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He looked down. Hey, who knew? It had morphed into a four-pack. He grinned at Magenta, stilling as he saw the heat in her eyes. Part of him wanted to preen with male pride. The other part of him, the one that was into self-preservation, told him to stop pushing the Goth. He let his shirt drop.
“I don’t need anyone to look after me.” She folded her arms, which he supposed was meant to be intimidating but instead made him stare at her breasts. “I’ve been looking after myself just fine for years.”
“Okay.” Harry held up his hands in surrender. “How about you humour me? I hate flea-infested, virus-ridden rodents. We’d both sleep a lot better if I didn’t have to spend the night worrying that they were out to get us.” He pointed at the tent. “What harm can it do? We both know you’re big and brave enough to sleep out here. But what if I need protecting? Sleep in the tent with me, Magenta, and keep me safe from the rats.” He batted his eyelashes at her and hoped it worked.
He could practically see her thinking. “Damn it. You are a huge pain in my backside.” She bent over to pick up her sleeping bag and mat, giving Harry a mouth-watering view of her heart-shaped rear.
“Get in the bloody tent before I change my mind.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Scooting back, he lay on top of his sleeping bag and patted the space he’d left beside him for Magenta. “Get yourself sorted, and then I’ll lock up the tent for the night.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not worried the rats will chew through the nylon and get to you anyway?”
He grinned. “I sprayed the tent with pine oil before I left. It’s poison to rats.” That deserved a high-five at least, but he didn’t think he’d get one.
“That explains the smell. I feel like I’m surrounded by a giant car air freshener.”
She rolled out her bag on to the ground beside him, trying to leave enough of a gap between them to make her feel better. Harry allowed it. He had no plans to let it stay like that.
“Okay, I’m closing up.” He reached for the zip. “Want to use the facilities before I shut the door?”
“It’s a bucket, Harry.”
“Fine. Want to use the bucket before I close the flap?”
“No. I want to go to sleep.” She glared at him again. “Are you going to let that happen now?”
“Absolutely.” He fastened the flap before stretching out on top of his bag. Once he was certain they were both settled, he flicked off his flashlight. “Night, Magenta.”
She growled, and Harry grinned into the pitch-black darkness.
11
Magenta couldn’t sleep. Of course she couldn’t sleep. The air between them was thick with everything unsaid. Her body was hyperaware of every move Harry made. And deep inside, she was hungry. Hungry for another touch from him. She rolled over for about the millionth time and pummelled the fleecy jacket she used as a pillow. It didn’t help.
“Spock.” Harry’s voice cut through the darkness. “Iron Man, Bruce Banner, Professor Xavier, Spider-Man, Indiana Jones…”
“Is this the geek equivalent of counting sheep?”
He chuckled. It was nice. A low rumble that made her smile.
“They’re all alpha geeks.”
She had to work at keeping the amusement out of her voice. “They’re also all fictitious.”
There was a pause. “I might have to get back to you later if you want a list of real-life alpha geeks.”
Magenta snorted. “Yeah, like next century.”
She felt Harry lean up and turn towards her. “Are you saying that you can’t be manly and intelligent?”
“That’s a trick question, right?”
He laughed, and it delighted her. She remembered when they were little and she’d loved to make him laugh. He put his all into it. It made her grin.
“Matt said you’re the local expert caver. Said he’s been trying to get you to go for your Local Caver and Mine Leader qualification. The twins told him you dreamed of running your own holiday caving business.”
Magenta didn’t say anything. Seemed like Matt had talked enough about her private business for both of them.
