Page 46 of Unchained

Warm gray tones decorated the room. A neatly made king-sized bed took up the center of the space. She walked forward and trailed her fingers over the duvet cover. “Is there a spare room?” she asked, not taking her attention off the thin white stripes on the material.

Out of the corner of her eye Brooks moved, closing in on her. His chest brushed against her shoulder, and her heart pitter-pattered.

“Is that what you want?” His direct tone made her lift her gaze.

His jaw was clenched. His eyes lit with desire. The stormy blues challenged her, almost begging her to make a move, as she’d done the night before.

Not a chance.

If he put sex on the table, she might just eat it up. But no way she was putting her ass out there again. She wet her lips at the image that thought brought to mind. Gosh, he’d be good in bed. She let her gaze roam over his body leisurely: Solid muscle confined behind cotton but not in the least bit concealed. A still-scruffy beard that promised to tickle every crevice of her body. Long fingers that would penetrate her and bring her to the brink of oblivion. Finally, she let her gaze drift over the bulge in his pants, so large that its constraint looked painful.

Sliding her tongue over her bottom lip and tasting her own urgency, she swept her gaze to his face. “No,” she whispered.

With his body so close she didn’t dare flinch. He’d either take her movement as a green light and strip her naked, or break contact. Indecision pulled her in opposite directions. If she was being honest with herself, it was the lack of contact she dreaded.

He weighed her carefully with his gaze. Lifting his hand, he brushed his knuckles over her shoulder and stopped at the curve of her neck. His fingers were light, barely touching, but so large they promised to do anything she asked for—and more.

“You’re okay with me sleeping in the bed with you?”

Shoot, shoot, shoot. Her mind whirled like she’d had too many shots of tequila. Did she want to share her bed with him? Heck yes. Did she want him to fuck her? Also, yes. But what was he asking?

“It’s an easy question.” His lips jumped on a grin that didn’t quite meet his eyes. He danced his fingers down her spine. “For the record, I just mean sleep. Unless . . .” One eyebrow bounced, doing all kinds of swirly things to her stomach.

She pressed her hands against her abdomen as if doing so would stop the desire threatening to make her tackle his sexy ass to the bed. “I know what you meant.” She lifted a shoulder. “And yes. I’m okay with it. We slept together two nights in a row anyway.”

Humor danced in his eyes, and his slanted cheeks pulled back. Her pulse beat against her throat. God, he had the most mouth-watering smile. She rolled her toes into the carpet to stop herself from rising up and kissing him.

He took a step back and grabbed the hem of his shirt. “Awesome. I’m going to jump in the shower before bed.” He lifted the material over his head and dropped it on the floor.

She glued her gaze to the impressive map of tattoos covering his chest and midsection. Dark ink broke up his tanned skin, which covered hard-worked muscle. He was like a fine piece of art waiting to add her to his canvas.

He brought his fingers to the button on his jeans and loosened it. “You can join if you want.”

She spun on her heel and bumped clumsily into the bed. “Uh. No. I’m good, thanks.”

Brooks’s chortle reached her ears, and heat scorched the back of her neck. He was toying with her.

She kept her chin tucked as he sauntered off to the bathroom. She was getting too caught up. Just last night he’d warned her that he was afraid to hurt her. Which should have scared the shit out of her, but no. Her twisted libido went into overdrive, and it thrilled the crap out of her.

The water turned on in the master bathroom. She glanced at the door. He hadn’t shut it all the way. An open invitation? She scooped her phone from her bag, and it vibrated with a new message. She needed to check in with her mom, but she so couldn’t do that right now. Not when she’d ask a dozen questions about Brooks. A tingle of worry touched her spine. Her mom hadn’t called for a full twenty-four hours, which was highly unusual. But she should have expected that, given their last phone call. Linda often backed off when she was angry, and seeing Cam’s face all over the news without a full explanation would have driven her into a frenzy.

She pushed all thoughts of her mom from her mind. Tomorrow she’d handle it. Today, she needed to get to sleep before she did something she’d regret. She opened the text message. It was from Lexi, who’d insisted they all trade numbers for emergencies.

Hope you guys like the place. I have some clothes and toiletries there. Feel free to use whatever you need.

Cam smiled and typed back her thanks. Since meeting his family, it was hard not to see Brooks in a different light. It almost normalized him. He wasn’t just a badass rebel looking for revenge. He had a past and a heart, and if she stuck around longer, it’d be really hard to part with him when all this was over—or when he ended up in jail for murder.

She rolled her eyes skyward. Another dang reason not to get involved. No way she’d wait while Brooks did twenty-five to life.

Sifting through the bottom of her bag, she found a pale pink cami tank and boy short panties. Two could play his game. She removed her clothes and pulled the tank on, then stepped into the white underwear. Turning to the full-length mirror on the wall, she immediately brought her fingers to her ratty hair. She really should have opted for that shower.

Only not with Brooks. No. That wouldn’t be good.

She finger-combed the knots from her hair—something to worry about tomorrow. Her nipples poked through the thin fabric, and the boy shorts left little to the imagination. The shower shut off and her belly tightened.

Digging through her bag, she pulled out her toothbrush and toothpaste. The bathroom door creaked open and Brooks padded out, his hips swathed by a charcoal-colored towel. Droplets of water coated his chest. He stopped in his tracks. His gaze went from her legs, to her stomach, to her constricted nipples before finally reaching her face. A muscle in his jaw flexed.

She approached the bathroom. He didn’t move. Her pulse slowed as she entered his personal space. His hands didn’t reach for her even though his eyes burned with carnal desire.

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