So instead of devouring her as I’d like to, I put a hand to her back and tip her onto the bed. She shrieks and giggles as she bounces on the mattress, then stares up at me, taking me in as I discard the towel.
“I always sleep naked.” But I don’t always lower myself onto the bed with a hard-on that could break diamonds.
She bites her lip and doesn’t take her eyes off me as I pull back the covers and let her wriggle underneath.
A soft huff of amusement stops me as I’m about to join her.
“What’s so amusing, little bunny?” I say severely. No man wants his naked body laughed at.
“Nothing,” she says, faking innocence.
I raise one eyebrow.
“It’s just…” She pauses and rakes her gaze over my chest again. “I thought earlier that you couldn’t look more attractive than you did in that suit.” Her mouth stretches into a wry smile. “Totally wrong.”
“Careful. You wouldn’t want to swell my… Ego any more.”
“It might explode,” she replies. My naughty minx.
I slide into bed and pull her into my arms.
“I like this side of you,” she whispers.
“The rough side?” My scars and tattoos are hardly attractive for a sweet thing like her.
“Relaxed. Funny. Telling me about yourself. Real,” she says with a blush. “Though I like it when you take charge too.”
I tangle my fingers in her hair. It’s warm silk. “Both sides are real, little bunny.”
She sighs contentedly.
“First time I’ve seen a man naked.” Her gaze dips again to my chest.
Fuck. I am a fuckwit. I have made this impossible for myself, and wasted a first on getting into bed with her. Am I only going to see Willow naked once, too?
As I wrestle with what I can possibly say, her eyelids droop closed like a sleepy kitten, until she gives in, and her breathing is deep and even.
Watching her sleep—so beautiful, so young, so innocent—a sheen of guilt emerges onto my skin. I am not good enough. I shouldn’t have made this devil of a bargain with her, she had no choice at all.
But every breath is the scent of strawberries, and looking at her…
There wasn’t any option for me either.
I have to find a way to make her want to stay.
Something. Anything.
And I have an idea. Pulling my phone from the bedside table, I put my plan into action. Half an hour later, I’ve done what’s needed and toss my phone back in favour of holding my sleeping girl with both arms.
She won’t get away from me.
13
WILLOW
There’s a low, regular thumping sound beneath my warm cheek. I’m held securely, surrounded by the scent of sandalwood and musk. I breathe it in like an addict.
Zane. His big arm is over my waist, and my head rests on his shoulder. It takes me a moment to realise that overnight I’ve snuggled into him and my face is next to his.
