Page 17 of August

“Ready for bed?” His words echoed her thoughts but had a painfully different meaning.

She stood from the dinette table and her belly tightened. She’d probably been staring like a dog in heat. “Yeah, just need to wash up.” She went to the bathroom and shut the door, knotting her fingers into the roots of her hair.

This was nuts. She couldn’t sleep next to August. Hell, she could hardly even look at him without stepping on her tongue.

She also didn’t have pajamas.

Closing her eyes, she drew in a breath. Okay, no biggie. She’d just have to sleep in the clothes she had for tomorrow. She quickly brushed her teeth and used the bathroom then returned to the bedroom.

August was already in the sheets, one arm bent behind his head and his other hand resting on top of the fluffy down duvet. The contrast of his tanned skin against the white blanket made her mouth go dry. Swallowing, she made her way to her side of the bed and peeled back the covers.

He tilted his head her way and cocked an eyebrow. “You’re sleeping in your clothes?”

All the blood drained from her face as she stared at his bare chest. Her heart pitter-pattered and her mind worked a mile a minute. “Um... yeah. Aren’t you?”

His brow furrowed. “I mean don’t you have anything else to wear?”

Her cheeks flamed. She was an idiot. He wasn’t asking her to sleep naked. He was asking if she had sleep attire. If she weren’t scrounging for dignity, she’d have palmed her forehead. “Uh, well, no. Considering I’m on the run with only a tiny bag, I don’t exactly have many clothing options.”

Offense was the best defense. Maybe her comment would distract him from the fact that she’d thought he wanted her to sleep naked.

His brow smoothed with realization. “Shit. Sorry. We should’ve stopped to get you some things.”

She lifted a shoulder and climbed in the bed. “It’s fine.”

He sat up. The blankets pooled around his waist as he leaned toward the chair next to the bed. He grabbed his T-shirt and tossed it to her. “I only wore it for an hour or so.”

As she held the soft cotton, the scent of spicy lime surrounded her. Oh, yeah. She’d be in heaven sleeping in this. “You sure?”

“Yup. I’ve got two other shirts with me.”

Climbing out of the bed, she went back to the bathroom and stripped down then fit the material over her head. Oh, lord. Her muscles turned to liquid. It was still warm from his body heat. If she couldn’t have August, she’d make do with his shirt. She caught her reflection in the mirror.

Her nipples poked against the thin fabric. The hem came down to midthigh. As long as she didn’t bend over, her intimates were covered. It was too bad he didn’t have any extra underwear for her because the ones she was wearing were thoroughly wet with need.

Good grief, I need to get laid.

She gave herself a mental kick in the ass. No, she most certainly didn’t need to get laid. Or at least not in this hotel and not with this man.

Her fingers would have to suffice when and if she got a moment alone. Huffing a breath, she left the bathroom much quicker than before and practically dove under the sheets.

Desire and turmoil shook her hands as she yanked the covers over her torso a little too roughly and dropped back on the pillow.

August gave her the side eye. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just tired.” That’d be true if tired were the new horny.

He leaned over, revealing his broad, muscular back, and clicked off the light. Darkness filled the space, and the hum of the heat kicking on was the only sound in the room. Gigi lay flat on her back, her hands pressed to the duvet.

August was so damn large that the warmth emanating from his body thawed her chilled skin. Ever so slowly, she turned her head in his direction. A narrow shaft of streetlight streamed through the parted curtains.

Every urge thrumming through her body begged her to curl close to him. Memories assaulted her. Two years ago, she wouldn’t have hesitated. She closed her eyes as heat spread through her at the recollection of how his arm had folded her in close, his large palm heavy on her hip and his abs solid beneath her forearm.

God, she’d do anything to feel that right now. To just be held. After everything she’d gone through, she just wanted to be physically close to someone. She chewed her lip and fought the urge doubling inside her chest. Her pulse whacked against her eardrums and dread slithered beneath her skin.

Odds were, he wouldn’t push her away...

The sound of August’s steady, even breathing made disappointment rip through her. If he could fall asleep that easily lying next to her, he definitely wasn’t experiencing the same struggle. Hurt blossomed in her heart, but she pushed it away and rolled to her side.

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