And because he promised me he’d get a room with two beds he didn’t want to go back on his word. “I know, and it was sweet of you to put in so much effort, but the rollout bed is fine. I’ve slept on much worse in college.”
“If we stay here, you are not sleeping on the cot. I will.”
We’d reached the point where either I agreed he’d sleep on the rollout, something he’d insist on and I wasn’t going to allow, we left and looked for a hotel, something Henry clearly didn’t want to do if he booked a room at a B&B, or I went with option three. “Unless you mind, we can share the bed. It’s big enough that you won’t need to worry about me encroaching on your side.”
“Encroaching? Doesn’t that require you go where you’re not allowed?”
Henry’s goofy grin returned and it eased my tension. I liked it when he smiled. Hell, I liked him, period, but even more when he was happy. This talking around things, however, wasn’tworking. “I’m comfortable sleeping in one bed. If we end up cuddled together, I won’t complain. If more happens, I won’t complain either, so long as we both consent. And if all we do is sleep in the same bed with noencroaching, I’ll be fine, so long as that’s what you want and not because you think I don’t want you to touch me.”
When I finished, I was shaking so hard I had to look down. I wasn’t usually this bold, and it terrified me he’d reject me, but timid never got me anywhere. Better to know now than to invest more time in yet another guy who didn’t stick around.
I lifted my gaze and Henry was still smiling. He took a step closer and nodded once. “Okay.”
Henry:
After Nick’s little speech, we let a visibly relieved Ms. Hempstead know we’d accept her offer of the bigger room. I was still processing what had happened while we followed her to our room. Nothing I’d read in Nick’s file prepared me for him being this direct. I knew he wasn’t submissive, but even when he asked me at the coffee shop if our trip was a date, it wasn’t this confident. Yes, he’d trembled while telling me we could share the bed, but he didn’t let his fear paralyze him.
The room was nice, but not five-star great. Nick, however, reacted like it was a suite at the Ritz. I imagined one day letting him experience true opulence. I’d quickly slammed the brakes on planning for the future. Nick would probably never forgive me for deceiving him. Getting closer to him wouldn’t make it better. If anything, it would make things worse. The strongest relationships weren’t built on lies.
We’d barely settled in when Nick asked if I wanted to go for a run. I didn’t. The large king bed, with its thick comforter andpiles of pillows, invited me to lie back, close my eyes, and sleep. With him in my arms.
For Nick, however, going for a run in a new place was more exciting than going to a great restaurant. He’d done everything I wanted without complaint. Taking a last forlorn look at the bed, I plastered on my best smile and agreed.
Nick’s wide grin made me forget I didn’t feel like running.
By the time we arrived back at the Ambrose B & B, I’d had nearly an hour to question my sanity. Nick hadn’t lost a step since college, and likely gained a few now that he was approaching the age when an angel started to develop their powers. The pace he set would’ve kicked my ass if I’d been human, but even with my enhanced physiology, I was a sweaty mess.
“I’m impressed,” Nick said, pulling his shirt over his head and using it to wipe his face. “I was afraid I’d have to go slow, but you really kept up.”
Fancy cars and expensive rooms excited Nick, but being able to run with him—barely—was the first time I’d impressed him. I’d take it. “You assumed I was a soft desk jockey and were going to smoke me.”
“Guilty.” His smirk proved he was anything but. “Does it help that was the most fun I’ve had on a run since college?”
Nick’s file said he liked to run, but this was more; this was his passion. “I’ll let you know in the morning.”
We walked in and an older couple passed us on their way out. A wave of jealousy swamped me when the woman eyed up Nick’s naked torso. She had the good grace to blush when she noticed me staring at her. The strength of my possessiveness stunnedme. I’d known Nick for three days. We’d spent less than 24 hours around each other, and I was ready to fry someone for admiring what deserved to be appreciated.
My watched buzzed on my wrist and I checked the alert. “Huh?”
Nick stopped and looked at me. “Something wrong?”
He must have thought I’d lost my mind when I just stared at the tiny screen without answering. The problem was, I didn’t know what it meant. Finally, I yanked my gaze away. “Message from work.”
“Is that bad?”
Without returning the call I wouldn’t know for sure, but it wasn’t good. “I doubt it. I probably forgot to sign something.”
I sold the lie well and it filled me with guilt. Everything about us was a lie. Except my feelings. Those were real, but with every new lie, I made it harder for Nick to return them once the truth came out.
“Are you sure? You look…shaken.”
The way Nick read me didn’t help me regain my composure. No one, in a hundred and fifty plus years of dating affected me like him. Figuring out why was important, but it needed to wait.
“I’m fine. Let’s go clean up.”
Walking into the courtyard in the back of the house, I couldn’t remember being this tense. To my guilty conscience, I added sexual frustration. The shower was big enough for two, and I couldn’t stop thinking of us under the spray, pressed tight together, my hands running over his lean, hard body. I swear I saw a heap of disappointment when Nickagreed to let me go first. Alone. Clearly, he’d had the same ideas for washing up as me.
On top of those two, I added anxiety. I pulled out my phone and opened the message again. >
