Shades of Sydney (Sydney West #1) by Brittney Coon Page A

touched them. Jason bent down to get them, unlocking the door for me.
    To my surprise, he not only walked me inside, but carried me upstairs to my bedroom. It was strange having a guy in my room. I never had them in my personal space. Sure, I’d sleep with them, but never in my own bed.
    I had rules. They were few and simple. One, only have sex with men you think are worth it. Two, have sex anywhere safe and comfortable, but never in your own bed. Three, never give up your heart, conceal it. Sex was an action, something to do with two horny beings. It was meant as nothing afterwards, just a memory that would dim over time. Those were my rules.
    I wanted to cuddle with Jason and sleep, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t because he was in my room. No, it was because my stomach felt sick. My throat burned, and I knew something atrocious was about to wash over me.
    Automatically I sat up on my pillows, trying to swallow the urge to throw up. It wasn’t working. My mouth watered. It was coming.
    “Are you all r—?”
    I flew out of bed and to my wastebasket near the desk. On my knees, I hugged the basket to my chest and hurled.
    “For fuck’s sake,” Jason said. I had disgusted him. He was going to leave me alone with my sickness and ridicule me for it later.
    Closing my eyes, I felt another wave of nausea hit me. Warm hands touched me, brushing my skin. My hair was gathered and held at my back.
    “You’re going to be okay,” Jason said softly.
    “Why are you still here?” I asked, taking deep breaths to calm myself.
    He gingerly touched my cheek, brushing back a stray hair. “Someone needs to watch over you.”
    I wanted to respond, but my last meal wanted to come out more.
    After what seemed like forever, I started to dry heave. Everything in my stomach was lying in the wastebasket. My body was shaky. All that and I wasn’t even at the hangover stage. Just what I needed.
    Jason grabbed the trashcan from my hands, taking it out of the room. When he returned, he gathered me in his arms and laid me in bed once more.
    I laid there like a doll for a moment. My stomach was sore and my throat felt like it was on fire. I hugged the pillows close to me. Inhaling their familiar lavender scent made me sleepy. As my eyes began to close, I realized Jason was still in my room, watching me.
    I forced myself awake. “Aren’t you leaving?”
    “No, someone needs to take care of you. I don’t think you know how to take care of yourself.”
    I wanted to yell at him, convince him I knew how to take care of myself, but my voice faded and dreamland called my name. I’d note it and tell him some other time.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eleven
     
     
    I lazily opened my eyes. When did they close? I looked around the room. Jason was gone. What kind of guy claimed he’d take care of a girl, then vanish?
    Mentally, I shrugged. My body was too tired to do the actual movement. I rolled over, trying to find the perfect spot to sleep in. That was when I heard footsteps coming closer.
    “Care for some water? I bet your throat hurts.”
    Jason handed me a glass of ice water. That was why he left. I didn’t want him to take care of me, but I was thirsty. I sat up and gave him a sideways glance before taking the glass in my hands. After a few long sips, I fell back to the fluffy pillows. Jason took the glass, placing it on the desk.
    “I changed your trash bag so it’s clean and ready in case you feel sick again. I’ll set it over here by your head, okay?”
    I looked over my shoulder, nodding to show I understood. Why was he being gentle and kind? He had his fun with me. What was with Hunter and Jason being such gentlemen? If they were in fact knights in shining amour, I wasn’t capable of handling it. I was no fucking Guinevere. Never in my life have I had a real boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, and I never planned on having one.
    Jason was still in my room. I could feel him there. I wanted to kick him out, but my body