I could feel the heat creeping up my neck and into my face as I stared at his sculpted torso, my eyes tracing the ink that ran up his arm and over his chest. I itched to reach out and let my fingers follow the same path.
“You’re up early,” he said.
My gaze whipped to the smirk that broke out on his face. I understood what he said, but for some reason I couldn’t form words. I shook my head slightly.
Jesus. Pull it together.
But, damn. Couldn’t he put on a freaking shirt?
I tried not to let my gaze drift back down, but failed miserably. The towel he wore hung dangerously low on his hips, showcasing the deep V of his lower abs.
“Lyla?”
I could hear the concern and amusement in his voice and forced my gaze back up to his face. “Yeah… I, um, woke up.” I cringed at how lame that was. What the hell was going on with me?
He chuckled and took a step forward. His lips still held a playful smirk, but there was something a bit deeper—darker—shining in his eyes. “I see that.”
I held my breath as he stepped even closer. And maybe I was hallucinating, but he seemed to lean down toward me, invading my space.
“Excuse me.” There was a deep rasp to his voice that caused heat to pool in my belly. “Can I get to my room?”
What? His room? Oh my God. I glanced over my shoulder toward his bedroom. I was blocking the narrow hallway.
“Oh. Sorry. Yes, of course.” I shifted sideways and he squeezed past me.
“Thanks, love.”
I froze. Did he just call melove? He’d never used that term before. That was… weird. This whole exchange had been weird. Maybe I was dreaming or something.
I let out a breath and chalked it up to strange sleepiness invading my brain, then headed to the kitchen.
Shaking my head to clear the very odd encounter from my mind, I opened the refrigerator, grabbing bacon and eggs to make some breakfast. I wasn’t sure if Adam ate anything before going into shift. The guys made breakfast at the station, but I usually had something small before heading in just in case a call came in right away. Did he do the same?
As I placed the last of the bacon on a plate and started whisking the eggs together in a bowl, Adam entered the kitchen. Isensed him come up behind me, so close I could feel the heat coming off him. I stiffened as he leaned forward over my shoulder and reached around me, grabbing a piece of bacon from the plate.
He took a bite. “Mmm. So good.”
I stared at his lips as he put the rest of the piece in his mouth. I blinked, breaking the connection and pulling my attention away from him. What the heck was going on with me?
Turning back to the eggs, I focused on getting my lady parts under control. It wasn’t like I didn’t know how gorgeous he was, I just usually didn’t pay it any mind. Because we weren’t like that.
So why then was I suddenly super aware of his proximity? The way he smelled. How I couldn’t erase the image of his insanely toned chest and stomach from my mind. Not that he didn’t look just as hot in his uniform polo he wore now, especially with the top button undone and the sleeves tight against his biceps.
I finally relaxed as he moved away to the other side of the small kitchen.
“Want me to make you a cup of coffee?”
I nodded. “Sure. Thanks.”
We moved around the kitchen together, and it all felt so domestic. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something felt different between us.
I turned toward the fridge to put the milk away, then spun back, colliding right into him. His hands grasped my waist and mine pressed to his hard chest. His fingers trailed up my sides, sending a shiver coursing through me.
He smoothed his hands up and down my arms and tipped his head behind me. “Sorry, just need to get the creamer from the fridge.”
“Okay.” Even though my brain told me to move, my feet didn’t obey.
“You good?”
