California Schemin' - Kate George [37]
“Jeez, girl. You’re going to flood the place.”
“I hope you drown,” I said into the cushion.
“Hey. That’s not a nice thing to say to a guy who bought you make up. I’m just doing my job.”
“Well, your job sucks. I hate both of you.”
“Come on,” Hammie said from above me. “Let’s go get some sleep.”
“Have you ever tried to sleep with your legs tied together? It’s impossible.” I’d stopped crying. I wasn’t full of rage anymore, but anger burned in my chest. I wanted my life back. I wanted revenge.
Hammie picked me up off of Moose and set my feet on the floor. They lock-stepped me over to the elevator, and I could feel the desk clerk’s eyes on my back.
“What did you tell him about me?” I asked Hammie.
“That you were my sister, our mother had died, and you were out of your mind with grief.”
“Well, at least you didn’t tell him I was crazy.”
Moose and Hammie exchanged glances.
“Oh, so you did tell him I’m crazy. Great. I’m never coming to this hotel again.”
Back in the room I noticed my neck was hurting again. The effects of whatever drug Hammie had been pumping into me were wearing off. That was going to make it even more difficult to get comfortable.
“I don’t want my legs tied up again. I can’t sleep like that.”
“How do you expect us to keep you in the room?” Hammie asked.
“Not my problem. You want to keep me in here, then sit in a chair by the door. Be a proper bodyguard.”
“Moose and I need our sleep. We’ve had a rough couple of weeks.”
“I bet.” I imagined one of them must have pushed Lily off the bridge and that his conscience had been keeping him awake.
“Okay, Moose can cuff our wrists together. We can sleep like that.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Hammie cut me off.
“It’s either your legs or our arms. Choose your poison. I’m done talking about it.”
I picked wrists, not because I was looking forward to sleeping with Hammie, but because at least I’d be able to move around some. Moose pulled another zip tie and an O ring out of his bag.
“Which arm?” he asked.
“I sleep on my side,” I said.
“You?” Moose raised his eyebrows at Hammie.
“Stomach.”
“Right arms together then.”
Moose cuffed our right arms, and it was damned awkward with my arm pulled across my body. I turned and faced the opposite direction, which at least freed me up. I slid off my shoes without untying them. I pulled up my shirt and fumbled with the button to my jeans with my left hand. No way I was going to try using my right hand and have Hammie's fingers that close to my zipper.
“Hey! Hold on,” Hammie sounded panicked. “Got to keep the clothes on.”
“I am not sleeping in my jeans. Anyway, this shirt covers everything.”
“I don’t like it.”
“What? You think I’m going to jump your bones in your sleep? Give me a break.”
I got the zipper undone and kicked off my jeans while Hammie looked the other way. I sat on the edge of the bed and slid my feet under the covers. Hammie stood next to me.
“You have to move over,” he said.
“I’m not moving over, this is my side of the bed.”
“Fine.”
He put his knee on the edge of the bed and straddled me.
“Get off.” I didn’t know if I was outraged or turned on.
“Don’t worry, I’m not molesting you.” The sarcasm in his voice stung.
He pushed himself over me and landed on the bed on his back, which pulled my arm across my body. Then he rolled over onto his stomach, which pulled me over, my arm across his body. My head on his shoulder.
My God, he’s solid muscle.
“Hey!” I said. “Give me my hand back.”
I tried to pull my arm back, but he didn’t budge.
“Nope. This is how I sleep, and you don’t feel half bad on top of me.”
“Moose, help me.”
Moose shook his head at us and cut the zip tie.
“Get comfortable,” he said.
“I can’t. I sleep on my side. I won’t be able to sleep facing Hammie, and I can’t sleep facing away from him with my arm pulled backward.”
“Front or back, then, you choose. And hurry up, I’m tired, not much night left.”
I chose to sleep on my back, and Moose cuffed our left wrists together.
“I’ll never be able to sleep like this,” I muttered.
I woke with sunlight on