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My eyes met his when he turned around. Our gazes remained riveted as he walked toward me.
“Are you warm enough?” he asked, stopping close enough to touch, to kiss.
“I’m fine,” I lied. I was shivering, but not because of the room’s temperature. It was Press’ nearness.
“I could light a fire,” he offered.
“That would be nice,” I murmured, leaning forward just slightly, wishing he’d do the same, that our lips would brush one another’s. Somehow, I knew it would be entirely different than Beau’s kiss.
“Would you like to use the lavatory or perhaps change into something more comfortable?”
I shook my head. “I changed and brushed my teeth earlier. You know…before.”
“Understood,” he said, setting the tablet on the table he’d picked it up from before pulling a chair closer to the bed.
“You don’t want to lie down?”
“Go ahead, pet. I’ll get the fire going.”
I walked around the chair, folded back the sheets, and nestled under them. I watched him kneel down, pull the screen open, and light the kindling. How hadn’t I noticed his broad shoulders before? Or his lean hips and long legs, covered by jeans that fit as if they’d been custom-tailored? When he stood and turned toward me, my breath quickened as I stared into eyes flaming with the desire my sister insisted he felt. Shamelessly, I wanted to suck on the tongue that peeked out to moisten his lower lip.
I realized then that no man had ever affected me the way Press did. I’d never yearned for one’s touch the way I did his. At a time when my body should be frozen in terror, I was burning inside.
I blinked, and when my eyes met his again, he’d masked whatever was there only moments ago. Or had I imagined it?
Disappointment settled in place of my want as he sat in the chair after picking up his tablet.
He cleared his throat and began reading. I rested my head on the pillow and closed my eyes, knowing if I didn’t, they’d fill with tears. Soon, the lilt of his voice gave me the comfort I needed to drift to sleep.
When I woke,the room was flooded with daylight and the chair sat empty. I could hear someone I assumed was Press moving about in the room he’d first taken me to last night. The doors were open between the two, and as he walked past, our eyes met.
“What time is it?” I asked, sitting up when he entered the room.
“Almost ten.”
“I’m sorry I slept so long.”
Press shook his head. “Don’t be. I’m glad you were able to rest.”
I glanced at the other side of the bed. The pillows were perfectly fluffed, and there was no sign anyone had lain there.
“I, uh, eventually slept in Beau’s room,” he said when my eyes returned to his.
“Did your father get home okay?” I asked, not knowing what else to say.
“Yes. They pulled in around five this morning.”
“Wait, did you say it’s ten?” I gasped. “I missed my call with the profilers!”
“I contacted Ares. They are in the midst of investigating last evening’s occurrences and have suggested postponing indefinitely.”
I shuddered when I recalled the message I’d received and put my hand on my stomach when I felt like I might be sick.
“My apologies for bringing it up,” Press said, walking over to the chair he’d been sitting in when I went to sleep. “However, if you want to talk about it, now or later, we can. It also occurred to me you may want to schedule a call with Dr. Benedict.”
“What day is it?” I asked, still groggy.
“Saturday. New Year’s Eve.”
