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He was rinsing off their plates, his back to her, when his whole body froze at her question, probably in disbelief. She was, after all, his prisoner. Then he turned to her, his voice non-committal. “Thanks for the offer but there isn’t anything you need to do. I’ll leave the cutlery and plates to dry on the sink.”
Bongo flopped onto his doggy mattress against the far wall of the dining room, and Sienna was almost resentful of his freedom to do what he wanted when he wanted. She bit her bottom lip. “In that case, I might try and get some sleep.”
Gray wiped his hands. “Good idea. We could both use some.”
She gave him a tentative smile. “Well then...goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He stepped toward her. “You will. And all night as well.”
She frowned, her pulse surging. “What?”
He clasped her forearm and ushered her out of the kitchen and down the hallway. “We’ll be sharing a bed tonight.” At her gasped outrage, he added, “Not for sex, though I won’t say no if that’s what you want. I need to know where you are at all times. I don’t trust that you won’t try and escape again.”
“I can assure you I’m not going to leave,” she said hoarsely, hating the intimate mental pictures filling her head at their coming, forced proximity. “I give you my word.”
He opened the bedroom door. “I wish I could say I believed you.”
She stamped inside and whirled around as he shut the door behind him, then leaned his long body against it. Hands on her hips, she said, “You forced me here against my will. Don’t make out like you’re the saint in this relationship!”
“Relationship?”he repeated smugly. “Is that what we have?”
“You’re impossible!”
“You just hate that you’re attracted to me.”
She dragged the bedcovers down and climbed under with stiff, jerky movements, facing on her side away from him. “Ha. In your dreams!” She sent him one last scathing look. “Have fun guarding the door all night.”
At least she’d get some sleep.
What she didn’t expect was for her head to hit the pillow, then seconds later, the bedroom light flicking off before the mattress depressed with his weight. Her heart thumped unsteadily in her chest when she asked tightly, “What are you doing?”
“Sleeping, hopefully. What are you doing?”
She snorted. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll sneak off while you’re snoring your head off?”
“I don’t snore,” he said in an amused voice. He shuffled close to her before one of his arms curled around her waist. “And you won’t be going anywhere without me knowing about it.”
“You’re sleeping with me?” she asked in a squeaky, high-pitched voice.
His warm breath caressed her ear. “I do like to sleep on a bed when I can.”
When he drew her closer, his erection pushing against the small of her back, she snapped, “Don’t touch me!”
His dark chuckle filled her ear, making her want things she most definitely shouldn’t want. “Are you going to pretend you don’t like my body pressing against yours?”
“I’m. Not. Pretending.”
“Liar,” he said. “Get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
She scowled into the darkness. What did he have planned? Had he decided to drag the truth from out of her using whatever was needed to make her talk? She’d bet torture wasn’t beneath him, he’d all but admitted as much.
A soft snore escaped his relaxed body. The bastard was already asleep! She scowled even harder. So much for him not snoring!
She wanted to shake off his grip and escape from his hold over her. Except suddenly the mattress was too soft, too warm and comfortable, Gray’s arms around her making her feel safe and snug for the first time in too long.
Her eyelids fluttered closed and sleep came to her...along with the dreams.
Dead bodies littered the floor, all of them Strazanians, many of themrareswho’d been guarding the palace and protecting the royals.
