Page 30 of Midnight Dissonance
Besides, what if he woke up still high and freaked out? It would be all her fault if he hurt himself. Or at least that was the lie she told herself. “I need something to wear.”
“Sleep in the nude. I’ll keep you warm, lass.” Was his heavy-lidded suggestion.
She shivered at the carnal look in his eyes. “Of that, I have no doubt. I still need a shirt or something to sleep in.”
He flung his arm toward the closet door. “Pick something and then get your cute ass into bed.”
She went inside his walk-in closet and found a soft black tee shirt that would do the trick. She undressed, leaving only her panties on, and donned his shirt. It smelled like him.
And then she walked out into the bedroom. He’d switched off the lights and lay beneath the covers, with part of it turned down beside him.
For her.
His sweet consideration messed with her head. But she blew out a breath and padded the short distance, crawling into the massive bed with him. She slid beneath the covers. The soft linen made her want to snuggle even deeper.
But she turned onto her side and gave him her back. Then he tossed an arm around her midsection.
“What are you doing?” Her eyes snapped open.
“Sleeping,” he murmured, his breath puffed against her neck and left her shivering.
“With your arm around me?”
“It’s either that or I fuck you. Take your pick.”
“This is nice,” she conceded, thinking there was no way in hell she would fall asleep. Not when she could feel it right there against her ass with her flimsy panties as the only barrier. And his scent surrounded her.
But it was nice to be held for a change.
“Turn that brain of yours off, lass. And get some sleep.”
She yawned. “Fine.”
“And promise me you’ll be here in the morning.”
“I promise.”
He pressed a light kiss against her shoulder. “Goodnight.”
He settled behind her. And she fought not to fidget as his breathing deepened and evened out as he fell asleep. But the sound of his breathing, the warmth of being in his arms, safe and protected, lulled her into a deep and dreamless sleep.
10
Josh blinked the bleariness from his eyes and glanced down.
Sometime during the night, he shifted onto his back. And Lexi had trailed his movements, shifting with him so she was cuddled against his side with her head propped up on his shoulder. The wealth of her dark cherry hair was spread out behind her. One of her hands rested against his chest.
Her thick, inky lashes created crescent moons on her ivory cheeks. Her plump lips were slightly parted.
One of her slender, shapely legs was tossed over his. And he couldn’t get over that she wore one of his shirts. And not just any shirt, one of his favorites, the black material faded and butter soft.
She stayed. He remembered worrying as he shut his eyes that she wouldn’t keep her promise. Because in his experience, women didn’t keep their promises. His ex-wife had promised to remain faithful to him, and look how that turned out. He’d given up everything for her, to support her, only to have her cheat and walk out on their marriage the moment the ink was dry on her law degree.
He shook off the depressing memories and focused on the gorgeous woman in his arms.
The click was there beneath the surface. But inside, it felt more like a seismic shift. Jase hadn’t been wrong. With every moment he spent in her presence, the deeper under her spell he fell. And she was his north star. The point on the horizon he intended to follow unto the ends of the earth.
But he knew they faced an uphill battle too.
