“No, thank you. You’re bleeding.”
“I wouldn’t care if you were bleeding.” His gaze drops to my bare thighs.
“That’s disgusting,” I sneer.
“What? It’s extra flavor.”
“Okay, that’s enough! You’re getting out of hand now and need to leave.” I point toward the front door, which is shut and locked.Well, I guess it was nice of him to lock it again after breaking in.
“Just a small goodnight kiss,” he prods as he inches closer. I spot a knife beside the sink, but this time he knows I’m not playing, and he blocks my path to it. “Now, now, Hurricane. No more stabbing your lover.”
“Lover?”I scoff.
“Please, let me stay,” he says again.
“I didn’t know you knew that word.”
“I don’t usually have to use it, so it’s not in my vocabulary,” he admits. This time, when he reaches for me, I let him, and his arm slides around my waist.
“I’m not fucking you. I’m tired and want to sleep,” I inform him.
“I’ll just sleep next to you,” he promises, then leans down and nuzzles into my neck.
Goddammit! It feels good, and it takes me a beat before I push him away.
“No touching either,” I assert.
“I want to hold you,” he argues.
“Fine.Only holding.” I keep giving in, and I can’t help myself.
“Okay.” He drops a kiss behind my ear before he pulls back and leads me to my room.
He releases my hand, and I climb into bed and get under the covers. The lights aren’t on, but I can still see him perfectly as he undresses—first his boots and socks, then his shirt, and lastly his jeans.
In just his boxers, he goes into the bathroom, and I hear the shower run for a few minutes before he comes out with a towel wrapped low around his waist and a bandage on his hand. He pauses, looking at me, before he drops the towel and comes around to my side of the bed. Soren lifts the covers and practically climbs in on top of me. I have to scoot over to make room for him. His arms wrap around me without hesitation, and I let him hold me like the doll he wants me to be.
“Soren.”
“Hmm…” I can tell he’s tired.
Maybe all he wants is someone to sleep next to.
“Why are you really here?”
“I don’t know,” he answers. “But I like that I am.” Without thinking, I take his hand and hold it. He flinches at my touch but doesn’t pull away. His hand squeezes mine, and we lie in complete silence as we both drift off to sleep.
And I hate to admit it.
But it ends up being one of the best nights’ sleep I’ve had since… well, forever.
THIRTY
SOREN
Soren
She’s awake,and she’s trying to wriggle from my hold.
