Free Sal (The Ride Series) by Megan O'Brien

asleep at some point during the movie because when I woke up, I was cuddled into Sal’s side with his arm around me. I flinched and jerked away when I realized what I’d been doing. I guess my subconscious hadn’t gotten the memo that we broke up.
    “Sorry,” I muttered, embarrassed.
    “You can fall asleep on me anytime,” he replied with a glimmer of mischief in his eye.
    “Don’t count on it,” I retorted, standing up and stretching. “Thanks for dinner, goodnight,” I said, anxious to make a speedy retreat.
    I used the one bathroom to get ready for bed and crawled under his covers. Everything smelled like him. It was both reassuring and punishing at the same time. I tried desperately to find sleep, but it was weird sleeping in his bed without him. I could hear him shifting around on the couch, and I knew he wasn’t sleeping either. I stared up at the ceiling and ignored the throbbing in my neck that beat with the cadence of my heart as I tried counting sheep. My mind kept drifting back to the thought of Sal on his couch, probably just in boxers. My mouth ran dry at the thought. I forced myself back to those boring sheep.
    A few hours later, I was desperate to fall asleep. Fuck it , I thought as I threw the covers back and padded out to the living room. His head turned to me immediately in the dark as I stood tentatively in the doorway in my shorts and tank top.
    “Can’t sleep?” his deep voice inquired. His voice did crazy things to me, it always had.
    “No,” I replied. Then I sighed in resignation. “This isn’t an invitation for anything,” I began sternly.
    A broad grin spread across his face at my attempt to be firm.
    “But, I can’t seem to sleep in your bed without you in it,” I stammered, feeling a bit awkward. “Would you mind, I mean could you?” I asked, drifting off, my face flaming. We’d never been in this situation before. Sal and I had slept together almost immediately. This whole dancing around each other thing was brand new.
    His smile turned warm and knowing. “Yeah, baby, I can do that,” he replied easily, sitting up and tossing his blanket aside.
    Dear god, he was just in boxers. His tall, muscled frame stalked toward me and I swallowed audibly.
    I looked up at the ceiling and prayed for strength.
    He led me back to his bedroom, his hand warm and strong over mine. He got in on his side and I got in on mine, and I immediately felt much more at ease.
    How annoying was that?
    “’Night,” I said, turning my back to him with determination to not give him any invitation for more. It wouldn’t take much for me to give in; hell, a look at this point might do it.
    “’Night, sweetness,” his voice came through the darkness, sending my already revving libido into overdrive. I squeezed my thighs together and took a deep breath, forcing my body to relax.
    Listening to Sal’s familiar breathing behind me and his comforting smell surrounding me, I was able to fall into a deep, restful sleep.

Chapter 9
    T he next morning, I woke up and found myself wrapped around Sal like a vine.
    Shit.
    I carefully extricated myself from his reassuring warmth and slipped out of bed to head for the bathroom. Sal had always been a late riser, and I figured he needed his sleep after the past few days. I was happy to find my neck and face felt much better. A look in the mirror confirmed the bruising was lightening as well. Some heavy makeup should be able to cover up my eye and a scarf would do the trick with my neck. I could probably get away with working my shift the following evening. I couldn’t afford to take any time off, especially not with the weekend coming up when the tips were best.
    I decided to go for a run before Sal woke up. I knew it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Ok, it was downright stupid, but damn I needed it. It was the perfect way to clear my head. I quietly threw on my running gear in the bathroom and put a ball cap on to try to cover up some of my face. I slipped out