“Come with me,” I whispered, breathless and lost in a haze of lust.My arms encircled her waist as I lifted her off her feet, and she wrapped her legs around me without hesitation, clinging tight while I drowned in the taste of her skin, her scent, her very essence.My mouth slid over her jaw and down her throat between clumsy, stumbling strides through the kitchen and down the hall to one of the two guest rooms.I had to get her there.I’d die if I could be inside her.I might never get this chance again.
“Wait.”I barely heard her at first, the word slipping out between her ragged pants for breath.When I continued carrying her to the bedroom’s open door, she grabbed the doorframe and held on tight.“I said wait.No,” she insisted.
No?Why no?Her kisses couldn’t lie, no matter how determined she was to lie to herself.
Yet her grip didn’t loosen.The certainty in her voice didn’t lessen.“Put me down, please,” she begged, still breathless.“Vaughn.Please.”
Fucking hell.My balls were heavy, and my dick was dripping by the time I set her on her feet, but a ‘no’ was a definite no.She swayed slightly before backing away two paces.Her chest heaved with every ragged breath, and her already dark eyes were nearly black, lust still swirling behind them.Or was that what I needed to tell myself?
“I must be more tired than I thought.”She ran her hands over her head, smoothing back some of the tendrils that had come loose from her bun thanks to my touch.“I’m sorry.”
What the hell was she apologizing for?She had saved us worse awkwardness than what we were already dealing with.
“It’s fine.Anyway, here’s the guest room.The en suite is attached.”It was easier for my pride to switch off the personal side of things and focus on what needed to be done.“Get some sleep.Take all the time you need.”There was barely time to observe the frown she wore before I closed the door between us.
While she slept, I would have to take an arctic shower.Whatever it took, so long as I got a handle on my impulses.Kissing her—and more—would have been regrettable enough if I didn’t know she had somebody after her.
Now?It would be worse than regrettable.
It could be… suicidal.
8
NOVA
“Help me.”
I woke with a gasp, my heart in my throat, fear freezing my body, lying on my back, staring at the ceiling.What ceiling?The fear that had already leaked into my muscles now turned my stomach.I couldn’t breathe.I was going to be sick.Did someone scream?Was that what woke me?
“Nova?Nova, what’s wrong?”I barely registered the deep male voice and the concern it carried before the door opened, allowing light to flood into the room from the hall.A large man stood there, nothing but a dark shape looming ominously, almost filling the doorway.The sudden surprise and the confusion behind it were enough to unlock my body, making me sit up, searching the dimly lit room for a weapon.
It wasn’t until he stepped into the room that I could see him clearly.“You yelled something,” he said, standing at the foot of the bed, his face a mask of concern.
Vaughn.It was only Vaughn.I was in Vaughn’s guest room, sitting in Vaughn’s bed.I was safe here.It was just a dream.
A dream drawn straight from reality.And who was I kidding, pretending I was safe?I wouldn’t be here in the first place if I were safe.Safety was an illusion.
It was practically Sunday morning all over again, complete with me drawing the blankets up over my chest.I had taken off my dress and slept in my bra and panties.He was dressed in a T-shirt and loose shorts like he was in the middle of a workout I had disturbed.“Sorry.I didn’t mean to yell,” I offered.
“Of course you didn’t.You were asleep.You’ve been asleep for almost eight hours.”
“What?”My blurted question bounced off the walls.Eight hours?“I’m so embarrassed.I didn’t mean to sleep that long.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”Folding his arms, he studied me with obvious concern, his features contorting while his narrowed eyes stared holes into me.“Did you have a nightmare?”
“No.I tend to yell when I’m having a great dream.”I regretted the sarcasm as soon as the words were out of my mouth before he could scowl.“I’m sorry.I really am.I don’t know why I’m being so bitchy.”
He drew, then released a deep breath before lifting a shoulder.A shoulder I had explored earlier.Terrific.Now I would never get the feel of his body out of my head.It was bad enough when all I could do was imagine.I had actual, tangible memories to draw from now.
“You’ve clearly been through a lot.Can I fix you something to eat?There’s plenty in the fridge and freezer.”
Right, his cook prepared things for him.“It’s okay.Can I ask another favor instead?”
“Maybe…” But there was a touch of humor in that single word, enough to loosen me up a little.A good sign.
“Can you sit here for a minute?I know it sounds childish,” I added.
Whether or not he agreed, I didn’t know.It was enough for him to oblige, taking a seat on the corner of the bed while I folded my legs in front of me, still covering myself.Talk about awkward.We had come within moments of consummating our marriage, and now we had to pretend it never happened if there was any hope of looking at each other.At least, that was how I felt.
