“Then I am.” I turned to see where it would be easiest to fit in this tiny room.
“No, you’re not,” Darcke ordered. “We both need rest before tomorrow.”
As if I would be able to sleep if we were both in that bed.
“But—”
“Stop fucking arguing and get in.” Darcke gripped the bottom of his tunic, and I stiffened when he pulled it over his head, leaving himself shirtless. His muscles were defined even in the dim light from the stars outside, and his golden skin glowed like he’d been sunning himself all day.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I get warm when I sleep.”
“Do you even sleep?” I muttered. “You always look tired.”
Something vulnerable cut across the tether between us, and I tilted my head as I approached the bed.
“What was that?” I asked as I stopped before him.
We were the same height when he sat down, my head perfectly level with his. I fidgeted with the hem of my own tunic not to give in to the urge to drag my hands over his broad shoulders, then weave them into his hair to feel if it was as salt stained and coarse as it looked.
“Nothing,” Darcke responded.
“You’re the one always telling me not to lie.”
His lips twitched. “I don’t like to sleep alone.”
More elegantly than should be possible, Darcke rolled over on the bed, turning his back on me. Not that it did me any good. His back was covered with more corded muscle and skin that looked so soft I wanted to drag my nails down it.
“I felt that,” he teased.
I threw my head back with a silent groan before climbing into bed as well. Turning on my side, I kept so close to the edge I had to keep a hand on the floor so as not to tumble down onto it.
We were quiet for twenty breaths. I counted each one, trying to use his not to let my heart start racing at knowing he was so close. My entire skin prickled with awareness, and when he shifted, making me slide closer, I closed my eyes.
“We’re not going to get much sleep, are we?” Darcke said.
“I don’t think so,” I whispered.
“Your heart is beating so hard,” he said after another few moments of silence.
“So is yours,” I got out.
“You should get comfortable,” Darcke said. “I can feel the bed digging into your side.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I felt his hand before it grabbed my hip, but I did nothing to stop it as he pulled me fully onto the bed so that my back lined up with his, my legs touching every inch of his own. My body folded perfectly against him—like he was made for me, and I for him.
“I think we’re past good ideas.” His hand remained on my hip, and my entire body vibrated, every part of me so awake and aware and alive.
My eyes remained shut as I moved my own hand. As soon as it came within reach, Darcke’s fingers slid into my own, locking in place like they’d been waiting for me.
“I think I have run out ofallgood ideas,” he said quietly.
“Don’t,” I whispered.
“Why?” He played with my fingers, running his own up and down my hand, tickling my palm until the body I’d kept tense relaxed into him. A low breath left him as his muscles also softened, and his movements slowed until he laced our fingers again, keeping our hands atop my hip.
