He shrugged as much as he could with me propped on top of him. “To me…that comes later.” He kissed me good and hard. “Want to”—another kiss—“get to”—a nip to the throat—“know”—a hard suck behind my ear—“you more.”
Taking control of a devastating kiss, he dove deep, his tongue ring clanking against my teeth. It stole the breath from my chest with the level of passion roaring through him. I wanted him to stay so badly. Maybe I could stay awake. I had a few Mountain Dews in the fridge. Probably had a bottle of Awake pills lying around in the medicine cabinet.
No.He should—
He shifted, pinning me between the back of the couch and his big body, then hiked my leg over his hip. “Okay?” he whispered into my mouth.
More than okay.But I needed more room. “Bed…”
“Tempting me. You’re naughty.”
“Want more room.” I laughed against his mouth. “Don’t worry. I won’t rip your clothes off.”
“Well…you could rip this shirt. It’s an older one.” He sat up, taking me with him, and swung his legs around until his feet were on the floor.
Ohhh…that moved me just right. Oh yeah, I needed a little more from him tonight. “Bed.”
“Hold on.” Standing up, he held me so close I wrapped my legs around him.
“No sex. Really?” I asked.
“No sex.”
Two steps and we were to the bed. He eased me down and settled in the cradle of my hips. My back arched on its own accord, and he grinned. “Love that look in your eyes.”
This guy was unreal. So concerned about me. Everything was about me. He couldn’t be human. No guy cared that much about how a girl felt while messing around or during sex, for that matter.
At least no guy I’d met. And I kinda liked it.
“Shirt off—or is that against the rules?” I asked.
“Hey, I said you could rip it earlier…” He reached behind him and pulled the shirt over his head. “But this might be better…”
I took in the sight of him and sighed. “Yes, definitely better.” I palmed his impressive pecs. I’d seen him shirtless before, but that was while he was healing from a stab wound.
Skimming my hand over his warm skin, I dusted my fingers along the old injury. It was one among many.
“You’ve seen a lot of…battle.”
He kissed a trail down my neck to theVneck of my top. There was something so intimate about this that it almost scared me. Usually it was a quick roll around, sex, then out the door.
But this…even though it wasn’t sex…it was way more. A deeper…connection. Maybe that was it. I couldn’t put my finger on it other than how amazing it felt. Hell, maybe it was love.
Or a glimpse at love.
He nuzzled my neck as he burrowed his arms beneath me and hugged me tight. Holding on, he rolled to his back, taking me with him. I couldn’t find it in me to move much other than settling against him as he reached over me and grabbed the top layer of blankets.
That’s when a pang of fear sliced through the sense of contentment blanketing me. He couldn’t stay. I wanted him to, but…oh, it’d be nice to fall asleep in his arms. Maybe that would keep the dreams away. I’d never done that before.
Maybe… Mmm, a sense of peace settled over me like warm bath water, and my mind fogged. Thoughts and fears sifted around, but the darkness took hold and dragged me under.
Don’t…fall…asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Drey
Stabbingpaininmythigh sliced through the deep, peaceful darkness I’d settled into. I bolted upright, searching for my attacker.