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‘That should be my line,’ he gave back, and carefully rolled over to pull her in against him, spooning them together, his arm wonderfully heavy on her waist, his hand splayed across a breast.
‘We can share it.’
Her mouth was swollen and tender as she smiled into the semi-dark. Her fingers traced her lips. I feel whole—like a part of me that I didn’t know was missing has been given back.
But she was wise enough to know that this night had not changed anything. She still intended staying on in this house. Mickey still needed her to fight for what he required. Logan hadn’t emptied his skull of those demons plaguing him.
She might be feeling languid and filled with warmth right at this minute, but it was only an interval, brought on by a nightmare and her unexpected need to get close to Logan just once.
Her eyes drooped closed and she snuggled further into the warm body at her back. She’d enjoy the moment and stretch it out for as long as possible.
* * *
Logan held Karina like a delicate gift, never wanting to let her go. He didn’t know if it was in his power to lift his arm and set her free. Not that she was trying to move away. Quite the opposite.
This was a precious time; an intimacy beyond making love. Their sweat-slicked bodies locked together as they cooled, their hearts slowing as that intense, mind-blocking release eased off. Of course he wanted to do it again, but not right at this moment. Now he wanted to treasure this amazing woman who’d shown the tormentors in his head where they could go—for a while at least.
‘You sent them packing,’ he murmured.
‘I’m glad. Now we know there is a cure.’
He chuckled softly. As if it was going to be that easy. But he didn’t even mind so much at the moment. Around Karina, anything seemed possible. Even slaying dragons would be doable.
‘I’ve moved on from hot chocolate.’
‘You can have both.’
She said nothing else for a while, and he began to think she’d fallen asleep. Then...
‘You gave me back my heart.’
‘Your ex bruised you that badly? He stole it and never returned it when he left?’
Was this the first time for her since her marriage had fallen apart?
‘I thought I’d given him so much of myself there was nothing left for anyone else. Now I’m not so sure.’
Her voice had got lower and lower, and he strained to hear her clearly.
‘Karina, like I said: you’re a beautiful woman with a big heart.’
She’d done so much for him, right from the day he’d turned up here, full of ideas about what they should be doing with the house and the surgery. Despite their disagreement about the property she hadn’t flinched at extending him a hand.
Under his arm she tensed.
‘Karina?’
Silence.
‘Hey, I didn’t say that earlier just so I could have sex. I’m not saying it now because I’m grateful. I believe it. Truly believe it. Okay?’
Had her ex told her how lovely she was to get his own way? While all along he’d been bonking his other woman on the side?
‘Okay.’
The tension relaxed and she wriggled against him, that perfect backside rubbing where it counted and causing him to bite down on the need springing to life and tightening his manhood again.
She stilled. Of course she’d have felt his reaction. Kind of hard to miss.
He grinned. He was probably crazy not to be acting on it—he would do so shortly—but holding Karina in his arms had to be the best thing to happen to him in a long time. He continued holding her, burying his face in her silky hair, breathing in her scent. Sex and sweat and woman. He’d be a millionaire if he knew how to bottle that. But he didn’t want to share it. This was his moment; their moment.
Carefully pulling the covers up to their necks, he shifted to get more comfortable. There were still hours left to enjoy before they had to get out of bed. He should be shivering from the cold, but he was warm for the first time in months. Sure, he’d been hot beyond comprehension out in the middle of Nigeria, but this warmth was inside him, heating the corners where he’d shoved his fear and vulnerability and cold anger. This warmth was all down to Karina.
He could get used to it. Which was why he wouldn’t repeat it. There’d only be one night with Karina. It wouldn’t be fair on either of them to continue being intimate for the remainder of his time in Motueka and then for him to walk away as though it didn’t matter. Because it would. He’d have nudged aside one set of problems for another. But staying on permanently wouldn’t work. He still had to face down his fears.
He shuddered. That day seemed to be racing at him and he was so not prepared. Despite tonight, and making love with Karina, the fact was those evil men did dominate his head, his life. He knew he had to prove they hadn’t won, that he could banish them for ever.
He needed to get back to being normal. That wasn’t going to happen while he was shut away in small-town New Zealand. No, that required a visit to what was for him enemy territory. Another shudder. Then and only then did he stand a chance of making a life for himself. Maybe even a life that included a family.
He already had Mickey. Karina would complete the picture.
But he was getting way ahead of himself. They’d made love once and here he was thinking too far ahead. Just because Karina had him beginning to feel whole again, it didn’t mean she might contemplate a relatio
nship with him. She’d made a niche for herself with Mickey, and she certainly didn’t need a shell of a man living with them.
So he’d enjoy this moment. Holding Karina, feeling complete, even knowing it couldn’t last, meant everything to him. She’d done so much for him in her kind and generous way.
Now he had to do something for her.
Unfortunately he knew exactly what that was.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
KARINA SANG UNDER her breath as she hopped out of the shower. Singing out loud would only bring complaints. But, damn she felt good this morning. Nothing like good sex—no, make that very good sex—with Logan to make the day wonderful.
It’s six a.m. and the rain’s bucketing down, and I’m on top of my world.
Uh-oh. Rain.
Where were the buckets?
Pushing into her robe, she dashed to the laundry and hastily placed buckets under the drips, took another to the bedroom next to Mickey’s and placed it under the newest problem.
‘When did that leak start?’
Logan leaned the shoulder she’d kissed so thoroughly during the night against the doorframe, his hands in his jeans pockets, feet crossed at his ankles, sexy stubble on his chin. He looked like a very tired movie star.
‘Last night too much for you, lover-boy?’ She flicked a finger under his chin. Heat sizzled through her veins as that stubble softly rasped her skin. Tingles licked the base of her spine.
He caught her finger to run his tongue over the tip. ‘Are you avoiding my question?’
Her happiness slipped a notch. ‘There was a damp patch on the carpet after the last rainfall.’
‘I guess you’ll be buying more buckets this week, then.’ He didn’t look so happy either. ‘You should’ve told me.’
This was why they shouldn’t have slept together.
‘Let’s make tea and toast. I’m hungry.’ All that exercise had used up last night’s dinner. She pushed past him. ‘You must be, too.’
She’d noticed while exploring his body during the night—how could she not?—that his ribs didn’t stick out quite so much as that first time she’d seen his chest.
