So I take her to my bedroom and put her in my bed.
It’s where she belongs.
The thought is immediate and powerful. I get in behind her and hold her close, then stamp down hard on the dangerous idea. I’ll only have Skye until morning.
Nine
Skye
“Aiden!”
A muffled voice tugs me from my sleep, disturbing the delicious warmth I’m wrapped in. I stretch my legs and try to turn, but my feet touch rough hair on someone’s legs, and I’m pinned in place by the strong arm banded around my waist.
My first thought is that it’s Jack, simply because Ty’s legs aren’t as hairy. Then the man behind me lets out a soft groan, and I realize it’s someone else.
I’m in Aiden’s bed.
His scent crystallizes in my mind, and I don’t know how I didn’t recognize it before. It’s a wild, intoxicating mix of burnt cedar and citrus, not the product of an aftershave but some essence he was probably born with. It’s unmistakably his and it permeates his bed linens.
What the fuck am I doing here?
The spectacular sex we had in his study at three in the morning wasn’t the kind that’s normally followed by cuddles until morning. I may not have had a ton of partners before coming to Amber Bay but even I know a hookup when I see one. Aiden’s behavior last night had been the product of overwhelming lust, not love, and I have no illusions about it.
Well, Idohave illusions. But I keep them firmly in check because they’re ridiculous dreams that will never come true. The man is devoted to his job, and I won’t interfere with that. I can’t. I’d only ever get second place, and I don’t want that. It may be selfish of me to say this, but I want him to chooseme.
Which is completely hypocritical since I didn’t just choose him, either, but also Jack and Ty. My heart is a mess, tugged in three different directions. Why is this only a problem with Aiden? He never asked me to pick him.Fuck, this is complicated. How on earth did I land myself in this impossible situation?
If I’d known back in San Diego that this assignment would prove to be such a massive headache, would I have declined?
No. I don’t regret coming here and falling in love. Even if it means I’ll break my own heart if—when—I leave. Because I must. The villagers clearly don’t want me here, and I brought danger down on them via my power-crazy family. Jack and Ty will get over me and find a nice sea dragoness to have beautiful, magical babies with, and Aiden will be happy to have me out of his hair.
The thought turns my stomach, which is all the more reason for me to cut ties and run while I still can.
I gingerly tug at Aiden’s arm to dislodge it, but he draws me closer, and the tip of his nose touches the back of my neck. His exhale tickles my skin. I wriggle, then outright attempt to get up because someone—Jack?—pounds on the door again.
Aiden startles awake, his blue eyes popping open. For the briefest moment, he’s adorably unfocused. Soft, even. Then his eyebrows snap together in a frown, and he scrambles into a seated position.
“Skye—” he starts to say.
At that moment, the door bangs open, and Jack half falls through. “Hey, I can’t find—” He stops dead, his mouth dropping open. “Oh,” he says. Then again, louder. “Oh!”
Ty skids to a stop outside Aiden’s room. “Did you find her?”
Then he catches sight of us in bed. I’m wearing a t-shirt I don’t recognize. Judging by its scent, I assume it’s Aiden’s. He must have put it on me after I fell asleep last night. It’s a gentle touch that undoes a little knot of resistance in my heart, loosening my feelings even further. Godsdamn it. This isnotwhat I had in mind when I went on my little excursion in the middle of the night.
“Morning,” I croak, running fingers through my hair. “What time is it?”
Ty recovers from his shock first. He grins widely and says, “Almost nine. Breakfast’s ready, but a couple of villagers are at the door, Aiden, so you might want to deal with them first.”
Shit. He probably thinks this means that Aiden and I solved all our differences and finally gave in to our feelings. He couldn’t be more wrong. I glance at Aiden. His expression has gone carefully neutral, and he refuses to meet my gaze.Fine. If that’s how he wants to play it, I can be a big girl, too. I don’t expect a proposal after sex. Nope.
But would it fucking hurt him to kiss me good morning?
Ugh.
I put my bare feet on the floor and shiver at the cold touch of the wood. “I need a shower,” I announce.
Aiden gets up. He’s only wearing his boxer briefs—black, of course. He’s so hot, it’s impossible for me not to stare at his sculpted back. His shoulders seem tense, but muscles like that should be outlawed. He pulls on a pair of jeans and slips his feet into his boots without bothering with socks. Then he puts on a flannel shirt, completing the sexy lumberjack look. He even has some stubble going on his chin.
