Free Exposed: A British Bad Boy Romance by Sennah Tate

us any more information.
    We finally manage to get it sorted and after a brief jaunt to another part of the city, I’m helping her pour out of the cab and into the rickety lift in her building.
    “We’re almost there, sweetheart,” I say to her gently. She’s nestled against my chest, half-asleep on her feet, muttering incoherent nonsense.
    I’ve got one arm around her slender body with her stupid shoes in my hand while I try to sort through the mass of keys and keychains she’s got in order to unlock the door to her flat.
    “Susie, darling, which key is it?”
    “The key! Life is the key to happiness!” She frowns, “No, that’s not right…”
    No help there. I need to get her into bed pronto.
    Generally, that phrase would have so many illicit connotations in my mind, but I’m surprised to find that I only care about her well-being at the moment.
    If that isn’t worrisome, then I don’t know what is.
    Susie slumps against the door and knocks — a fruitless endeavor, I think, until the peephole darkens — and the door swings open to reveal a sleepy dark-skinned girl in tight little boyshorts and a high school t-shirt.
    “Suze, what are you—” she rubs the sleep from her eyes and they quadruple in size, “You’re… you’re— I mean—”
    “Yes, yes,” I say, pushing past her, “I’m sure you’re as astonished to find me here as I am to be here. I presume you’re Suzette’s flatmate?”
    “I— Uh, I mean, yeah. Is she…?”
    “Utterly pissed? Yes, could you be so kind as to lead me to her bedroom?” I say, having now scooped the nearly-unconscious Susie into my arms, carrying her as she clings to my neck.
    “Right through there,” the girl points and I nod my head and carry Susie through to her room, nudging the door closed behind me with my heel.
    With a sweeping gesture I pull back the predictably feminine duvet and lay her gently on the mattress.
    In different circumstances, I’d do anything to have Susie laid out before me, but for once, there’s nothing sexual about this moment.
    I’m pulling the blankets up around her when there’s a timid knock from behind and Susie’s door opens.
    “Hey, I just feel like I should make sure you’re not in here like…”
    “Defiling her?” I offer, with a smirk.
    Her eyes stick to the floor, “Well… You know…”
    Susie stirs and her eyes open, ensnaring me in an instant, “Jasper?” she says, blinking, “Why are you in my bedroom?”
    I come up with a hundred different taunts, but now isn’t the time to deploy them, “I just wanted to make sure you made it home alright, luv.”
    The other girl has since managed to venture to the kitchen and returns now with a glass of water and a couple of headache tablets.
    “Here, Suze, you’re gonna want these.”
    Susie beams, “You’re the best, Al.”
    “Alright, we’re going to leave you to get some rest, alright?” I say, patting her on the arm when I desperately want to kiss her goodnight.
    Fucking tequila .
    “Jasper?” She calls, reaching out for me.
    “Hm?” My heart leaps, wondering if she, too, wants that kiss goodnight.
    Damn it all.
    She waves her arm in a haphazard flailing motion, “Told you there’s no lace,” she says, sounding victorious.
    I take a look around, “And only two teddy bears. Dear me, Suzette, you are a badarse .”
    She grins and curls up with a pillow, her eyes drifting closed, “And don’t you forget it.”
    Not a chance.
     

 
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
    Susie
    T he first time I try to open my eyes, I quickly shut them again, wincing at the harsh daylight streaming through my blinds.
    The second time I open my eyes, I nearly jump out of my skin when I realize I’m not alone.
    “Jesus christ, Al, you scared the shit out of me,” I mumble, throwing an arm over my eyes.
    Why the hell is she just sitting on the end of my bed like a creeper?
    I’m trying to remember the previous day and why my head feels like there’s a piano crushing it.
    Alisha