Unfortunately for me, I’d gone and letmyself fall in love after years and years of trying to avoid exactly that. Now,it was going to break my heart. Just like I’d always been afraid it would.
The thought made me snugglea little closer to Gray. If this was all about to be over, the best I could dowas make the most of it.
TWENTY-TWO
GRAY
A THIN SLICE of sunlight spilled throughthe gap in the curtains, drawing a bright line over Miles’ shoulder that Icouldn’t stop staring at. He was asleep, breathing shallow and even, curled upfacing away from me but still close enough to feel the warmth of his body.
And he was beautiful.
Damn.
Yeah, okay, I was in lovewith him.
I reached out to touch thesmooth, exposed skin of his shoulder, unable to help myself. I wanted thecontact. I wanted as much of Miles as I could get.
Justlookingat himmade my chest feel too small for my heart.
Leaning in, I pressed a softkiss to the back of his neck, breathing in his scent and memorizing the tasteof his skin, because if I was going to be hopeless about him, I might as wellgo the whole way, right?
A tiny hum told me he wasn’t quite as fastasleep as I’d thought he was. I got the impression Miles was a light sleeper atthe best of times, and immediately felt guilty for waking him. He needed therest.
Before I could say anything,he rolled over to face me, a sleepy smile making him look angelic in themorning sunshine, his eyes glinting in the light.
I could have lost hours ofmy life staring into Miles’ eyes and not even noticed the time passing.
Which was probably a signthat I was much,muchdeeper in this than I’d meant to be.
“Morning,” I murmured,giving in to the impulse to kiss him on the lips. Both of us sighed softly asour mouths connected, pleasure and relief passing between us like a physicalforce.
Miles reached out andstroked his fingers through my hair, throwing a leg over mine at the same time.Not tight, not aggressive, but just the tiniest hint of possession. Of want andneed.
I really,reallyliked being wanted and needed.
He kissed me again, lipsparted, fingers tightening in my hair just enough to let me know how much heliked doing this. My stomach fluttered at the thought. I could have donethisall day, too, and barely noticed the time passing.
“Morning,” Miles murmuredeventually. He yawned widely, his whole body tensing as he stretched it out.Once he relaxed again, he shuffled just a little closer so we were touching ina few more places.
I couldn’t stop lookingat him, and I knew I was right on the verge of grinning like an idiot. I musthave looked ridiculous.
Part of me hoped Miles wasseeing that. Seeing how much I liked him, how happy last night made me, howeager I was to do this again and again if he’d let me.
It’d been a long time since Iwoke up in a bed other than my own, and longer still since I hadn’t panickedover it. Miles was a balm for the soul.
Dumb and clichéd as it soundedeven in my own head, he was what I’d been looking for. Maybe what I’dalwaysbeen lookingfor.
And I’d found him, andI’d do anything to keep him.
Which was a lot to take inat a little after six in the morning. The part of my brain that desperatelywanted to be loved was getting way ahead of all the parts that were terrifiedof the possibility.
But those parts had beenquiet around Miles. Much quieter than usual.
Because the thought of Mileswasn’tscary at all.
That felt like a big,important revelation, but I was still too half-asleep to follow the thread. Nowwasn’tthe time, anyway. Miles was still my client, and it looked like I’d actuallyhave to do some detective work of my own.
Fox was going to be so proudof me.
