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“So you wish it hadn’t come?” Zane asked.
Malik was all set to answer, but when he thought of what it had been like, just a few minutes ago, sharing a beer with Willow, well, the words got stuck in his throat. “It’s just very unexpected and surprising. I’m still adjusting.”
“Do you think you’ll bond with her?”
“I don’t know. Early days yet.”
Malik grew tense all over again, however, at the thought of Zane anywhere near Willow over the next couple of nights. But he’d already made the call and now he’d just have to figure out how to keep the two of them apart.
“You can use the training center and rotate your men through my treehouse rec room.”
Zane sighed. “That lounge of yours; I remember it well. And it overlooks a bathing pool.”
Yeah, the men liked looking.
Though the horizon was still pitch black, a warning sensation, like a clanging bell deep in his skull, told Malik that dawn approached.
“I’m headed to bed now. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Later.”
After picking up his clothes bag, he made quick tracks across the rope bridge to the upper treehouse. He really needed a shower.
The room looked as tidy as ever; he owed Hank one.
But as he crossed the threshold and watched Willow climb into bed, he realized he’d been assuming he’d be joining her. Yet the last thing he wanted to do was to put any kind of pressure on her. “Where would you like me to sleep?” he asked, his heart pounding in his chest. He really wanted to be with her right now.
She smiled sleepily, pulling the covers up to her chin. “Here, of course.” She patted the space next to her. “I’m too distressed to have you farther away than an elbow-nudge.”
He smiled. “Okay, then. I’ll shower up.”
He laid the bag over the chair across from the bed. Though he usually slept in the nude, he’d planned on wearing PJ bottoms for Willow’s sake. They might have hooked up a couple of times, but he didn’t want her to think he had expectations.
He took his time showering so that by the time he got into bed, she was asleep.
Once under a light quilt, and the shades drawn against even the smallest ray of sunlight, Malik lay on his pillow stunned that he was here.
In her sleep, Willow tossed her hand in his direction but after making contact, she moved close so that she was stretched out beside him. He lifted his arm, and the next thing he knew, she nestled her head in the dip of his shoulder. He held her close and once again his heart seemed to light on fire with his growing affection for the woman.
Yeah, he was honest enough with himself to know that he could get used to this, to having her in his life. He just couldn’t figure out how the pieces could all fit together.
His chest felt tight yet full at the same time, and his veins flowed with something very warm.
~ ~ ~
Willow awoke slowly on her stomach, feeling slightly drugged. The hour was late and it wouldn’t be long until full-dark, which meant she’d slept over eleven hours. Unbelievable.
But then the prior night had been one of the roughest of her life.
Malik lay on his side facing her, his brows drawn together, as though even in his sleep he worried about Ashleaf Realm.
She could relate. She’d had a few unnerving dreams about wraith children dying.
She turned and stretched out on her back, giving her body and brain time to catch up. She blinked several times, trying to clear away the lethargy.
She recalled now that she’d awakened more than once in Malik’s arms and his presence in her bed had done more to ease her than she wanted to admit.
Glancing at him again, she realized she could get used to having a big male body in her bed. Desire rose suddenly. The need to be kissed and held by him, to make love with him, swept through her. She almost reached for him
