CHAPTER481
“Better lock my door, otherwise, my friends may come crashing in on top of us when they finally show face.” I smile, stifling a yawn, very glad of the suggestion of some sleep. The sudden awakening this morning was bright and early, and my body is crashing as much as his; neither of us can stop yawning.
“On it.” Arrick lets me go and turns, walking across the plush carpet as he kicks off his sneakers. Getting to the door he locks it and heads back to my bed, taking a little run and jump so he lands in the middle, star-shaped. Looking like a child while doing so and beaming at me from his new position.
I giggle and walk a little more demurely, sliding off my pumps, getting on my bed gently, climbing onto my knees until I scoot closer to him. Arrick reaches out, catching my hand and tugs me over so I fall on top of him with a shocked yelp, followed by giggles as he rolls over on top of me, flattening me to the bed, pinning me down so he comes nose to nose with me, nestled against my body in a perfect fit. His eyes scan my face, the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth and one dimple shining through, I gaze right back into the depths of his eyes. Finally, feeling completely at ease and glimpses of mutual adoration shining through.
“I’m going home tonight on Jake’s jet, I guess you three are too?” He rests his chin on my chest, so he can gaze up at me, shuffling his body down the bed a little. I nod, letting my fingers tail that manicured set of eyebrows, down that chiseled face to the angular jawline slowly, following my progress with his eyes focus on mine. “Come home with me, Sophs, stay with me tonight at my apartment.” He watches me, frowning a little as I break into a smile, pushing him off so I can slide to my side to face him instead; his arms come around me, pulling me in so he can bring his nose back to mine. I guess letting him make out with me has brought back the ‘she’s never off-limits to me’ side of him once more. I’m not complaining, I missed this as much as I missed him, and it feels as right as it always did.
“I’ll think about it.” I smile as he begins rubbing his nose against mine, the way I have seen Jake do to Emma a million times and for a moment it’s weird to see what exactly is a Carrero trait, rather than a Jake or an Arry trait.
“You’re going to leave me hanging and work for it?” Arrick’s expression turns serious, pushing his forehead against mine a little more. I shove him away playfully and give him that knowing nod. Giggling at his crushed expression.
“I don’t want to leave your side. I spent months trying to imagine you beside me and now you’re here, I’m not ready to let you go home without me. I don’t want to be parted just yet.” He loosens his hold and starts fiddling with a strand of my hair, twirling it between his fingers while watching me intensely.
“Who are you and what have you done with Arry?” I laugh, pushing him playfully, more than a little smug when he hauls me back to him and lassos his legs around mine, so I can’t get away. Trapping me with sheer hunky muscle and that hard, carved body, wrapping around mine.
“He died of a broken heart. Lack of Sophabelle.” He pouts dramatically, fake sad eyes and the cutest frown.
“Shut up you weirdo.” I poke him in the dimple absentmindedly, aware that I’m falling back into old habits way too easily, some of our rapport coming back slowly. Repairing some bridges that only yesterday felt un-mendable.
“See … This is exactly what I missed more than anything, baby. Your sassy comebacks when you like to make out you don’t even like me. It feeds my weird side and is becoming a borderline fetish.” He leans into me closely and hits me with a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth. A few more butterflies to add to my growing collection of them.
“I don’t like you, I just feel sorry for you because you have no friends. I tolerate you because I’m nice.” I burst into giggles when he hauls me under him in a flash and starts torturing me with tickles. Crawling on top of me to straddle me and pin my arms down beside my head as I try to fight him off. He renders me immobile and leans down to plant a kiss on my mouth, a little less safe and full-on this time.
“Come home with me or I will typewriter you until you agree.” He warns with a smug look and I shake my head at him. The inner stubborn child bursting out happily, all other thoughts and confusion giving me a break while he’s in boyish mood and grinning crazily.
“You wouldn’t dare. You are trying to make me like you again, remember?” I narrow my eyes at him, but throws back a hint of mischief in a smirk with narrowed eyes. Sexily naughty while that square jaw and straightened brow makes him look a little sinister so suddenly, tingles pulsing over me instantly.
“Yeah but we already ascertained that I’m an asshole who does stupid shit, sometimes.” He grins wickedly, tucking my wrists under his knees as I fight back, a look in his eye that he intends to carry out his torture threat until I yield."
