“When was the last time you slept? Like a nap?” Shooter asked, waiting for me to answer.
I could have lied, I could have said I napped for a little bit during a shift or something, lied to say that I was in an on-call room. But it was just that, a lie. “Oh, you’re worried about me?” I deflected like a champ.
“More like I’m worried that my nurse isn’t going to be able to do her job.” With that the grumpiness, the hard center he put up, was melting away and a smile replaced it. God, he had a beautiful smile that went along with that charm. Just one look and he could just sweep a lucky woman off her feet and into this bed. And his beard, in my delirium, I just wanted to brush through it to see if it was really soft.
I wiggled through his grip. “I think I liked you flirting with me better.”
His eyes widened, his arm pulling me more flushed against his body. Thank God he was wearing pants. It still didn’t help that there was a big something rubbing against me. A fire burned in me, aching to be released, to play.
“I did like kissing you.” Shooter’s voice full of husk and smoke.
I played along, still hoping that he’d stop trying to take care of me. “That’s not flirting. And I told you that shouldn’t have happened and I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” He said bluntly. His arm holding me started to explore, soothing me with soft caresses along my back. His eyes never left mine, and the weight of his contact was trying to break down something. “And yet your body, your mind said otherwise. Don’t think that I don’t know that you wanted that just as bad as I do.” A shiver of thoughts ran through my body. A shred of dark thought, of possessiveness rang through.
I broke eye contact, looking away. “Just as bad as youdid.”
His hand pulled my chin, bringing it back to his eyes. “No, Amelia, I still do.”
Oh, to give into him, to allow him to unlock what I wanted most, was a wish that I couldn’t let happen. He shouldn’t want me. I had enough trouble in my life that I couldn’t entertain this. As much as he excited me, I was afraid I’d fall too easily and I’d have nothing to catch on.
Chapter 12
Shooter
Ifelt like a damn teenager with the raging hard on from just touching her. It was not a good look for me. But that’s what she did to me. Even though there were secrets to be revealed, all sense of staying away from her went out the window when she didn’t try to wiggle out of my touch. Her eyes pleaded with fighting emotions. She was still fighting to give in and let loose.
I was also fighting the urge to lean into her, capturing her lips.
She sighed, “Answer to your question, I picked up a couple shifts, so I haven't had a decent sleep in about forty-eight hours.”
She wasn’t taking care of herself; she was doing more for others than herself. A fury burned inside, tempting me to teach her that she needed to take care of herself better. My eyes narrowed, her chin still in my grip, “That’s dangerous.”
It was dangerous, she wouldn’t survive if she kept going. She might have been the one in the hospital, and I would have been at her bedside, watching over her. I had one level, and if she truly saw, there would have been an Amelia sized hole in my wall.
She wiggled out of my grip, her tone turning serious. “I’ll be fine. I’m off the next two days anyway.”
“But you look like you’re ready to drop,” I pointed out.
Her internal struggle was becoming evident and slipping through her mask. She started to hesitate, about to brush it off. Fuck my recovery. I would get hell for this, but it was my price to pay. I was going to take what I wanted, and at that moment, it was Amelia. It would always be Amelia, next to the club.
“Come here.” I started to adjust to lay on my back.
“Why?” Amelia softly said.
“Just trust me okay?”
“I trust you just about as far as I can throw you.”
“Amelia, please. Maybe for once, I’m not trying to be an asshole.” I insisted, giving her no choice but to move with me. I laid on my back, pulling her toward my chest, my arm wrapped around her back side. Her heart started to race, thumping on my skin. Was she excited? Or was she scared of what would happen?
I looked down to see her scowl, the little skeptic, “If this is some kind of way of fucking with me.”
Oh, what dangerous words were said. “If I wanted to fuck you right now, I’d have you begging right now.” She rolled her eyes, and I squeezed her. “Peaches, as much as it sounds tempting to fuck you to sleep or while you’re asleep, I think you just need a nap. A place to feel safe for a moment.”
The redness of her cheeks brought a smile to my face. She was thinking about it.
Noted.
