Read Online One Night: Denied by Jodi Ellen Malpas - Free Book Online Page A

pulls me onto his lap and squeezes me – ‘I’m sorry, too. I think we both got a little carried away.’
    I snuggle deep, searching for the comfort I need. It’s nowhere to be found. ‘It was my fault.’
    ‘No, I instigated that. It’s my fault.’
    ‘I beg to differ,’ I whisper, letting him attempt to rub some life back into me.
    The rise and fall of his chest under me indicates his heavy sigh. ‘What a pair,’ he muses. ‘A couple of sad-arse losers pining after something we can’t have.’
    I nod my agreement. ‘You won’t go off and screw another woman, will you?’ I ask, knowing it’s what generally happens when he’s dumped by a bloke and probably why things went too far just now. ‘I don’t want you to do that.’
    ‘I’m swearing off men and women for a while.’ He chuckles, making me smile a little.
    ‘Me too.’
    ‘So you’re basically returning to reclusive, then?’ he quips lightly.
    ‘Look where being the alternative has got me.’
    ‘Not all men are like that cocksucker.’ He pulls me from his chest and clenches my cheeks fiercely. ‘Not every man will shit all over you, baby girl.’
    ‘I’m not going to give them the chance.’
    ‘I hate seeing you like this.’
    ‘I hate seeing you like this,’ I counter, his anguish suddenly very obvious and real, now that the information has filtered through my fuzz of misery. ‘And I’m stealing “cocksucker” to use for Ben, because he really is a cocksucker, even if he won’t admit it.’
    Gregory smiles, his eyes twinkling. ‘That’s fine by me.’
    I nod my approval and let my eyes wander down to Gregory’s lap. He starts laughing and quickly snatches the sheet to cover himself, leaving me stark naked. I gasp and yank it back, and so a wrestling match with the sheets begins. We’re both laughing, pulling back and forth, our earlier ease as friends fully restored . . . even if we’re now both naked. Not that either of us seem bothered as we battle for possession of the sheets.
    But we both freeze when the sound of creaking floorboards muscles in on the happy laughter, and then Nan’s curious voice creeps through the door. ‘Gregory, Olivia? What’s going on in there?’
    ‘Oh shit!’ I blurt, jumping up from the bed and sprinting across the room. I flatten my naked front against the door. ‘Nothing, Nan!’
    ‘It sounds like a herd of elephants are doing the cancan up here.’
    ‘We’re fine!’ I squeak, my forehead hitting the door, my eyes clenching shut as I tense and brace myself for a counter-attack.
    ‘Well, you sound like you’re coming through the ceiling!’
    ‘Sorry. We’re on our way down.’
    ‘We’re off to the dance now.’
    ‘Have a nice time!’
    ‘Are you okay?’ she asks more softly.
    I smile a little. ‘I’m fine, Nan.’
    She doesn’t say any more, and then I hear the creaking floorboards, telling me she’s on her way back downstairs. I turn around, my back pushed up against the door, and find Gregory’s eyes making continuous up and down motions as he sits on the bed with the sheets concealing him.
    ‘Good view.’ He grins, reminding me that I’m still nude. ‘But you’re far too skinny.’
    I make a vain attempt to cover my modesty, making Gregory fall back on the bed in laughter. He’s helpless, while I’m blushing furiously. ‘Stop it!’
    ‘I’m sorry!’ he chuckles. ‘Really sorry.’
    My colour increases as I scan my room for the nearest thing to save my dignity, settling on a T-shirt draped over the back of my chair in the corner. I dart over and make quick work of throwing it on, feeling better instantly, like I’ve regained some self-respect after throwing myself at my best friend. Gregory isn’t so concerned by his state of undress, though, and is currently rolling around laughing, tangled among the blankets of my bed. It makes me smile more, my head cocking in admiration, musing at his tight backside, but more at his hysterical, carefree