Sweet Mercy by Nina West

Author:Nina West [West, Nina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-27T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

I crack my eyelids open and focus on the dim light ahead. Full floor-to-ceiling shades block the sunlight beyond the wall of glass but don’t completely obscure the view out from—

I’m in Gabriel’s bedroom.

That reality is a jarring blow to my foggy senses as I frantically pick through my memory of last night. After I ended my call with Michelle, I downed one more martini and then stumbled here to shuck my bikini in exchange for my pajamas. The room started to spin, so I crawled into bed and—

A deep, sleepy sigh sounds from the other side of the bed.

My body stiffens as my heart begins racing inside my chest. I assume that’s Gabriel, but I don’t want to roll over to confirm it; I don’t want to risk waking him.

A tall glass of water sits on the bedside table next to two pill bottles—Advil and Tylenol. That was... considerate of him, especially since I have a horrible case of cotton mouth and my head is pounding. Not nearly as hard as I expected it to be though, given I was throwing those vodkas back like a heartbroken cowboy on a three-day bender.

“How much longer are you going to pretend to be asleep?” Gabriel’s deep, grating morning voice breaks the silence.

With a reluctant sigh, I reach for the Advil.

“You snore.”

“I do not,” I deny, my cheeks burning as I struggle to pop the cap off the bottle. Does snoring turn him off? God, I hope so.

“Here. Give it to me,” he mutters after a few minutes of me struggling with the cap.

“I’m fine.” I’m not fine. I can’t even find the strength to lift my head, let alone the coordination to line up these arrows.

The mattress sinks behind me. I feel his body heat against my back—but not his body—as his sinewy arm reaches over to rest against my shoulder. He holds his hand out, palm up, waiting. “Stop being stubborn. That rattling sound is annoying.”

Fine. I thrust it into his grasp and watch his thumb turn and pop the cap off with ease, offering nothing more than a grumble of “thanks,” when I collect it and fish out two pills.

Thankfully the mattress shifts again, indicating he’s moved back to his side. “You were out cold when I got home.”

Did he try anything on me? Would he be that big a creep? I steal a glance down at my tank top and boxers. They’re disheveled, but nothing beyond the usual after a night of sleep.

“My brother’s not happy with you right now. That bottle of vodka that you nearly polished off was just delivered the other day. He likes to have a glass when he gets home after work.”

“There’s some left,” I mutter, reaching for my water. A dribble. Maybe. “It’s not like you don’t have other options.” That bar stock would rival any nightclub’s.

“He’s picky. That’s why he’s willing to pay thirty-eight grand for his vodka.”

I choke on a mouthful of water and spend the next few minutes coughing it up.

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