“I can take it.”
We fought a silent battle of wills while I contemplated the best move. After everything she’d been through, she probably needed a sense of control. I had our entire lives to be a gentleman.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay.” I leaned closer so only she could hear. “But don’t get used to it.”
I sensed more than felt the shiver that ran through her body.
“Right this way.” I led her to the only bedroom in the apartment. “I cleared a drawer for you and some space in the closet.”
Madi surveyed the mid-sized bedroom. The beige carpet and walls were as bland as the color sounded. My navy comforter was folded on top of the unmade queen-sized bed. “I’ll make the bed when the sheets finish drying.”
“Is this your bedroom?”
“It’s the only bedroom.”
“So it’s your bedroom.”
“Yes.”
“But if I’m in here… where will you sleep?”
I took risk. “In here.”
Her eyes widened as she sucked in a breath.
“But.”
“If you can look me in the eye.” I stepped into her space. “And honestly tell me.” I stilled her fidgeting fingers with my right hand. “That you want me to sleep out there.” I leaned in and hovered with my lips a paper-thin distance from hers. “Then I’ll sleep in the living room.”
Madi’s eyes shuddered closed as she inhaled through her nose.
“You don’t play fair.”
“No, I play to win.” I placed a soft kiss on the tip of her nose and stepped back. “So, what’ll it be?”
“I don’t want to make Shane rent a hotel room, so I guess you can stay in here.”
I didn’t call her on the lie. I didn’t need to. The pink spreading out from under the bandages on her cheeks wasn’t from her wounds.
My body would hate me, but I’d be the perfect gentleman while we shared the bed. Unless Madi made the first move.
I shifted my stance so she couldn’t see the evidence of how much I wanted her. Sporting a giant flagpole of an erection was hardly appropriate.
Her parents are in the kitchen.
Problem solved.
“I’ll let you unpack.”
“Can I put my stuff in the bathroom?”
“Of course, it’s just down the hall.” If you could call it that. The hall was five steps long. A closet hiding the HVAC and stacked washer and dryer occupied one wall, and a small pantry and the bathroom occupied the other side.
My kitchen wasn’t much bigger than a galley, but it opened to the living space with a window above the eat-at bar. My small table occupied the tiny space the complex called a dining room.
