“You didn’t do anything wrong, baby doll.” I cradled his face between my palms. The urge to kiss the end of his nose had me swaying forward, but I caught myself before I could. What possessed me to do such a thing, I didn’t understand.Must be the fever.
“Kieran?” The vulnerable way he called my name and the adorable confusion swimming in his sleepy stare primed me with the urge to comfort.
Leaning forward, I brushed a soft kiss against his lips but refused to let myself linger. “Come here,” I cajoled, lying back down and tugging him with.
He cuddled right up against me, wedging himself under my arm, pressing tight against my side. With his cheek pillowed on my chest, every breath he took brushed my skin.
I realized then that the only way I’d ever be able to sleep again was with him tucked in my protective embrace.
CHAPTER
NINE
Haz
The scent of coffee wafted into my dreams, rousing me slowly until awareness fluttered my lashes. The quiet, dim lighting coupled with the warm, cozy blankets wrapping me in a cocoon of comfort had me drifting off again. I snuggled deeper, intending to soak up every bit of this bliss before reality intruded and stole it away.
The dreamy thought startled me because usually my dreams were nightmares. Eyes popping wide, I pushed the downy comforter down to look around the room.
Holy shit, it wasn’t a dream. Thiswasreality.
Instantly, I sought the man I’d snuggled against all night, only to find the place he’d lain empty. Lying back down, I stretched my arm over the vacant spot, disappointed to find even his body heat absent.
Last night had been?—
What time is it?Panic assaulted me, spiking my heart rate and adrenaline. Flipping back the blankets, I rushed out of bed, stubbing my toe on the wooden nightstand.
“Shit,” I hissed, hopping on one foot while spinning to see if there was a clock anywhere in the room.
“What kind of person doesn’t even have a clock?” I muttered, bending down to rub my toe. It was already bruising.
Then I remembered I didn’t have a clock either. I just used my cell.
Which had run out of prepaid minutes. And by now, the battery was probably toast too.
The shirt Kieran buttoned around me last night flapped against my naked thighs, the soft fabric frankly a distraction as I rushed toward the window to see how high the sun was. But he didn’t have curtains. The coverings were blinds or sheets of something inside the glass. How the hell was a person supposed to see outside? I knocked lightly on the surface, then searched around for some type of switch. There was nothing.
Couldn’t he just have a see-through curtain like everyone else?Of course not. He’s rich.
Giving up on finding a clock and a glimpse at the world beyond his shuttered windows, I headed for the door, limping a little as I followed my nose toward the coffee.
I wasn’t wearing pants, but really, what was the point? The ones he’d given me last night were so big that I nearly fell and died. And I’d already almost broken my toe this morning. The wood floor was cold against my bare feet, and I rushed forward to get to the long carpet running down the length of the hallway.
The hallway where he’d kissed me.
The hallway where he’d kissed me so good that I came in my pants.
Micro goose bumps raced along my limbs as I stared at the spot where he’d pinned me against the wall and invaded my senses. It really wasn’t fair. I’d asked for a goodnight kiss, and he’d practically snatched the soul right out of my body.
He said he wants to keep me.
I nearly tripped at the thought, flinging out my hand to find balance on the wall. The floodgate holding back the emotions I’d experienced last night burst open, engulfing me all over again.
You agreed! You don’t even know him!
What the hell had I been thinking? Listen. Thinking had never really been my strong suit. I tried in school, but the truth was I barely passed. In fact, I probably only passed because if my teachers failed me, then they’d have to deal with me for another year. Even so, I knew better than this. It was one thing to pick up some guy on an app and hook up but something else entirely to…get attached.
Am I getting attached? It’s too soon.
