldn’t have believed it. I wouldn’t believe that I, Josh Hawkins, would get to see Soph in her underwear again.

  I moved the singlet down her thigh and I took a staggered breath in when my fingers brushed over the straps connecting to her stockings. Why? Why was she doing this to me?

  I looked up at her and her eyes were on me. She looked so calm. My hands kept pushing down the singlet until it fell down on its own.

  She dipped her head, her eyes locked with mine. She unlocked her hands from around my neck. My hands were back on her, gripping the back of her thighs and pushing her closer to me in between my legs. My hands ran up her thighs over her ass, and paused on her lower back.

  She didn’t stop me. She didn’t even push me away. She pushed her hair to the side and then cupped my face. I knew it was going to happen. It had to happen. The kiss was coming. And once her lips touched mine, I wouldn’t be stopping with a kiss.

  It wasn’t in me.

  I would set myself a challenge as soon as she kissed me. That challenge being having her grasping and moaning, clenching. Fuck, yes. She would be regret ever teasing me.

  Her mouth went to my ear again, and I wanted to groan because I wanted her lips on mine.

  “They said I wore black well. What do you think?” She put her hands on my shoulders and smiled at me. “No words?”

  She was a bloody minx!

  I inhaled sharply. Was her mission to kill me with temptation?

  She stepped back and she laughed. “Clearly I’ve made you uncomfortable. Don’t worry, Josh, I won’t ask you to finish the job.” She leaned across me and picked up my hoodie, giving me a large grin. “How about you find the remote? I’ll only be a sec.”

  She walked off with my hoodie in hand. My eyes just followed her, then being glued to her ass, seeing the lace shape it perfectly. She thought I was uncomfortable? Fuck, she had made me feel everything else but that.

  She slightly closed the door to the wardrobe, but it wasn’t enough. I knew I should look away, I knew it was the gentleman thing to do and it was the right thing to do, but my eyes were stuck on her.

  I watched her unclip her tights and roll them down. I had never seen anything as sexy as that. Then her hands went behind her back. It was too late to look away. She took the bra off and I was reminded just how perfect her breasts were.

  Even from here, I could admire the shape, the perkiness to them. And then my view was ruined when she pulled my hoodie over her body. I got up quickly and my eyes ran over her bed and bedside table, spotting the remote on the floor.

  The last thing I wanted was for her to walk back in here and see me gawking at her.

  “Did you find it?”

  I straightened up from picking it up. “Yep.” I watched her as she went to the side of bed and threw the blankets back.

  “Awesome.” She shot me a smile and got into the bed. “Oh my god, this bed is so warm.” She tucked her legs under and pulled the blankets up. Seems like she was sleeping in my hoodie. I suppressed my smile and pleasure of seeing that.

  I threw the remote into the middle of the bed. “I don’t know which channel is which.”

  “But everyone knows the free to air channels?” She picked the remote up.

  “Yeah, and then they went digital while I was in prison.” I informed her and kicked my shoes off. I couldn’t take my top off in front of her. I wasn’t ready for that.

  She was having a fling with Bax. But when she realized who I was and what I stood for, that wouldn’t be changing. Well, she wouldn’t want to be friends with that type of person. I knew her. I knew, when it came to Soph, she would stand on the side of the law. She might be flirting with danger at the moment, but she would come to her senses and she would ditch Bax.

  Well, at least that was what I was hoping for. cause the other option was she ended up with Bax. And I wouldn’t let that happen. She deserved better. Better than what she could get from this town. I saw the envelopes from overseas on the kitchen island from colleges and universities all over the world. She was going to achieve great things. And I wouldn’t let Bax be the man to stop that.

  “You going to get into bed, Josh?”

  I looked up, seeing her eyes on me.

  “I forgot about the channels doing that. Must be difficult adjusting to things out of prison.” She added, with a frown. “I guess a lot things have changed for you.”

  That summed up my life. I nodded my head. I didn’t want her pity or the awkwardness that came along when anyone talked about my prison sentence.

  She leaned across and threw the blankets back for me.

  Whenever someone mentioned my prison sentence the same question always followed: “Why?” Why d
id I go to prison? So far Soph hadn’t asked, but right now she had a perfect opportunity to.

  Instead she looked up at me with a smile. “Your electric blanket isn’t on. I never sleep on the left.”

  And that was Soph for you. She would surprise you. I was grateful she had changed the subject. I didn’t want to lie to her. And I didn’t know how to tell her the truth at the same time.

  I hated bringing up why I went to prison. I was going to waste four years behind bars all because something in me made me do the right thing. And Christine didn’t even stick by me for a month after my sentence. Hell, she didn’t even waste a day.

  Women for you.

  But then I looked at Soph. The small smile on her face. The blushed cheeks. Her red lips. Her blonde hair pulled to the side. I didn’t see her as I saw every other woman.

  I was thankful she had changed the subject. I gave her a smile. “Are you planning on wearing my hoodie to bed or something?” I asked as I climbed in.

  “Yep.” She pushed the sleeves up. “Do you want to come to my side where it is warm?” She grinned, carefree.

  I shook my head, at least she was covered. “You know you’ll get hot.” I got in the bed. And I knew she wasn’t wearing a top under it.

  “Nope. I freeze in here every night.”

  “Why don’t you put the central heating on?”

  “Don’t know how.”

  I rolled my eyes. “So you’ve just been freezing every night?” Why didn’t Mom and Dad show her how to put on the heating?

  “I use the electric blanket.” She glanced at the television. “I love this episode.”

  “You love every episode.” I didn’t know if I should move more into the middle of the bed, closer to her, or keep to my side.

  “Rick is my favorite.”

  “I remember.” Why she loved such an old show was beyond me.

  “Kyle used to hate watching it with me too.” She sat up in the bed. “You can go if you want. I know how much Kyle hated it. Maybe it is a family trait.”

  Her eyes were on the television, but I knew what she was really doing. She was giving me an excuse to leave. To leave her. cause that’s what she was used to: men leaving her. My brother was the reason why she was expecting me to leave right now. Cause she didn’t think I’d want to suffer through this, just to be with her.

  I got my answer on whether I should move closer or further away.

  I slid into the middle of the bed. “Bloody hell, Soph, you are going to cook yourself.”

  That had her taking her eyes off the television and looking at me. She leaned forward, sitting up. A small yawn escaping her lips. “So you are going to stay?”

  “Yes and watch the hour and half of musical torture.” I put my arm behind her, but I wasn’t touching her. It was up to her whether she wanted me touching her or not. She could make the decision.

  “It’s not all music. It has like one music feature. You are forgetting about all the comedy.” Her eyes kept locked with mine. And she didn’t lean back into my arm, or lay in to my side.

  I wanted her to, but I wasn’t going to make her. She tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Did you know the actor Rik Mayall, who plays Rick, died three years ago?” She was still sitting up and she seemed nervous.

  “Nah, baby girl, I had no idea,” I said gently. When Soph loved something, she knew even the small details about it. I was waiting for her to make a decision, to pull away from me, fall back into my arm, or move back to the edge if her bed.

  “Does it bother you if I wear your hoodie? I don’t want it to be awkward. I get it if you don’t want me to. Kyle hated me wearing anything mildly male.” Her voice was pulled back like she was expecting to be in trouble.

  Was it wrong that I wanted her to be wearing something that was mine? It was probably unhealthy and a sign of something else- but I was seeing it as, she was the only woman I wanted to have something that belonged to me.

  “Nope, doesn’t bother me.” And it was the truth. “You can have it if you want.”

  She head flung to face me, her attention on the television gone. “You serious?”

  I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal, Soph.” Was it? “It’s just a sweater,” I added, more for myself.

  The smile on her face was tiny, but it was the first real smile I had seen. It wasn’t fake. I didn’t have to think about whether it was it real or not. I knew it was a real smile. Not a big one, but it was real, and it was directed fully at me.

  I’d made her smile.

  She didn’t say anything and slid down the bed and then curled into my side.

  Automatically my arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer. Her head was on my chest and my hand was running up and down her side.

  “If I fall asleep on you. I’m sorry.” Sophie yawned and cuddled in closer to me, hooking one of her legs over mine.

  Last time we slept together I was in a world of pain, but tonight I wasn’t. And I was going to enjoy every second of sleeping with her.

  I kissed the top of her hair as her eyelids were grew heavier.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Soph

  I slowly woke up, feeling relaxed and comfortable. So comfortable I didn’t want to move or open my eyes. I just wanted to lay there all day. His hand was under the hoodie that I was wearing. I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t love this hoodie. A guy had never given me something of theirs to wear before. I had worn Bax’s t-shirt, but that was different; it was an emergency. Like, Kyle hated it if I wore his t-shirt or sweater. And then Josh goes gives his hoodie to me.

  His fingers were running up and down my side, and he was slowly putting me back to sleep.

  “You know that is amazing.” I sighed into the pillow. My body knew it was time to wake up, but Josh was putting me back to sleep. I felt him kiss the back of my head.

  I pushed back into him. I hope he didn’t mind me sleeping on his arm. I had slept on it all night.

  “Is your arm dead? I’m so sorry Josh. You should have pushed me off,” I said and lifted my head. God, I had slept all over him all night. He wasn’t my boyfriend. He didn’t have to put up with that.

  His hand on my side, he pushed me back down.

  “It’s fine.” His voice was low and close to my ear.

  “I’ve slept on you all night. That’s not fine.” I rolled over onto my back and his hand was now on my stomach. I sure that if I was with any other guy I would be very self-conscious of the fact that the blankets were the only thing covering my bottom half. The hoodie was up around my waist, and I wasn’t wearing pajama pants; I was, however, wearing underwear that didn’t leave much to the imagination. I moved to my side to face him, and his hand moved smoothly just across my body.

  “You sleep alright?” he asked that like I wouldn’t have slept perfectly with him.

  I smiled, taking in his concerned face. “I think that is the best night sleep I’ve had in a while.”

  The corner of his lips twitched up. “Good.”

  I knew he was always touching me, but I found myself, like last night, wanting to touch him. So I moved my hand under the blanket and slowly traced my fingers up his arm.

  “What are you doing today?” I asked, getting lost at the feel of his skin. His fingers traced circles so gently on my lower back. My eyes slowly closed, overwhelmed with his touch.

  “Got to fix the throttle on my bike.”

  My eyes opened wide. “You have a bike?”

  His eyes had been shut and I don’t think he realized what he said until I questioned him. Then his eyes were open, like he had just told me his life secret. “Um…” Was all he managed.

  I arched my eyebrows at him confused. Ok, something was wrong. He had a bike, what was the big deal? Why was he looking so… horrified?

  “Josh, what is with the expression?” I asked, his fingers had stilled on my back and he looked scared. “Are you ok?” Suddenly I was concerned for him. I wondered if I’d upset him. How was having a moto
r bike a secret? He used to ride dirt bikes when he was younger. “Josh, are you ok?” I repeated.

  “Fine.” He staggered out and frowned.

  “Then what is with the expression?” I frowned.

  “I’m not.” He wiped the expression I was talking about off his face. “I should go.” His words were firm and he looked so distance. In fact, I liked the horrified expression more than the one on his face right now. He was looking at me like… well I had seen that look before on his brothers face, when Kyle told me he would never love me again and wanted nothing to do with me.

  Yeah, Josh wanted nothing to do with me. His expression was telling me that. He wasn’t hiding it either, he was looking at me like I was nothing but a fly in his life.

  Suddenly he wanted to run away from me. That for some reason hurt. I don’t know why, but I really cared about his opinion and I felt so comfortable and relaxed with him. I had hoped he felt the same. But right now he wasn’t comfortable with me and he sure as hell wasn’t relaxed. He wanted to run. And I nodded my head.

  “Sorry.” I said. I didn’t know what else to say. I was making him want to bolt. I didn’t know why. But it was me who was scaring him away. I guess sorry was the only word to say.

  He didn’t need to tell me he wanted nothing to do with me. His facial expression told me everything. Told me he was regretting ever speaking to me. Told me wanted to be anywhere but here. But what was hurting me more than it should, was well, the regret in his eyes, was telling me he regretted last night, and I had enjoyed it so much. I had hoped that our friendship was growing in a positive direction.

  Hell, I never had a male friend that cared as much as him. The friendship developing between Josh and me, it was deeper, stronger than the friendship I’d had with Kayla. I never had a male friend I felt so comfortable in front of. That brought out another side to me.

  Josh brought out things in me I thought were dead, like laughter, confidence, and faith—I had faith in him, trusted him.

  But that friendship that I was enjoying, that friendship I was starting to count on, well, I think Josh was putting an end to it.