On My Brother's Bed

Chapter 1

Astrid's POV

I didn't mean to end up in his bed.

It was supposed to be a quick trip upstairs as soon as I returned home for summer. I needed my charger–that was all. But Micah's room was dark, and I didn't want to turn on the lights because I figured he was asleep.

Just take the damn cord and slip right back out. That was what I thought.

I wasn't even trying to wake him. I just wanted to grab the damn cord and slip right back out. Simple.

Except it was otherwise.

Because I realized the man lying in that bed wasn't my brother.

And I didn't realize that until it was far too late.

The room smelled like him, but not quite. A deeper, muskier scent with cedarwood tainted the air. I crept in slowly, half-blind as I dragged my fingers along the edge of the table to guide myself.

The bed suddenly creaked and I froze.

“Micah?” I whispered.

But no answer. All I got was the sound of a slow exhale, and the sheets.

He was facing the other way. His broad shoulders moved under the covers. The glow from the hallway gave me just enough light to see the outline of his body. Bigger than I remembered.

It was toned with a tattoo on his arm–one I didn't recognize.

That was when I started to suspect something was off. But I didn't leave.

I knew I should have. The smartest thing to do was to back out, pretend I never came for my charge, and forget the whole thing. But I stood there like an idiot, staring at the figure on the bed, confused and curious.

And then he turned over.

His face came into light and I saw who it was.

Rhett.

My stomach dropped and my eyes widened.

I had just walked into my brother's room while his best friend was sleeping there.

Oh my world.

Panic flooded into my chest as I backed away, my heart racing.

“Shit,” I breathed. And just as I turned to leave the same way I'd come, his eyes flew open. They landed on me instantly.

It took a few seconds before Rhett drew his focus on me.

“Astrid?” His voice was deep, rough from sleep.

I froze in the doorway like a deer caught in headlights. My oversized T-shirt barely covered my thighs with no bra on. My hair was a mess. Great.

“I-I thought this was Micah's room. I didn't know…” I fumbled with the words, my hand still on the doorknob.

Rhett blinked slowly, as if trying to wake up enough to process what was happening. His hazel eyes swept over me again.

“Micah's on a trip. He asked me to crash here while the water heater in the guest room gets fixed and until you're back for summer. You returned late and I slept off. My place is also getting renovated.” he finally responded.

That made sense. Micah had mentioned