Kori's eyes lit up at Abel's idea—it sounded like a fun game to her. She giggled and nodded eagerly. "Sure! I want a little monkey."
"Alright then, off to bed we go."
Without even a backward glance at his sister and brother-in-law, Abel took Kori's hand and led her into the second bedroom. As he closed the door, he shot the adults a mischievous grin. "Goodnight, you two. Go make that little monkey!"
Julissa and Flynn were left in a sudden, awkward silence—caught somewhere between discomfort and amusement.
Julissa finally broke the silence, drawing in a deep breath before turning to Flynn with a tentative smile. "You can take the master bedroom. I'll squeeze in with Abel and Kori."
It wasn't that she was against sharing a bed with her husband. She'd only just met him, though, so everything felt a little too fast. Better to let things happen naturally.
Just as Julissa was about to slip away to the second bedroom, Flynn's quiet voice stopped her in her tracks. "The bed's not that big. How exactly are you planning to fit in with them? We're married now—aren't we past the whole shy-about-sharing-a-bed thing?"
Julissa froze, her feet rooted to the floor as uncertainty took hold. Flynn assumed she was waiting for him to make the first move. Was she playing hard to get? If he caved first, she might get bold enough to start making demands.
Not about to give her that satisfaction, Flynn simply said, "I'm going to shower," and brushed past her into the bathroom.
As the bathroom door clicked shut, an image flickered through Julissa's mind—a tall, gorgeous man standing under the shower, water streaming over his sculpted face and toned body. The thought was so vivid it sent warmth rushing to her cheeks, and she quickly shook it off.
She took a steadying breath. Sleeping beside a man she'd just met? Intimidating didn't even cover it. When she tried to join Abel and Kori, she found them already cuddled up in the small double bed, taking up every inch. There was no room for her.
So with no other option, Julissa headed back to the master bedroom. She sized up the bed—it was big enough for two, plenty of space to keep a respectful distance.
Steeling herself, she slipped under the covers on one side and waited for Flynn to finish his shower. They were married, after all. No point in pretending at propriety now. It was just... practical.
Flynn stepped out of the shower wrapped in a bathrobe and found the living room empty. Towel-drying his hair, he walked into the master bedroom and stopped short at the sight of Julissa already tucked under the covers.
He stood at the foot of the bed, just watching her. He could sense she was waiting for him. Mixed emotions churned in his chest, almost making him second-guess himself.
Julissa's soft voice broke through his thoughts. "Do you want me to find a hairdryer for you?"
"No, I'm fine," he said, hesitating. But why should he leave? This was his house, his bed. Was he really about to end up on the couch?
Determined to figure out her real intentions, Flynn started to change right then and there, not bothering to be discreet.
Julissa caught on to what he was doing and fought the urge to look away. She knew full well she had every right to watch—he was her husband—but a fierce blush still burned her cheeks. In the end, she gave in to the embarrassment and ducked her head under the covers, hiding her eyes.
Flynn noticed her retreat and let out a soft chuckle. He didn't mind. He quickly pulled on his pajama pants and climbed into bed beside her, tugging at the blanket. "Seriously? You're just gonna sleep like that?"
"No," Julissa murmured, peeking out from beneath the cover. She risked one quick glance at Flynn, then turned over, giving him her back, and whispered, "Goodnight."
Flynn felt a little thrown. That was it? No move to reach out or break the ice? Could she really be that restrained? He found it hard to believe. Bet by the end of the night, she'd be shifting closer, maybe even touching him.
Should he stay? Or was the couch the smarter move after all?
