“Go to sleep. It’ll all be sorted tomorrow.” He reached up and flicked off the lamp behind his bed.
Against my better judgment, I snuggled into his chest, relishing the feel of him. I’d wanted him for so long, this was like some sort of dream. I hoped it didn’t end in disaster.
CHAPTER SIX
Laurel
I woke to an intense screeching sound and then pain radiating through my scalp.
“What—” Eamon’s voice rumbled but was cut short by the same shrill shriek.
My eyes adjusted and I realized Claudia had me by the hair and had dragged me from Eamon’s bed. She was screaming bloody murder and drew back her hand to slap me. Eamon was on her in a second, gripping her wrist and wrenching her away from me. Noel dashed in the door, a bemused look in his face as he took in Eamon, a struggling Claudia, and a naked me. I ripped the blanket from the bed and covered myself before he could gawk for too long.
“Claudia, calm down you bloody harpy!” Eamon barked.
“You fucking bitch. You knew he was mine!” Claudia snarled at me, her small hands flexing into fists.
I wasn’t concerned. I was more worried Eamon might hurt her because he had hell in his eyes and a strong grip on her.
“Oh, come on, you tart. You were on my dick and telling me I was your god not two hours ago.” Noel laughed and sat down on his bed. “You can’t honestly be in here trying to claim this stiff prick is your man after all that.”
Claudia struggled but got nowhere, her red hair mussed and her mascara running. “Just because I fuck other people doesn’t mean I don’t love him. He’s been fucking other girls, too.”
“In fact, I haven’t.”
Claudia stilled.
“Are you going to cool it?” Eamon asked. “I’ll let you go. But if you make so much as a move in Laurel’s direction, I’ll throw you out. Understand?”
“Yes. Let me go.” She was smiling, which made her seem even more crazed than when she was fighting and screaming.
The second Eamon released her, she turned to him and threw her arms around his neck. “I knew you loved me.”
He didn’t embrace her, just held his hands out next to him. His brow was furrowed and he shook his head. “No, I don’t.”
She tried to kiss him, but he backed away, giving all of us a full frontal view. He snatched his t-shirt from the floor and covered his cock, though the rest of his beautifully muscled body was on display.
“You do love me.” Claudia tossed her hair over her shoulder and stepped toward him. “That’s why you haven’t slept with anyone else.”
“No I stopped fucking other girls when I met Laurel.” He looked over Claudia’s head and caught my eye.
My heart expanded in my chest until I thought it would burst. He’d stopped sleeping around for me? I backed up and sank down onto his bed, pulling the blanket tight around me. This whole time I’d been crushing on him, he’d been doing the same to me?
“It’s true.” Noel leaned over and propped himself on his elbow before flashing me a too-bright smile. “No bitches since he saw you that one morning. I’ve only had to hear about it fifty times.”
Eamon’s cheeks reddened. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him blush. “Shut your gob, Noel.”
Claudia balled her fists but didn’t move toward me. Instead of anger, hurt was in her eyes. Hurt I’d caused. My heart sank. Despite her current antics, she had always been a good friend to me.
“We are over.” She shook her head. “Find yourself a new roommate, backstabber.”
“Claudia, please—”
“I don’t want to hear it!” Her scream was just as shrill as before and I had the impulse to cover my ears.
She turned on her heel and stalked from the room. Guilt wrenched my stomach in knots. I’d known how she felt about Eamon, but I’d slept with him anyway. I was a backstabber, just like she’d said.
Eamon walked over and knelt down in front of me.
“I’m gonna go down to the lounge.” Noel popped up and left, closing the door behind him. I heard voices in the hall, no doubt other residents wondering what all the noise was about.
“Listen, love. You did nothing wrong.”
I couldn’t meet his gaze. “I think I did.”
“I’ve never loved her. And it’s obvious she doesn’t love me, given her ways. It’s only a passing fancy. Nothing more.” He smoothed his palm along my cheek and dropped a kiss on my lips.
I pulled away. “I need to dress and leave. See if I can fix things with her.”
“You don’t have to—”