“It’s okay, baby.”
She pressed the balls of her hands to her eyes.“How did everything get so screwed up?”
“It’s not screwed up.Things are finally starting to fall into place.”But she couldn’t see it.She was too tired and overwhelmed.“You need to sleep.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Sure, you can.You close your eyes and let go.Things will look better in the morning.”
Bracing his hands on either side of her, he vaulted over her.She reacted reflexively, splaying her hands against his chest.He hovered above her for a moment.The way she was touching him, the idea of lowering himself atop her was tempting.But that hadn’t been his intent.Not with the dampness still in her eyes.He continued his roll and stretched out in the open space beside her instead.
“I sleep on the right.Remember?”
A soft sound left the back of her throat.A gasp or maybe even a short laugh.
He hoped it was a laugh.All this stress wasn’t good for her, and he didn’t like seeing her this way.He’d do almost anything to put that shy smile back on her face.
Tease her or shock her.Or kiss her like there was no tomorrow.
He doused the light, and the room sank into darkness.It didn’t lessen his awareness of her.If anything, his senses became more acute.The bed might be wide, but he could feel her heat and hear her breathing.He could smell her clean scent, and more than anything he wanted to taste her again.Pull her so close their skin clung.
He settled for lying near her under the sheets.She might have blown his mind at the pool, but this was a hell of a lot closer than they’d ever made it before.He’d give her the space she needed.For now.“Relax, Beauty.Everything’s going to be okay.We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
Chapter Seven
Only she didn’t relax.
Half an hour later, Zac could still feel Maxie’s tension.She was stiffer than a board, and the gears in her head were clacking along on overdrive.As quiet as the room was, that was all he could hear, imagined or not.He wished he knew what she was thinking about.Was it the fact that she had two brand-new, identical sisters?The fear that gossip about their skinny-dipping escapade was already making its way across town?The idea that people were talking about the two ofthembeing together?
The unmistakable truth that they were lying in bed together, only a foot apart?
He could sense her heat coming across the crisp sheets and taste the kisses he’d stolen by the pool.They pulled at him, luring him closer, but he was trying to be a gentleman.He didn’t want to pressure her or make her think he was taking advantage, but he seemed to be paying the price anyway.
Space, apparently, wasn’t what she needed.
He closed the distance, scooting right against her.If possible, the tension in the room ratcheted up another notch.
He didn’t give it time to crank up any further.Planting a hand beside her head, he leaned over her and kissed her.Full and firm, slow and deep.She parted her lips in surprise, but the tiny gasp of air she took was his exhale.She tasted sweet and powerfully addictive.He kissed her leisurely before pulling back to judge her reaction.
Her eyes were big under the moonlight as she clutched the edge of the sheet.She was holding it like a shield, but a flimsy one at that.“What…?What was that?”
He ran his lips along the line of her jaw.Her skin was so soft, he could drown in it.“I don’t know about these parts, but in Chicago we call it a kiss.”
The sheet twisted as he worked his way up to her earlobe.She was even softer there, even more responsive.A nip to her tender flesh got a shiver out of her, but she didn’t exactly pull away.“But why?”
“Because you’re not flopping.”
“What?”
“You’re lying there like you’re about to go into surgery, all anxious and tense.What’s your worry, Beauty?Strangers in the house?Me in your bed?”He brushed his lips slowly across hers.“This?”
She lay mute beneath him, watching him with those Red Riding Hood eyes.
“I’m not going to force you to do anything, Maxie, but I’m also not going to let you work your nerves into a frazzle and your blood pressure into the red zone.”
“I’m not worried about that.It’s just been a long time…” She let out a murmur when he nuzzled the side of her neck.“I can’t sleep.”
The three tiny words were almost peeped.
