Perhaps I was careful.
And perhaps you simply embellish the truth to appear more scandalous than you actually are.
I think that is the nicest thing you’ve said to me.
Don’t get used to it.
His laughter drifted through my thoughts. I smiled, stripped off, and stepped into the shower, luxuriating for far too long in the massaging streams of hot water. By the time I stepped out, my skin was prune-like, but I definitely felt more relaxed.
After roughly drying my hair, I tugged on my T-shirt and knickers and padded across to the boat-sized bed and pulled back the summer comforter. The slight creases in the pillow closest to the bathroom suggested that was the side René slept on, so I slipped into the silken sheets on the opposite side and tugged the comforter up again.
And in that moment, realized that instinct had indeed been right.
I had ended up in his bed before the mission was over... just not in the way I had imagined.
I woke to the delicious scent of smoky wood and warm spices filling my nostrils, and the whisper of breathing that matched my own. A smile tugged lightly at my lips, but for several minutes, I didn’t move or otherwise acknowledge his presence. I simply enjoyed the warmth of his nearness.
I finally opened my eyes and met the deep sapphire of his. He lay on his right side, facing me, the comforter loosely draped over his hips, barely covering the black elastic of his boxers. Andtheybarely contained the force of his thick erection.
Ginny had been right. It was damn impressive.
The urge to slip closer, to reach out and caress what silk barely restrained was so strong my fingers twitched. I swallowed heavily, suddenly thankful for the boat-size bed, and said the obvious. “You’re awake.”
“And you’re in my bed.”
“Well, you do only have two bedrooms, and I refuse to share with Ginny. She dream hunts, and it can get bloody painful.”
He laughed. “I had no idea hawk shifters had that affliction.”
“Many don’t. She’s special.”
“She is indeed.” It was dryly said. “But if said affliction is the reason you’re here, I will not complain.”
“Have you ever complained when you found a woman in your bed?”
“Once, a long time ago. She’d apparently decided I was the right man to take her virginity.”
“And did you?”
“She was barely eighteen.”
“Eighteen is legal.”
“Yes, but I prefer my women with a little more experience.”
“Well, that’s me off your shopping list then.”
He raised his eyebrows. While he hadn’t appeared to move, he suddenly seemed a whole lot closer. Not quite within touching distance but not that far from it now, either.
“You were married for how many years—Ten? Fifteen?—and have a son. You probably had more sex than me over that period.”
I laughed. “Not according to the gossip mags.”
His luscious lips curved into a smile, but the stars in his eyes flashed, hinting at frustration. “You should never totally believe such magazines. They embellish the truth in order to sell more copies.”
Embellish meant some of it was true, but I let it slide. “What happened to the demons?”
“I dealt with them.”
