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“You okay?” she whispers, reaching for me.
Warmth spreads through me.
“Yeah.” I let her grab my hand. My eyes hold hers and for the first time, I hope she can see the way she makes me feel. I rasp, “Are you?” I squeeze her hand and then lift mine to stroke her hair out of her face.
Her smile is soft and bright. “I’m really good.” As my fingers sift through her coppery locks, she grabs my wrist, her thumb stroking. “Get into the bed with me. I’m tired, and I want to snuggle up to you.”
TWELVE
Gwenna
The first thing I notice is the weight around me. Close second: the stinging ache between my thighs—a sensation that throws me back in time so powerfully I almost smell the vanilla condoms Elvie and I used to use.
I blink in the darkness as my stomach churns, remembering. I inhale to quell the nausea, and that’s when I notice something else: a salty masculine scent… The kind of sweat smell that’s illogically yummy because of pheromones. That and…something clean. Like deodorant or aftershave.
Barrett.
I’m in Barrett’s room.
In Barrett’s bed.
Barrett and I…
Holy hell.
I suck another breath in, and my stomach twists with glee and nerves. I have to take another measured breath to keep myself from jumping up and doing cartwheels—or turning over so I can look at him. Instead, I blink and scan the room. It’s still nighttime. This place is pitch black except an “L”-shaped slit of light in front of me. I’m going to bet that’s the light from the en suite bathroom.
Why don’t I know? I don’t remember even seeing this room.
Because I was sleepy when he carried me up here…
I shut my eyes and try to relish the feeling of his body behind mine. He’s totally spooning me, with his left arm hugging me tightly to his chest. God, it feels so freaking good. He’s warm, his body hard and almost twice as wide as mine. The weight of his arm… It makes me feel secure and loved and wanted.
Loved.
Hold your horses, Gwenna. It’s just sex.
My heart pounds, and I turn my head just slightly, wondering why I don’t feel his face against my hair. I get my answer in the form of Barrett’s watchful eyes and gentle smirk.
My mouth drops open. “You…” I turn over onto my back so I can see him, and he moves his arm off me.
“You were watching me. When I was sleeping!” He’s lying on his side, still shirtless, with his cheek propped on his palm. He looks smug and beautiful.
I slap his chest.
He rolls his body forward, so he’s almost but not quite on top of me. His hand strokes my hair back while his mouth comes down to cover mine.
The kiss is deep and tender. Firm… His mouth is hot and smooth. His tongue strokes mine, surging a few times in a motion that makes me think of sex. Then his lips take charge, gently tasting mine, and his tongue is licking along the seam of my lips, teasing. I can’t seem to think. I just…react. The kiss deepens, his beard prickling my hot cheeks. His mouth roves up my jaw and to my temple, kissing lightly, till I feel a throb low in my belly and I grab his shoulder. I try to pull him down on me.
And then he sucks the tender skin below my ear, making me writhe with need, and pulls away.
I pull him back to me. I’m surprised when he lays his heavy body over mine, presses his cheek against mine.
“Gwenna…” I can feel his chest pump with his heavy breaths.
“Barrett.” I turn my head to kiss his mouth, and miss—because he’s lifting his head and shifting back onto his side. He trails a finger down my forearm.
“How do you feel?” His eyes have that hawkish quality, as if he’s watching me closely to make sure he misses nothing. But there’s gentleness in his features, too. For someone so acquainted with violence, he really is a nice guy.
