Chapter <b>117 </b>
Once Charlotte was sound asleep and no longer clinging to him, Sean quietly stepped out to the living room.
The apartment had <b>two </b>bedrooms and a living area, but the second bedroom didn’t have a bed. He would have to make do with the couch tonight.
Outside, the city had gone quiet. Under the cover of night, he finally got some rest.
As dawn broke, the early morning light <b>slowly </b>crept into the room.
Charlotte had always been an early riser. Even after a night of drinking, her body woke up like clockwork.
Her head was pounding. The hangover hit hard.
She sat still for a few minutes<b>, </b>waiting for her thoughts <b>to </b>catch up. Slowly<b>, </b>the fog began <b>to </b>clear.
She remembered the dinner with her coworkers. After that<b>, </b>they had gone <b>to </b><b>a </b>bar and she had a few drinks. Probably more than she could handle.
Everything after that was a blur.
She vaguely recalled a man showing up. She might have clung to him. Maybe even said some embarrassing things.
The memory hit her like a jolt. She was suddenly wide awake. Panic rushed through her like a wave<b>. </b>
<b>“</b>Oh no<b>, </b><b>oh </b>no<b>,</b><b>” </b>she murmured.
She had been all over some guy. <b>How </b>was she supposed to exin that if Sean found out?
Would he be jealous?
Not that she was afraid of him getting angry. What scared her more was the idea of him misunderstanding<b>, </b>of him getting hurt.
She cared about Sean <b>deeply</b>. She didn’t want <b>to </b><b>see </b>him upset <b>because </b>of her.
Charlotte <b>threw </b>off the nket and sat up. Her gaze <b>fell </b>on what she <b>was </b>wearing.
“Wait. Pajamas?<b>” </b>she wondered.
When did she change into these?
<b>How </b><b>did </b>she even get home?
She pushed <b>open </b>the bedroom door, nning <b>to </b>head <b>to </b>the bathroom <b>to </b>wash up. But the moment she stepped <b>out</b>, she <b>froze</b>.
<b>There </b><b>was </b>someone on the couch.
A tall man<b>, </b>wrapped in a nket<b>, </b><b>feet </b>hanging slightly off the <b>edge</b><b>, </b>head tilted back<b>, </b><b>eyes </b><b>closed</b>, and jawline sharp in the early morning light.
Sean<b>. </b>
<b>Her </b>heart practically <b>stopped</b>.
He was here<b>? </b>
He was the one who brought her home?
Oh <b>God</b><b>. </b>
Did he see what happened at the bar? Did he see her clinging to some random guy?
She wracked her brain, but she couldn’t remember what the man looked like. Her stomach <b>dropped</b>.
She had no idea what Sean had seen. The thought made her want to bury herself in the floor.
She nced at the couch again. He looked peaceful. Way too handsome to be crammed onto such a small piece of furniture.
She felt a pang of gullt seeing someone like him curled up ufortably just to take care of her.
Quietly, Charlotte walked over and stood in front of him. After <b>a </b>pause<b>, </b>she reached out <b>and </b>poked his cheek with one finger.
No reaction.
He was still fast <b>asleep</b><b>. </b>
She got a little bolder and gave his cheek a light pinch.
This time<b>, </b>Sean stirred. Hisshes <b>fluttered</b>, and he slowly opened his <b>eyes</b>, still half–asleep.
<b>“</b>Lottle<b>,</b><b>” </b>he murmured, voice husky from sleep. <b>“</b>You’re <b>up</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>+25 </b>Bonus
Charlotte <b>pressed </b>her lips together and hesitated. <b>“</b><b>You </b>should’ve slept in the bedroom.”
Sean sat up and ran a hand through his <b>messy </b>hair. “What time <b>is </b>it?”
She nced at the clock on the wall. “Seven thirty.”
Without warning, Sean reached out and pulled her into <b>his </b>arms. His hands wrapped around her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
<b>“</b>It’s Saturday<b>,</b>” he mumbled against her skin. “Why are you up so early?”
His voice was still scratchy from sleep, low and impossibly sexy.
Warm breath brushed her ear, and she flinched from the sensation. Her body reacted before her brain could. A wave <b>of </b>heat rushed through her.
<b>“</b>I couldn’t sleep<b>,</b><b>” </b>she said softly. <b>“</b><b>My </b>head’s killing me. <b>Too </b>much to drinkst night.”
Sean chuckled. “<b>If </b>you <b>can’t </b>handle your liquor, don’t drink so much.
<b>“</b>You have no idea how much trouble <b>you </b>caused.”
He almost <b>lost </b>it in front of everyone.
The memory of clinging to that manst night suddenly shed through Charlotte’s mind. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She lowered her head,
flustered and ashamed.
<b>“</b><b>I</b><b>… </b>I’m sorry, Sean…”
Sean’s voice came out low and husky<b>, </b>with a rough edge that was dangerously seductive.
“Oh? <b>Just </b>‘sorry‘ and that’s it?”
He let out a slow<b>, </b>teasing smile.
<b>“</b><b>You </b>never even tried me, and <b>yet </b>you told everyone I had performance issues?<b>” </b>
His eyes glinted.
<b>“</b>How about <b>we </b><b>test </b><b>it </b>out and see if <b>I </b>really live up <b>to </b>your im?”