I was reeling, and it must’ve shown on my face, because Colton’s expression tightened. “Please. Let me make up for the way I treated you before.”
My belly gave a little twist, immediately followed by a small wave of nausea. “Okay. I’d like that.”
Colton nodded. Balancing the laundry basket on one hip, he slowly put a hand up onto the door and then pushed it inwards against my hold. “Let me set this down for you. I can see you’re not very steady on your feet yet.”
“Oh God. That’s okay. It’s just…” I stuttered to a stop as the mountain-sized man moved past me into the room, carefully setting the laundry basket on the floor and then lifting my half-full suitcase from the bed to the chair off in the corner. My entire face was burning as I watched my employer’s hand brush over my lacy thong as he set it down on the chair, still open.
“What?” He was looking at me curiously.
“Thong,” I croaked out, sitting on the edge of the bed before my legs gave out from sheer humiliation.
Colton must’ve thought something different though, because as soon as I peered up at him from between my fingers, I realized that the man was on a knee between my knees, somehow still staring right into my face, even in that position.
I squeaked.
He reached a hand out, making my heart stammer faster as he pressed the back of his hand into my forehead. “You still seem too pale. Have you managed to eat anything yet?”
“No,” I told him honestly. I’d been too busy taking care of Sera. But this wave of sickness was mostly from embarrassment. Unfortunately, it was too late to tell him that.
“Lie down, Gia. I’ll get you some electrolytes and a snack, and you can rest while your laundry dries.”
He’ was commanding me again, but this time, it felt different. There’ was no edge or accusation in his words. I expected to want to argue back with him or at least glare his way. But God, the idea sounded amazing. And while I’ wasn’t used to someone taking care of me like this, it sure felt good.
“What about Sera?”
His lips twitched. Almost a smile, I thought. “Happy and half-asleep. Let’s get you feeling better now.”
I nodded, beginning to scoot back up the bed, when a pair of thick arms slipped around my waist, the hands bridging the entire space around my ribs as Colton lifted me and pressed me back towards the pillows. As soon as I was situated, he released me and then covered me with one of several throw blankets that had been folded at the foot of the bed.
It’ was warm and soft and smelled just the tiniest bit like the man who was still leaning over me. He pressed his hand against my cheek one last time. “You’re going to be fine, Gia. I’ll make sure of it.”
I’ nodded, the sleepless nights and anxiety over Sera finally catching up with me. I curled my hands around the bedding, accidentally brushing a calloused hand as I did. But I was too tired to worry about it. I simply let my eyelids fall into the sweet bliss of what I hoped would be a healing sleep.
Chapter Three
Colton
She wasn’t holding my hand. Not really. It was more like her hand was brushing against mine as she slept. I’ wasn’t sure what had me extending my stay in this room. I’d meant to come and apologize, but then I’d pushed my way in and been compelled to keep helping her. I had told myself that the sooner all of these things happened, the sooner she would be out of my hair. But now that felt like a lie.
Maybe because I knew that not only did the woman wear a variety of highlighter-tone underwear, but she liked to match the tops to the bottoms. At least based on the panties that had been peeking out of her half-packed bag.
I was never going to get that visual out of my mind. And before I’d been able to mentally recover from that little mind melt, the woman had been sitting on the edge of her bed, pale, shaking, and making my entire body thrum with misplaced adrenaline.
Because what if I had been the one to make her feel sick again? Ihadbeen a royal asshole.
And now she was sleeping, her hand against mine, her body curled towards me as if she had not a worry in the entire world.
And Jesus H. Christ, it gave me time to really inspect her. From the tiny freckles that stood out against her pale cheeks to the slight skin tone difference behind her ear. That made me smile, the fact that this woman used some of those fake tan things. I didn’t give a second thought to if women were tan ornot, but somehow knowing that little hidden secret about her made my belly feel tight.
Or maybe it’ was the way that her lips were parted, her breath slowly warming my hand, as she continued to sleep right against me.
I should scold her when she woke up. Tell her that it’ was never safe to fall asleep in a man’s house—a stranger’s house. Even if it was just me. Because she was too beautiful, too soft, her body too trusting of my intentions.
It was a damn good thing she’d ended up here, I guessed. I would make sure she got some sleep, pack up her array of beautiful fucking underthings that I would certainly never see against her naked skin, and then get her back to her normal life.
That was best for everyone.
Slowly, I stood, extracting my hand with a quick and steadied myself before taking several quick steps backwards out of the room and carefully closing the door behind me. Victory warmed my skin when Gia remained asleep and quiet in the room.
