Her breathing slowed, and he angled his head to check. Her eyes closed, her mouth curved in a hint of a satisfied smile—sound asleep. The dark smudges beneath her eyes told him she was exhausted from the moment he’d seen her.
With a gentle finger, he traced the shadows. It was his job to erase those, to make her safe and secure so she wouldn’t worry again. He had no idea how he would accomplish it, but by God he would do it. Rising, he stepped into the bathroom to deal with the condom. Afterward, he came back to the bed. She hadn’t stirred. Drawing the covers up, he slid in beside her and drew her boneless form to him.
To his delight, she relaxed against his touch and snuggled. It was the middle of the day, but he hadn’t slept well in the near week since her phone call. Still, even with her there, sleep proved elusive.
An uncomfortable emotion lodged in his chest and he settled for stroking her hair and watching her. When she woke, theywould talk. It didn’t matter how long it took, but even his determination didn’t diminish his unease.
MEREDITH
Her muscles were languid, yet the quiet ache of soreness invaded her sleep. She didn’t want to wake up and burrowed deeper into the warmth along her side. Exhaustion left her worn down and keeping her eyes closed meant keeping the rest of the world at bay. When her pillow shifted, she mumbled a protest and rubbed her cheek against a…very hot, masculine chest. Reality invaded like an icy splash of water.
Lifting her head, she found Sebastian’s black gaze studying her. The memory of losing herself in his arms flooded through her, shoving away the last traces of drowsiness. “It wasn’t a dream,” she murmured and even the thought made her smile. She’d enjoyed vivid dreams of him before, but nothing like what they’d shared.
“Hello.” He cupped the back of her head and she obeyed his silent request to meet the slow, soul-searing kiss he gave her.
“Hi,” she whispered against his mouth. Nuzzling her nose to his, she shivered and he tightened his arms before dragging the sheet up to wrap it around her. The action made her want to sigh all over again. He’d thought her cold. The gentleness in his actions and the warmth of his breath on her cheek threatened to pull her apart. “How long was I asleep?”
“Not long.” He combed his fingers through her hair, soothing the quiet alarm jangling along her nerves. “Feel better?”
Yes.Better and worse, but she couldn’t quite sort through all the emotions bubbling inside. Still wrestling with her response,she feathered her fingers across his chest and down his side. The puckered ridge of skin beneath her fingertips catapulted her from her indecision.
Sitting up, she ignored the sheet dropping to pool around her waist or the familiar and welcome weight of his hand gliding over her hip. The scar transected his side, the skin paler than the ruddy tan he’d earned through hours spent in the sun. Thankfully, the skin was cool to the touch—not the angry, hot slash the one and only other time she’d been near enough to see the damage.
Sebastian caught her wrist as she traced her finger along the ridged skin. “You don’t need to worry…” he began in the sinful, European accent that turned her muscles to butter.
“Did it hurt badly?” Dammit, she should have been there. Who’d looked after him? Who’d made sure he took his medicine and rested? Sebastian loved to play, and he was so active. He’d taken her skiing, scuba diving, and once—God help her—he’d even taken her skydiving. The horror of those moments free falling left her nearly drunk by the time they’d touched down.
“Not terribly, no.” He let go of her wrist and stroked her arm. Meredith never wondered why women flocked to him. Handsome as sin, charming as hell, and he possessed an almost carefree personality that enchanted nearly everyone who met him. She was hardly an exception to the rule, but what sealed the deal for her was his eyes.
Lifting her head, she sought the deep black of his gaze now. Something in his eyes captivated her from their first harried meeting. “Really?” The scar was nearly two inches in length and nearly a half-inch thick. It transected his side and lay right between two ribs—the blade had cut clean into him. Trembling seized her and her throat went dry.
He sat up, pulled her into his lap and she buried her face against his throat. Crooning a low, soothing note, he rubbedher back. “Really.” Then, with a sigh, he continued. “Injuries, particularly shocking ones, don’t hurt nearly as much as you might think. The mind protects itself, or at least my doctors said it did. Why else would I have broken my leg twice in my life or fractured my ribs who knows how many times?”
A watery laugh inched up inside of her at his droll tone. “I wish I’d been there.”
“I don’t.” The swift disagreement struck her like a slap. His arms tightened around her. “I make for the most miserable of patients, or so the staff tells me.” The lighthearted jibe didn’t ease the sting. When she shivered, he rubbed his hands up and down her spine. “You’re still cold. Are you feeling okay?”
Swallowing the lump of misery along with what was left of her pride, Meredith summoned up a smile and pulled away. “I’m tired. And I wouldn’t mind a shower…”
“I bet you’re hungry, too.” He caressed her cheek. “I’ll send down for your bags and food. We can make a picnic of it. Hmm, on second thought, maybe I’ll just send down for the food. I like the idea of dining al fresco.”
A blush heated her skin at the blatant sensuality in his voice. “I really don’t think I want to be bare-assed nude when anyone on your staff comes in…and I thought we could eat downstairs. Maybe on the pretty patio…”
Bastian followed her off the bed and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her to him and he nuzzled a kiss to neck. “Let me tell you a secret. Outside of this room, there are a lot of people. If we step out, we have to spend time with them. I’d rather not share you with anyone.”
A part of her thrilled at the possessiveness in his romantic declaration, but hiding behind closed doors didn’t appeal to her. She hesitated and Bastian turned her around and kissed her, the claiming in his action curling her toes and kindling a fresh waveof heat. He growled, and his grin turned playful. “Go shower, darling, but take your time so I can join you.”
He grabbed his pants and shirt and, by the time she reached the bathroom door, he’d stepped out of the room. Meredith let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Stepping right up to the porcelain countertop, she braced her hands against it and stared at herself in the mirror. From her tousled hair to her kiss-swollen lips, she looked like she’d just rolled out of bed.
How was it possible they’d ended up there? Her stomach clenched at the memory. Why couldn’t she tell him all the thoughts in her head? What held her tongue every single time? Glancing back into the bedroom, she spotted the disheveled sheets and sighed. She tingled everywhere he’d touched her. All she had to do was close her eyes and the memory of his caresses swept over her.
Only a few hours since she’d struggled desperately to get him out of her mind. To let go of what could never be. Yet, here she was, craving heating her blood. She knew the moment he slid into the shower with her—hell, who was she kidding? If he looked at her she’d want him again. Sebastian Dagmar, prince and Grand Duke of the Andraste dynasty, turned her brains to mush and liquefied her intelligence.
He’d just said he was glad she hadn’t been with him, implying it wasn’t her place. Despite being hundreds of miles from the press, he didn’t want her to leave the room.
Maybe he just wants to be with me?She turned away from the mirror, unwilling to look at the pathetic gleam in her own eyes.
She switched on the shower and, while the water heated, retrieved an unopened toothbrush left on the counter—for her. Staring at the packaging, she sighed. He’d made all the arrangements. Of course he’d used Andraste influence orsomeone else’s to coax the university. He’d sent Kate to do the negotiations, make the travel arrangements, and lured her halfway around the world. Every detail, from her travel visas to her leave from the university, smoothed flawlessly and they’d even set out a toothbrush.
