Page 158 of The ARC Unit: Breach

I kept my voice low. “You know where you are?”

His stare sharpened.

“That’s not me being an asshole,” I assured him.

“I know where I am.”

I looked toward the desk. “What time is it?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m trying to get your brain to do something boring.”

He glanced toward the phone. “Three something.”

“Close enough.”

“I’m fine, Mercer.”

“You were talking in your sleep.”

“I gathered.”

“You grabbed me.”

His eyes immediately dropped to my wrist. The skin was pink where his fingers had closed around it, but the pressure had lasted only a second.

“Did I hurt you?”

“No.”

He looked back up.

“You just startled me,” I added. “That’s all.”

Wolf watched my face long enough that I knew he was checking the answer rather than accepting it because I had given him one.

Then he nodded.

I let my feet touch the floor and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Do you want water?”

“No.”

“Do you want me to shut up?”

“Usually.”

The familiarity in the answer loosened something in my chest.

I looked toward the cigarettes on the desk. “Balcony?”

His eyes followed mine and he stayed quiet.

Then he stood and picked up the cigarettes and lighter while I pulled the hem of his shirt lower over my thighs.

His attention dropped and I caught it.