Page 91 of To Love Jason Thorn

When I backed away, his dimple was out toplay, but I was done for the night. I didn’t even have enough strength to appreciatethe way he was looking at me, his eyes traveling my body from head to toe, orhow good he looked with his shirtsleeves all rolled up, or how…the list went on.Reaching down, I pulled my heels off my feet and winced in pain.

My feet were gone. Dead.

“You never said what you thought about themovie.”

“Oh, I didn’t? Sorry. It was amazing. Youwere great. Thank you for bringing me here.”

His smile brightened his face.

Lifting the shoes up in a wave as I backedup, I said, “I’m heading to bed, so goodnight. And again, thank you Jason.” He’dhad the security check every inch of the suite so I knew we were fan-free thatnight, which meant I had no reason not to sleep in my very own room.

His brows drew together. “You’re going tobed, now?”

“Megan said our flight changed and we’releaving early tomorrow.” I shrugged. “Also my feet are killing me, so yes, I’mending the night.” I gave him another small wave and turned around, but hisvoice stopped me before I could escape.

“You’re sleeping in there?” His voicewasn’t exactly harsh, but it wasn’t as soft as it had been seconds beforeeither.

I looked over my shoulder. “Yeah. GoodnightJason.”

Striding directly to the bathroom, I filledthe magnificent clawfoot tub with hot water, took off my equally magnificentdress, and sighed with relief as soon as my toes sunk into the water.

***

In the middle of the night, I woke up whenI felt something moving in my bed. For a second, I was confused, but then Irealized it wasn’t a dream. I screamed and tossed the covers at whoever was inmy bed—as if that would be enough to scare away the intruder—and rolled away tojump down and somehow get to Jason.

When a strong hand landed on my stomach anddragged me back against a hard chest, I lost my breath.

“Stop yelling,” Jason grumbled behind me.

“Jason?” I whispered. “Jason!”

My heart still beating against my throat, Islapped at his hand where it still laid on my stomach and yelled a bit morejust for good measure.

“Are you crazy? I almost had a heartattack.”

“How would I know you would wake up?”

“What do you mean how would I know youwould wake up?” I tried to roll over to face him, but his arm tightened aroundmy waist and drew me closer against him.

This time I lost my breath for an entirelydifferent reason.

“Don’t move. I’m trying to sleep.”

“Oh, and what did it look like I was doing?Cartwheels?”

When he just grumbled under his breath andotherwise kept silent, I asked, “What are you doing here, Jason? Couldn’t you haveknocked and woken me up before you crawled into my bed? I thought one of yourcrazy fans was in bed with me, thinking I was you!”

“Well, it wasn’t. It’s just me. What thehell is that noise?”

“What? Oh, crackling fire and wind in thetrees.”

“Crackling fire and…wind…in the trees,” herepeated.

“Yes.” I turned my head to look at him overmy shoulder. He was giving me a ‘you’re out of your goddamned mind’ look. “What?It relaxes me before I fall asleep,” I said, taking offense.

“Can you sleep without it?”

“Of course. I just like listening to it.”

---