Under the Bridge by Julia Wolf

Author:Julia Wolf [Wolf, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 46145377
Published: 2019-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

Valentina

I climbed onto my bed and jumped. I bounced for all I was worth, right in the middle. And then, when nothing happened, I started singing Radiohead—not quite at the top of my lungs, but close. My head was tossed back as I threw my voice at the ceiling.

A hand wrapped around my ankle mid-jump, and I screamed as I fell through the air. The scream broke off when I landed on a warm chest.

I blew the hair out of my face and grinned. “Oh, are you awake?”

Ian laughed. “Yep. Woke up to the lovely sounds of birds chirping.”

I’d been up for hours while the giant Viking in my bed slept and slept. It was almost noon, and I was bored and a little needy. If he was going to insist on being part of my life, then he had to keep me company.

“I decided you had enough sleep. And I’m hungry,” I said, rolling off him onto my side of the bed.

“You couldn’t…I don’t know, shake my shoulder to wake me up?”

I scoffed. “You sleep like the dead. I did many terrible things to you, and you slept right through all of them.”

He tilted his head, blue eyes sleepy but amused. “Like what?”

“I stuck my finger up your nose, and in your ear. I tickled your feet and your armpits. And I may have dug fuzz out of your belly button. You didn’t even twitch.”

I’d also studied the sharp contours of his face and planes of muscle on his exposed chest, but there was no need to mention that. Violating his nostrils was enough of an admission for the day.

Ian stretched, arms over his head, eyes squeezed shut. “I guess yesterday took a lot out of me.”

“Must’ve. You were uncharacteristically sweet when you arrived at my door.”

He turned his head, his gaze finding mine. “Thank you for letting me stay.”

“There wasn’t much choice. I don’t think I could have carried you home and you were dead on your feet.”

He groaned. “Jesus. I’m sorry you felt like you didn’t have a choice.” Ian sat up, swinging his feet over the side of the bed so his back was facing me. “I’m gonna head out.”

On my knees, I moved behind him and wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders. “Ian.”

“Valentina.”

“Don’t be so sensitive. I could have kicked your butt right out of here if I really wanted to. Turns out, I don’t mind sharing my bed with you. Your long arms are good for more than drumming.”

The tension in the bunched muscles in his back eased infinitesimally. “Yeah?”

“Yes,” I whispered in my best imitation of a seductress. “They’re good for...reaching really tall shelves.” I breathed heavy in his ear. “I bet you can change lightbulbs without a ladder.”

Ian shuddered with laughter, turning around to grab me in a tight hold. “Why are you so crazy?”

I squealed, trying to break free of his iron grasp. “Crazy wonderful?”

His hand wrapped around my hair and gave a gentle tug, stilling me instantly. I was sideways in his lap, arms fastened around his neck, and Ian’s free hand gripped my hip.

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