Shaking my head, I drop my arms to my sides and take a big step back. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m thinking. I shouldn’t have even entertained the idea.”
Evangeline moves in. “Wait,” she soothes, trapping me in a hug. “I shouldn’t have said that. I thought—” She trails off, then sighs. “We can just sleep. But I don’t want you to think platonic is all I’m interested in, ya know?”
Yes, I know. Excruciatingly well.
“Please stay,” she adds. “It’s nice to not be alone in my own head. That’s typically what happens after a long day, but it doesn’t happen when I’m with you.”
With an arm looped around her, I kiss the top of her head. “I want to stay.”
She plants her chin on my chest once more, searching my face with those wide, wonderful sparkling blue eyes. “I’d like that.”
“For the record, I’m not only interested in ‘just sleeping’ with you either. My mind is a firehose of ideas and fantasies when it comes to you. But for tonight, let’s stick to that.”
She bites down on her bottom lip and nods. “Just sleep,” she confirms, repeating the mantra we both know won’t hold much longer.
CHAPTER 27
EVANGELINE
Ipeek my eyes open, waking up gently. It’s like coming to after being in a tranquil, meditative state. My first deep inhale brings me a few ticks closer to consciousness. Everything feels lighter this morning.
I slept so well last night.
I slept, and I truly rested, because I was wrapped up in Alaric’s arms.
With heavy eyelids, I tuck my chin and admire the way his muscled, hair-dusted forearm encircles my waist. His hold on me was steady all night long.
Technically, nothing happened between us, like he promised. As strongly as I desire him, his conviction is also sexy as hell.
A man who says what he means and does what he says? I’m lying in bed with an anomaly. I don’t take a single second of time with him for granted.
Not wanting this moment to end, I steady my breathing and work to remain still.
Because whatever this is? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced with another person. There’s bone-deep comfort knowing I can be myself with this man. There’s no need for pretense or pretending. No need to apologize or to mask how I really feel at any given moment.
And to think it was our initial horrifically embarrassing interaction that created the foundation for what’s happening now.
The man found me flat on my back in total meltdown mode in the middle of his driveway, and he didn’t send me away. Then in Australia, I found myself sobbing in his arms and snotting all over his shirt.
I’ve inadvertently shown him the messiest parts of me over the last few weeks.
Despite seeing me at my worst, he stayed.
He stayed, and he keeps coming back for more.
Though we’ve spent little time together, I’ve learned already that I don’t have to mask in front of him. Nor do I have to pretend like I have it all together. My only real worry where Alaric is concerned is whether he feels this attraction as deeply as I do.
He insists he wants more, but is his version ofmorealigned with the intensity of my desire?
As if he can sense the direction of my thoughts, he shifts behind me, subtly flexing his fingers, pressing each one into the fleshy curve of my hip.
He’s awake.
I hold my breath, fully prepared for him to let go, roll over, and start his day.
Instead, he remains where he is. The two of us stay like this, neither so much as breathing. If I had to guess, he’s trying to gauge whether I’m awake.
Eventually, he shifts, pulling my lower half into his body and curling around me in a protective hold.
