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Heat floods my cheeks as I remember everything we did together. I’ve never been so thoroughly ravished in my life. My body still tingles with pleasure at the memory of his touch. And I feel deliciously sore everywhere.
Lena continues to bang on the door, shouting. “Come on, Tess. I wanna hang out. Wake up!”
I shake Grizz’s shoulder. “Get up. My sister’s here.”
He grunts, blinking awake. Then he seems to realize we’re both still in bed, and grins. “Well, good morning.”
Ignoring him, I grab my robe and open the door. Lena bursts in, eyes bright with excitement. But when she spots Grizz, her enthusiasm falters.
“I didn’t realize you had company,” she says, turning flustered.
“It’s fine,” I say hastily. “Grizz was just leaving.”
“Was I?” He comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing a kiss to my neck.
I elbow him in the ribs, glaring. “Yes, you were.”
Grizz just laughs, utterly unrepentant. But he starts gathering up his clothes, pulling them on with casual indifference to our audience. Thank God, he at least had his boxers on!
Lena watches him, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. And I can’t really blame her. The sight of a barely dressed Grizz Malek, in the flesh, is enough to short-circuit anyone’s brain.
Six
GRIZZ
The door’s ajar. My heart pounds as I push it open. The living room’s trashed - clothes and books strewn everywhere. Tessa gasps behind me.
“Stay back,” I order.
I creep inside, fists clenched. Voices murmur from the kitchen - her parents. Anger boils in my gut. I thought we’d escaped their drama this weekend. Tessa deserved that getaway.
Now we’re back and they’re still here, leeching. I shoulder the kitchen door open, ready to unleash hell.
Tessa’s mom rummages through drawers while her dad slumps at the table, nursing a bottle. They freeze when they see me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I growl.
The mom stammers excuses about visiting her daughters. Yeah right. They’re addicts looking to score cash. My jaw clenches.
Tessa hovers behind me, wringing her hands. I gently pull her to my side. She doesn’t need this crap.
“I think it’s time you left,” I say, glaring at her parents.
Her dad grumbles something unintelligible, but they slink out without argument. Tessa sags against me when they’re gone. I wrap my arms around her.
“It’s okay. I’m here now. We’ll fix this.”
She nods against my chest. I smooth her hair, wishing I could protect her from everything. But for now, I’ll settle for shielding her from them.
Tessa trembles in my arms as the door clicks shut behind her parents.
“Shh, it’s alright,” I murmur. “They’re gone now.”
She looks up at me with those big doe eyes. “I can’t do this anymore, Grizz.”
I brush her cheek with my thumb. “Then don’t. You have me. You have Lena. We’re your family.”
Tessa blinks back tears and nods. She takes a deep breath before stepping out of my embrace.
