He didn’t argue.“We’ll share the bed, then.I won’t touch you.I promise.”
Something about the way he said it landed wrong.Yeah, that hurt a little.“Fine.”
“Poaching’s never been my thing.”
“Poaching?”
He looked over his shoulder.“You’re engaged.”
Right.That.
The ring stayed behind at the bar because she took it off to work.Though she always meant to put it back on, she usually forgot.
“You’re still soaking wet.”He looked her over.“You need something warm.”There was one small dresser by the bed, and he opened the drawers, pulling out a faded black T-shirt and thick gray socks before turning and tossing them to her.“The bathroom's well stocked.Use whatever you need.”
Almost in a dream, she caught the clothes and then walked into the bathroom, shutting the door.Well stockedmay have been an overstatement.The small room held a shower, toilet, and sink in a small cabinet.
She opened one of the two drawers to find unopened toothbrushes and toothpaste.Okay, no hair ties.Why would he have hair ties?She changed into his T-shirt and socks, carefully hanging her wet clothing on the one bar for towels.She felt vulnerable and small in his shirt, but at least she felt a bit warmer.She took one of the towels and dried her hair best she could, leaving it hanging around her face.
She looked in the mirror and then winced before wiping under her eyes to get rid of the mascara that had smeared.She was pale, and she looked lost.The bruise on her cheekbone from the explosion was turning a lighter purple now.It had been a rough few days.
Tears filled her eyes, and she instantly batted them back.There was no need to cry.
She walked out of the room to find Christian bare-chested, wearing long, dark sweats.
Holy crap.His chest was even more muscled and cut than she had imagined, and he had an actual six-pack, like a real one.Not overly defined, but more natural.
Her mouth watered.
A tattoo of an osprey looked like it was flying over his left shoulder, with its talons extended and its beak sharp.
It was beautiful work.
She swallowed.
“Get in the bed,” he said, no expression on his face.
“You’re kind of bossy,” she muttered, walking around to the other side, pulling down the covers, and slipping inside.
“When I need to be.”He flicked off the lights and slid in next to her, his big body indenting the bed until she rolled toward him.
“Sorry.”She pushed herself away.
The fire crackled across the room while the storm raged outside, lending a breathless intimacy to the cabin.Her heart fluttered in her chest.This felt unreal.She was in bed with Christian Osprey, and his body was even better than she’d imagined.
Not that she had imagined it.Okay.She’d imagined it more than once.
They both stayed quiet for a moment.
“You’re going to have to sleep, darlin’,” he said.
Did he just call herdarlin’?Hadn’t he called herbabythe other day?Her nipples peaked.Just from his low voice.“I’m trying.”But she couldn’t get warm.She shivered.
“Damn it.”He rolled toward her and yanked her against him, her back to his front, his powerful body wrapping around her completely.
Desire flooded her.She shivered again.
“You’ll warm up.I’ll let go once you do.”He wrapped an arm around her waist, bending his elbow at her stomach and extending his forearm up along her chest to her collarbone.His hand settled just below her neck.
