When did my bed get so comfy? Why does my pillow smell so good?
I peel my eyes open, expecting to see the light pouring in through my sheer curtains, only to find nothing but darkness. Either I changed my cheap curtains out for blackouts when I was drunk or this isn’t my room.
It all comes rushing back in a head pounding wave. Oakley! That’s the smell. Also, bacon? I can definitely smell bacon. I frantically lift the blankets. A sigh of relief escapes my lips when I see the shirt I am wearing. That would have been awkward. Looking around the room, Oakley is nowhere to be found.
I prepare myself for the cold that will hit me as soon as I leave the bed’s warmth and run to the door that I can only hope leads to a bathroom.
After stumbling the entire way, I finally make it into what thankfully turns out to be a bathroom and not a secret sex dungeon. I find a spare toothbrush sitting by the sink, courtesy of Oakley, I’m guessing.
I guess I should try to make myself look like something other than a raccoon that just crawled out of a garbage can. With the hair tie on my wrist, I sweep my knotted hair into a messy bun on the top of my head and manage to wash away the remnants of eyeliner and mascara around my eyes with cold water.
I look down at my outfit and sigh. I can either put on my clothes from last night, or I can keep wearing his shirt. It’s not like it isn’t long enough, the damn thing goes down to my knees. Okay, shirt it is.
I close my hand around the cold, brassy knob—and pause. I can hear Oakley talking to someone through the door.
“Thanks, Mom. I know you guys would have been here if you could. I love you too.”
Now, I know you shouldn’t eavesdrop, but I can’t help it! He’s a mama’s boy. That’s adorable.
I wait until he hangs up to open the door. I walk out into the main room, and my mouth falls open.
Oakley is wearing nothing but a pair of baggy grey sweatpants, standing in front of the oven making breakfast.
Oh, sweet baby Jesus. I can’t see what he’s doing from where I’m standing. All I can see are his incredibly defined back muscles flexing with every move he makes. A large tattoo on the back of his neck catches my eye. It intrigues me with its intense designs as it continues across his broad shoulders, expanding until it reaches the middle of his back. I’ll have to ask him about it later.
“Good morning.”
Oakley jumps and swears under his breath in surprise. I laugh as he turns to face me.
His face lights up. “Morning, beautiful. Coffee?” “Yes, please. Black. Also, do I smell bacon?”
He hands me a red mug, a similar shade to his cheeks. I’m getting the impression he doesn’t usually make girls breakfast. Great, there are those damn butterflies again.
“Yeah, figured you were going to be hungry. Bacon is one of the best hangover foods. From what I hear, at least.”
I walk over and wrap my arms around his waist and place a kiss on his tattoo. “Thank you.”
Woah, when did I become so bold?
I feel him shudder and hear the sharp intake of breath he takes as he pours his coffee. “Uh, yeah. Of course.”
It’s good to know that I affect him when I’m sober too.
Unfortunately, I remember everything that happened last night. I wish I had forgotten some things to avoid the inevitable embarrassment I know I’m no doubt going to feel. I feel my face getting warm just thinking about my little ass shake stunt last night.
I pull my hands from around his waist and quickly move towards his kitchen table. Before I sit down, I notice him staring oddly at me. Great, I probably still have black smudges around my eyes or something.
“Do I have something on my face?” I rub under my eyes in hopes of getting rid of whatever’s there.
“No, you just look good in my clothes,” he winks and turns back around to get our breakfast.
cheeks.
“Oh.” I stare down at my feet as the heat comes rushing to my Got it.
 |
I put the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher as Oakley boldly pulls me into his chest and kisses the top of my head. “Are you busy today?”
“Other than a class at three, no. Why?” I turn around so I can look up at him and lean my back against the counter.
“Let me take you on a date.” His voice sounds more profound than usual—more intense. His arms are on either side of me now as he leans in closer, trapping me. The burning intensity in his eyes is enough for me to know he can hear my erratic breathing. I’m panting like a dog in heat for crying out loud.
“Um yeah—yes. Sure. Sounds good to me.” God, I sound like an
idiot.
“Yeah?”
My heart picks up when a giant grin spreads over his chiselled
features.
“I can take you home in a couple of minutes so you can change? I mean, unless you wanna wear just that on our first date?” he offers and leans down to press a gentle kiss on my cheek.
“Yeah, I bet you wouldn’t mind that, would you? I’m just going to put my clothes back on and then we can head out.” I give him a shy smile and duck under his arm to put some much-needed space between us.
“I definitely wouldn’t mind. Just wear the sweatpants I gave you last night. If you want to put them on this time.”
Right, the sweatpants I didn’t wear so that I could shake my ass at him. The cocky smirk on his face is well earned. This conversation just got really embarrassing.
“Shut up. I was hot,” I mutter.
“Yeah, you were.” His smirk returns. “You can use my room. I’ll change in the bathroom after I shower. Just let me grab some clothes.” He wastes no time and heads to his bedroom.
A few minutes later, I pull on the sweatpants that I have to roll up five times and the same shirt from earlier. I sit on Oakley’s bed and scroll through my phone while I wait for him. Sooner than later, he comes strolling confidently out of the bathroom.
He’s wearing beige khakis with a teasingly tight white, long sleeve shirt. Not that I mind. His hair is swept up behind a backward grey baseball cap like usual and I can smell his musky body wash from here as it wafts greedily over me.
“Are you done examining me? Do I fit the part?” He lifts a brow as he watches me practically eye-fucking him again. I seem to be doing that a lot.
“No, actually, I don’t think I am,” I state while biting my lip—a habit I seem to have recently picked up.
Oakley makes a noise between a growl and a moan, and I bring my eyes up to meet his. His pupils dilate as the tension rises in the room. Maybe he’ll finally pounce on me.
Nope, who am I kidding? He abruptly coughs, throws a Saint’s hoodie on and leaves me alone in his room. “Ready to go? It’s ten, so we still have plenty of time.”
I sigh and nod once. “Yep, let’s go.”
 |
Surprisingly, there had been no awkwardness on the way over to my apartment. That was until Oakley and I walked in and saw Morgan and Matthew making out on the couch without a care in the world.
“Guys! Didn’t you have enough time last night? Please tell me you weren’t just about to have sex on our couch!” I shriek. Oakley covers my eyes from behind and chuckles in my ear.
They jump apart and Morgan reaches for the blanket lying beside her before covering her and Matthew up.
“You could have given us a heads up at least, ass hat,” she glares while Matt laughs at her embarrassment.
“Bro, go get dressed. Not everyone wants to see… all of that.” Oakley waves his hands in front of Matthew. As soon as both of them head
to Morgan’s room to get decent, I tell Oakley to sit anywhere but the couch while I get ready.
Half an hour later, I’m ready to go. Oakley informed me on the drive over that we are going to the rink since the team doesn’t have practice today. I decided not to tell him that I am, in fact, an excellent skater, mainly because I didn’t want to have to bring up the fact that David was the one who taught me.
Plus, I would much rather have him close, teaching me, than farther away. When I reenter the living room, Morgan, Matt, and Oakley are sitting on the couch. The boys are watching whatever hockey game is on TV, while Morgan has her head in Matt’s lap, scrolling through her phone.
“Good to go?” I ask loudly. The three of them look up at me.
Matthew smirks, Morgan grins, and Oakley stares blankly.
He stands up from the couch and makes his way over to me. He wraps his arm around my waist and leans down to whisper in my ear, “You look beautiful.”
I shiver from the warm breath trailing down my spine and unconsciously lean my head to rest against his. He pulls back slightly to place a gentle kiss on my cheek before pulling away entirely and grabbing my hand, lacing our fingers together.
You would think I would be used to the shocks I feel every time we touch by now, but I’m so not.
“You kids have fun, but not too much. Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do, Ava,” Morgan says firmly.
Matt chuckles. “So nothing?”
I roll my eyes and drag Oakley out of the apartment as quickly as I can before Morgan tries to embarrass me further.
“Yeah yeah, see you later, Mom!” I shout and hurry out the door.
“What’s the rush, speedy? Can’t wait to get me alone?” Oakley wiggles his eyebrows.
“In your dreams, hotshot.” I keep my head down as I answer in hopes that he won’t see my red cheeks.
“You’re right. We are alone in my dreams.”
Surprised, I snap my head up to look at him only to get a simple wink and his cocky smirk just as we reach his truck.
