Mara woke to sunlight easing around the blackout curtains Amber had installed in all the rooms at the No Phailed Apples Inn.
A jolt of panic raced through her. She never slept past sunrise.
Even as the panic hit, Seth’s arm tightened around her. “Easy, Chaos Machine, we’re all good.”
“I’m late. I should have been up hours ago. I don’t have any dough rising.”
He chuckled and rolled over so she was flat on her back, covered from head to toe with her own personal sexy blanket of warmth.
He kissed her lightly, then not so lightly. “Good morning.”
His gruff, sleepy voice sent shivers running over her skin. “Good morning.”
He leaned up, with most of his weight on his elbows. His gorgeous hazel eyes studied her. “How are you feeling this morning?”
That made her smile. “Aside from panicky because I’m late, and turned on because you’re here with me?”
She felt his body harden where their bodies were aligned in the very best of ways.
He grinned and kissed her again. “Yes, besides those things.”
She blew out a soft breath. “I’m okay. The nightmares all disappeared quickly because you were here. Thanks.”
Mischief twinkled in his eyes. “It’s such a hardship sleeping with a gorgeous, sexy, naked woman I’m in love with.”
She smiled and reached up to touch his stubble. Stubble that had left marks on her thighs. “I’m serious. I’m okay because of you. Not only did you figure out how to keep us both safe last night, but you let me cry all over you, and then sent me spinning into an orgasm so intense, I fell asleep with a smile. Then, whenever I woke in a panic, you were there, helping me remember I’m safe, that it’s over.”
His eyes turned serious. “I’ll always be here for you, Mara, just like you are for me. We made a hell of a team yesterday. In fact, I think we’ll make a hell of a team for the next seven or eight decades.”
Her heart leapt, and she reached up to kiss him. “Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.”
Fritter jumped onto the bed and shoved between their faces to yowl for his breakfast.
Laughing, she petted the cat. “Sorry, buddy. You’ve been neglected. I’ll get you some food.”
Seth sighed dramatically and kissed her around the cat. “Looks like real life is intruding. You up for it?”
She took an internal survey, knowing it was a serious question. “I am. After I get Fritter some food, I’d like to take another shower. Then I’ll go apologize to Amber for being late.”
He chuckled. “After last night, I’m positive no one cares we slept in. There’s a lot of food in the fridge and freezer. Other people can cook. It won’t be as good as your stuff, but they’ll survive for one day. Besides, the bodyguards are checking out this morning.”
Which reminded her that Blake had stayed right here in this inn for a week without letting any of them see that he had such evil plans.
When a shiver ran through her body, Seth rolled them up to a sitting position and pulled her onto his lap, with his arms tight around her. She sighed and leaned in. “I’m okay. Just thinking about how we called him Stone Face, but I didn’t think past the fact that he was a grumpy man who didn’t appreciate wonderful food.”
“None of us did. I noticed him glaring at us both, but I figured he glared at everyone, so it didn’t occur to me that there was a serious issue.”
Fritter leapt to the floor to bat at their legs with another yowl.
Smiling, Mara rose. “Sorry, bud. Let’s get you some food and water.”
After they fed the cat, she and Seth thoroughly enjoyed another shower. Mara dressed, then took a deep breath, and put her hand on the doorknob. “Time to face the real world.”
Seth lifted her hand to kiss it, a gesture that never failed to make her swoon.
“We’ll face it together. After yesterday, we know we can face anything together.”
He was right. They could.
