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She wondered if he felt it too.
She could scarcely believe her good fortune. She—Brigid Titania Mackintosh—would be the only woman on earth who knew if Sai snored.
If he tossed and turned. If he slept on his back, side or stomach. If he breathed with his mouth open.
If he made sounds when he dreamed. In that dark, sinful, chocolatey voice.
To make her side of the bed as unencumbered as possible, she wrestled her frizzy lion’s mane of curly brown hair into a loose, somewhat taming braid. Her head took up a good amount of space in most situations, so this was a necessary precaution.
She debated whether to wear her chemise with the corset and drawers or just the chemise by itself. Her round bits had rather too much freedom with just the loose, filmy cotton to cover them, but she figured that if she stayed on her side of the bed with the covers tucked to her chin, he wouldn’t know any better.
She didn’t relish sleeping in her corset. She didn’t even like wearing the thing when she was awake. Not the least because, despite its clever design, no amount of tugging and tying could shape her figure into an hourglass.
Unfortunately, Brigid was top, middleandbottom heavy. Like a snowman in winter—three large balls stacked on top of each other.
Well, she comforted herself that she smelled nice at least. And her skin was baby fine. She certainly should smell pleasing after soaking in the bath until the water turned cold. Washing and rewashing every inch of herself with the small bar of lemon soap that she’d brought for the journey home.
Lemon was a nice smell, wasn’t it? Everyone liked lemony smells.
She hoped.
In truth, she just wanted one person in particular to like lemony smells.
The maid had lit a small fire in the hearth. It had enough wood to burn low through the night. Even though it was unseasonably warm this winter, almost feeling like spring, it still got quite chilly at night.
In addition, Brigid lit a lamp on his side of the bed. The better to see him by when he finally came to the room. He didn’t seem to mind her ogling, she told herself when a stab of conscience urged her to keep her feminine modesty by staying ignorant of the mysteries of the male body.
But she’d already seen him in the nude, hadn’t she? So, it was a moot point on the ignorance bit.
And what had he said earlier? That he wouldn’t mind her touching him either.
No, he said hewantedher to touch him.
Merciful heavens and all the saints! She all but swooned like a melted jellyfish upon the beach when he uttered those terribly taunting words.
Well, Brigid was ready this time, whatever might come. She’d buffed and shone her glasses in preparation to feast her eyes.
Perhaps she’d get to see him in nothing but his night shirt and trousers. Maybe said shirt would even be unbuttoned. A glimpse of bared manly throat. That wonderful little notch at the center of his collarbones. The deep, inviting valley between his pectoral muscles. And lower…
Oh dear! But the way her heart galloped couldn’t possibly be healthy. She’d better think of more calming things if she didn’t want the anticipation to run away with her.
At last, the doorknob turned.
Theirs and Annie and Ben’s rooms were the only ones on this top floor. She knew she’d be safe within her chamber even with the door unlocked as she waited. But in case any brigands or drunken travelers mistakenly found themselves on her premises, she had a fire poker leaned against the nightstand next to her.
Sai ducked his head beneath the low casing and entered. His tall form and overwhelmingpresenceimmediately made the already small chamber feel even smaller.
But not in a bad way, Brigid decided. In a cozy, I-could-cuddle-with-you-in-bed-all-day kind of way.
If only.
He locked the door behind him and began to divest himself of clothes without further ado.
“Umm,” Brigid said inanely, her eyes rounding as she stared fixedly at his person.
At every inch of skin he efficiently revealed with quick, nimble hands.
“Have you eaten?”
