“Kellin,” I mimic.
I tug on his arms, daring him to release the buttons and cocoon my body.
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Stop trying to seduce me.” Yup, definitely a growl.
He resumes covering me up.
Somewhere beneath the tingling buzz of champagne, the rejection grips my stomach. “Why?”
“Because I need a rain check.” He finishes the last button and moves his hands to my waist. “And so do you. Now, bed.”
He steers me toward his bedroom.
“But—” My protest cuts off with a squeal when he shoves me onto the bed. “Oh, that’s more like it!”
“For fuck’s sake. Nothing’s happening tonight.”
I blink. “Why not?”
He rolls me over with heat smoldering in his fathomless brown eyes. After performing a leisurely head-to-toe inspection, his gaze settles on my face.
“The first time I fuck you, you’re going to be sober.” With surprising gentleness, he maneuvers me under the covers. “I don’t want you to forget a single detail of how hard I make you come.”
An anticipatory shiver dances over my body. “Do I at least get a goodnight kiss?”
Another growl gutters deep in his throat as his hungry mouth finds mine, obliging me.
He pulls back far too quickly and tucks me in in a way no one has for nearly twenty years.
“Kellin?”
Another deep, long-suffering sigh. “Yes?”
I yawn. In this comfy bed, in the sheets that smell sweet—like Kellin—drowsiness creeps up on me like a shadow. “This was the best night I’ve had in a really long time.”
A brief pause. “Me too,” Kellin murmurs. Even though his handsome face hovers close to mine, his voice sounds distant, as if he’s speaking from the next room.
I sigh and rub my nose against his. “I really like you.” My eyelids droop. “I’m so glad to finally spend some time with a man who isn’t like…my family…”
Darkness drags me over the edge into dreamless slumber.
Overnight, I only wake once. It’s still dark.
Before I stir, a strong arm slides around my waist. Someone nuzzles my neck.
“Go back to sleep, Maeve.”
Blearily, I close my eyes and slip away again.
The next time I rouse, my first thought is to wonder why I’m in the wrong hotel room.
I blink rapidly at the ceiling as early morning light bleeds in through the window.
While I wait for my brain to wake up, I take stock of my surroundings. I’m deeply comfortable, mostly naked, and my hair feels like a bird’s nest. Also, my head…ouch.
Not the worst hangover of my life, but clearly, my brain isn’t happy with me either.
My heart breaks into a jog.Where am I?
