Chapter1
Filteredsunlight hit Portia’s face, slipping past her lashes and waking her up. Groaning, she pulled the pillow over her head and burrowed deeper under the covers. Colliding with a warm body, she hummed with pleasure and wiggled closer.
After a little shifting, her back was pressed against his chest and her knees bent around her companion’s so their feet could tangle together. Crisp leg hair gently tickled her calves. His arm banded over her hips and he rested his chin, bristly with stubble, on her shoulder. With all the warm muscle curled around her, she felt safe and loved.
“Mmmm,” she murmured sleepily as she snuggled in. “The only thing that would make this morning better, Tommy, is coffee waiting for me when I get out of this bed.”
The body wrapped around her tensed. The arm withdrew, leaving her cold in its wake.
“What’s the matter?” She rolled over and came face to face with a man—who wasn’t Tommy.
Portia screamed and scrambled backward. The movement carried her over the side of the bed. She landed hard on the floor, barely registering the soft carpet under her butt. Her bare butt. Brain still fuzzy with sleep, she blinked up at the bed in surprise.
“Are you okay?” Her unexpected bed partner leaned over the edge, concern in his blue-green eyes.
She ignored him and grabbed the sheet. Her first tug met resistance, so she tugged harder. The sheet flowed over the side of the bed to puddle on her legs. Portia grabbed it with both hands and held it close, covering her breasts and her lap.
Wrapping the sheet around the rest of her body, without losing control of it, was difficult, especially butt ass naked on the floor. Tucking the sheet under her armpits, she rolled onto her shins, careful not to flash the man above her. Finally, she was able to whip the sheet around the rest of her body.
Definitely not high fashion, but at least she didn’t feel as vulnerable. Slightly less freaked out, she took a minute to assess her situation. “You’re not Tommy.”
Way to state the obvious, Portia.She’d been in bed with not-Tommy.Naked in bed.
“No, I’m Aleksander.” The man in the bed spoke slowly, his accented voice low. It was also familiar. “We met last night.”
Given her nakedness, “met” was the understatement of the year. “What happened?”
From her vantage point on the floor, she watched his jaw tense. He didn’t like her question.
He disappeared from view and the bed squeaked. Portia assumed he was getting up. She took the opportunity to look around.
They were obviously in a hotel room. A nice one. High thread count sheets. Soft, luxurious carpet. Better than average art on the walls.
And a big king bed. With rumpled bedding.
They’d obviously used it well.
Now that the panic was receding, she remembered everything from the night before. The conversation that, despite occasional awkward pauses, had flowed freely. That single whiskey. Arriving at Aleksander’s suite. She hadn’t paid much attention to the room at that time because they’d been too busy tearing each other’s clothes off once they’d made it inside.
Two well-formed legs appeared in front of her, bringing Portia back to the present. Her gaze traveled up to the blue boxer briefs that hugged his thighs. She blushed and dragged her eyes over his pelvis quickly.
Staring at his bare chest wasn’t any less embarrassing. She remembered the coarse tickle of his chest hair against her... well, all of her.
She bit her lip and her face flamed hotter. Memories of the hours they’d spent tangled together were front and center now. The feel of his ripped abs and muscled chest under her hands and mouth.
His touch.
His taste.
Portia forced herself to meet his gaze. She didn’t know what she’d expected to see on his face—amusement, maybe? desire?—but his expression was one of concern.
“Are you okay?” That soft, soothing voice again.
Was she?
“I... think so?”
He bent slightly and offered his hand.
