I straighten to a stand and turn to find her looking up at me.I see so much softness and innocence in that face.Too much beauty and purity for someone like me.
Neither of us move.I watch her chest rise and fall under the blankets.She’s naked underneath.All it would take would be one quick snatch and she’d be laid bare to me.
My palms are sweating.
If this room were darker, I’d probably see lightning arcing across the space between us.The desire is that electric, that thick.
And if I were a better man, I’d turn away from her right this second.
Her face is etched with longing.She licks her bottom lip and tries to smile.
“You gave me too much to eat, Phoebe.We need to pace ourselves with supplies.”
“I only gave you two cans.”
“That’s too much.”
“No, it’s probably perfect.I ate one can.You’re twice as big as me.”
I’m picking a fight with her.It’s what I do when I don’t want her looking at me like that, when I don’t want her to see what’s going on in my head.
This is truly fucked up.
It’s time for the chat.I open my mouth to say the words, but my lips snap shut.
Ah, fuck it.
I drop to my knees in front of her and pull her to me.She falls against my chest with a sigh of relief, and I hold her there, feeling as her body softens in my embrace.
My lips go to her hair.I breathe her in.Her scent fills me and surrounds me.I’ve never known a woman who smelled so wonderful, soright.
I realize that I’ve held Phoebe a lot in the last day, but it’s been for practical and medicinal purposes.To raise her core temperature.To keep her warm.
But this is not that.
I’m holding her because I want to.Because I can’t fight it anymore.
“What I did was stupid, Evander.”Her words vibrate against the side of my neck.I feel the warmth of her breath.“I thought you were hurt and I just had to get to you.”
“I’m sorry I snapped at you, but…shit, Phoebe.I don’t think you understand that—”
“I’m your job.”
“What?”
“You think that keeping me safe is your duty.”She pushes away from my embrace so that she can see me.Those gold-green eyes search my face.“It’s all right.I know that you see me as your responsibility and nothing more.You believe that if anything were to happen to me, it would be your fault.I know how you are.You see me as an assignment.”
I stare at her.
“That’s nice of you, Evander.”
CHAPTER 27
Evander
Nice?
I look into Phoebe’s beautiful face and try to pull my thoughts together.She really does know me, maybe too well—the responsibility, protection, and trust shit, anyway—but that’s only part of it.
