Jinx gave him the rundown. He made a mental note of what time she needed to get her truck pickedup and fixed by. If the tow truck guy didn’t get it done in the morning, he’d make some calls.
“Get some rest, Baby.” He pulled the blanket over her shoulders, making sure she was covered.
A few hours later, Viking woke up to a screaming Jinx. She fell off the side of the bed, staring at him as if she didn’t know him or see him. Her wide, frightened eyes worried him as much as the way she raked her nails down her arms. With slivers of light coming in from the nightlight in the bathroom, he could see red welts on her arms where she’d scratched herself.
“Jinx,” he said softly, easing onto the floor in front of her, holding out his hands to show her he wasn’t going to hurt her.
She continued to rock back and forth, but now her arms were around her legs. She pressed them against her chest, and her mouth moved, but he couldn’t hear any words.
“Jinx, baby girl, wake up.” He’d heard of people who had nightmares who didn’t quite wake up. Of course, he wasn’t a hundred percent sure that’s whathe was dealing with, or how to handle such a situation, but fuck it. He’d figure it out as he went.
“Jinx, it’s me, Bekkett. Wake up, Baby.” He reached for her, running his hand over her head.
Jinx flinched, but he kept talking to her, letting his voice break through her subconscious. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she blinked. Her arms flew outward.
“Viking?” she asked, looking down at herself and then at him, squatting naked a foot from her on the floor.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you?”
Chapter Fourteen
Jinx got up on her knees, her hands reaching for Bekkett. He shook his head, grabbing her hands.
“You didn’t hurt me, Jinx. Stop it. Let me take a look at you. Come here,” he rasped.
She pressed her lips together, stunned at his words and even more shocked as he stood up and scooped her into his arms. He didn’t ask for permission before carrying her into the ensuite, flicking the light on, then turning it off when the bright light made them both squint. “Do you have a dimmer setting?” he asked.
She reached over and flicked the last switch on the left, flooding the room with warm light that let her see him without the burning glow her eyes rebelled against.
“You scratched the hell out of your arms. Do you have any antibacterial ointment?” He ran his thumbs around the wounds without touching them directly.
“They’re not that bad. I’ll just...just take a shower and wash with some anti-bacterial soap.” She sighed, hating the sympathy in his eyes. Just hoursbefore, he’d looked at her with a heat and hunger. Now, she bet he wished he were anywhere but with her.
“Hey, don’t pull away from me.” He eased between her thighs, tilted her face up toward his, and brushed his lips over hers.
“You don’t have to be nice to me, Viking. I know this isn’t what you signed up for. Hell, finding the woman you’d fucked on the floor having a freakout surely wasn’t on your Bingo card.” She closed her eyes, unwilling to see the disdain in his eyes.
“Oh, good. I’m glad to hear that. Now shut up and kiss me.”
She looked at the crazy man standing naked before her with wide eyes, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. “Are you for real?”
He braced his arms on the counter next to her thighs, staring directly at her as he spoke. Jinx licked her lips, trying to pay attention.
“Jinx, you had a nightmare. Period. What’s the big fucking deal? Was I worried when you fell out of bed, and I saw you hurting yourself? Absofuckinglutely. Did I freak out a little when Icouldn’t get you to wake up fully at first? Yeah, but none of that will have me running for my truck and leaving your sexy little ass all alone. So stop trying to push me away.”
“I know something that will,” she whispered.
“What?” he asked, putting his finger under her chin and lifting her face.
“Can I shower quickly and then we talk?”
“How about we shower together. No sex, just making use of the same water.” Viking stepped back, giving her a chance to breathe without feeling every inch of him against her.
He turned toward the massive walk-in shower with heated tiles and turned on the water. Almost instantly, the interior began to heat with the steam. Viking turned toward her, holding out his hand. She eased off the vanity, walking toward him with slow, measured steps.
“Shit, hold on.” She reached for the special towel she used to keep her hair dry and quickly pulled it over her hair. “There. Tonight is not on my hair-washing schedule.”
“I get it. I grew up with a mother and a sister.” He waved for her to enter first.
