Page 30 of Brought By the Storm

Chapter Eleven

Eric

I woke, my face pressed hard against Carrington’s strong chest. I turned a bit, and some drool slipped from the corner of my closed lips, dribbling down his breastbone. I internally chastised myself for being disgusting. I pulled my head up, praying he was sleeping and wouldn’t notice, but of course, those darned blue eyes were open and looking right at me.

“I’m sorry…about the drool,” I muttered.

He smiled. “At least it’s warm. I’d ask how you slept, but I’m pretty sure you were dead to the world after we spoke.”

I ran a hand through my now unruly hair. “Did I sleep on your chest the entire time? You must not have gotten any sleep.”

Carrington rolled me to my side, and he lay facing me. “See how easy it was to turn you. If it had been bothering me, I could have fixed it.”

“But did you sleep?”

He shrugged. “A few hours. I will admit, there was one point when I woke up and my arms were numb from being wrapped around you. I had to lower them to my sides. It made me sad. I enjoyed cradling you.”

I reached over and rubbed the arm that he wasn’t lying on. “I’m sorry. You should have pushed me off.”

I was still moving my hand up and down his arm, marveling at the strong, hairy forearm and the smooth, hard biceps and triceps. I leaned in and started kissing his throat. He began to moan.

“You’re a devil. A devil with an angel’s face, doing a devil’s work,” he whispered.

I grinned. “Well, we all have to have a hobby.”

He laughed. “As I said last night, I like you a lot.”

My smile faded. I know he had said those same words the prior evening, but they still pulled at my heartstrings when repeated. “Me too.”

His face sobered. “Speaking of hobbies, I’d love for you to show me your photography studio. It’s in the basement, right?”

I was sure I looked puzzled. “How did you know that?”

“I overheard you talking to Mateo.”

I gave him a side eye. “Eavesdropping, eh?”

He shrugged. “I may have been wanting to learn more about you. Come on. Show me some of your work. I’d like to see it.”

That made me happy. “Okay. But, did you want me to do anything else for you first?”

Before he could answer, we heard the shower faucet turn on in the guest bathroom. “Hmm, seems the others have awakened,” he said with disappointment.

“Ugh,” I muttered, flipping onto my back. “Bastards. I can’t do anything when I know they’re out there walking around.”

“I quite understand. It is a bit of a mood killer. Perhaps you should get breakfast started whilst I’m in the shower. I’ll be down after I check in back home. I’ll also have to see if there are any flights out tonight.”

I frowned. I knew the time would come for them to leave, but it felt too soon. “Okay.”

He was still staring at me. “Okay? So, why are you still in bed?”

I looked at his amused expression, rather liking his teasing. I pretended to be grumpier than I was, flipping off the blankets in a huff, uncovering the half-naked man whose boxers were tenting. “Oh my.” I grinned.

Carrington didn’t hide himself. He looked at me with hooded eyes. “Did you do that on purpose?”

“What? No, I swear!” Since he still made no move to cover himself, I took it as an invitation to look. “You are so fucking beautiful,” I whispered. “I wish I could photograph you, just like you are now.”

For once, he appeared as nervous and shy as I was. He even swallowed. “Yeah? I think I’d like that.” He then regained his composure. “Of course, we can’t. I couldn’t take the chance of a photo like that leaking.” I might have appeared offended. “Not that I don’t trust you,” he added. “It’s just, risky…”