He caught the flicker of jealousy and chuckled. “Relax. It was Anna.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, ‘oh’,” he repeated, focused on the strands between his fingers. “When we were younger, she used to sneak out and play in the rain. Our mother hated it, said it’d make her sick, ruin her hair, all that jazz. So I’d blow dry it for her before anyone noticed.”
Emily smiled. “That’s so sweet.”
“There was this one time,” he continued, “she tried to curl her hair herself and ended up burning her hand. After that, everyone agreed she shouldn’t touch anything hot until she was older. I’d become her unofficial stylist when mother wasn’t around.”
“You’re quite gentle as one.”
“I had to be,” he replied. “She trusted me.”
Emily’s eyes met his in the reflection.
His fingers combed through her semi-dry waves. “You can trust me too.”
It came out so low that if she hadn’t been looking at his lips through the mirror, she’d probably have missed it.
She smiled. “So can you.”
“I do.”
“Not enough to sleep in the same bed as me.”
“Emily.” His face became rigid. “It’s myself I don’t trust. Not you.”
Another one of those soft gasps he liked too much escaped her. “What?”
“You heard me,” he said firmly. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Her lips curved upward at the sides.
Nicolas cleared his throat, turning off the device and setting it aside.And she has the nerve to say she’s no longer fearless.He ran his fingers through her now-dry hair, letting the strands fall between them. It smelled so good. He had to shake off the temptation of burying his face in it.
“You have a full day tomorrow. Ma and Anna insist on showing you the city. Remember we have our flight back in the evening so don’t spread yourself thin.”
As he turned to walk away, she caught his wrist. He looked down at her.
“Sleep with me.”
His throat bobbed, a sharpness striking him.Fuck me.
“Emily—”
“Please.”
“I just explained to you?—”
“I know you don’t trust yourself, but I trust you, Nicolas. So please. Consider it givingmea break from the guilt of having you uncomfortable in your own home.”
“I’m not?—”
“I heard you tossing all night. I bet a man like you hasn’t slept on the floor a day in his life.”
It was true. He’d never slept on the floor, but he was willing to do that much for her if she was comfortable.
He let out a shaky breath, his eyes dancing between hers. His defenses fell slowly at her pleading look.
