Page 71 of Abyss

She sighs, relenting. “It’s a nightmare I often have, unfortunately. Being locked inside a dark room, screaming for someone to let me out.”

My lips curve downward, my arms tightening over her protectively. “Has something like that happened to you?”

Her forehead meets my chest again with an imperceptible but definite nod, and my hackles rise.

Why was she locked inside a room like that?

I want to ask her, probe further, but her yawn has me keeping my words fastened behind my lips. It’s probably not the right time to ask anyway, seeing as she had just awakened from the same nightmare.

She takes an unabashed whiff of my chest, trailing her nose over my collarbone and making my already hard cock strain against my boxers. Everything about her is warm and soft, from the way she feels in my arms to the way she feels inside my chest.

“Do you know how much I love the way you smell?”

I chuckle softly. “I’m starting to get the idea. Plus, you told Corbin it was your favorite scent.”

She stills. “You remember that?”

I run a hand through her silky hair, letting it slip through my fingers. “I remember everything.” I want to end that sentence with, “when it comes to you,” but I hold myself from admitting that out loud.

“Do you—” She clears her throat. “Do you remember the way that night ended?”

“Yes.” I’m quiet for a few seconds.

“Did you mean what you said?”

I don’t need to ask her to clarify. She means the part when I told her she was perfect. Yeah, I remember that, too.

My lips twitch. “Are you fishing for compliments, Ms. Jain?”

“What? No!” She shakes her head all too defensively. “I was just—”

“I meant every word.”

I feel her smile against my skin and fuck, there’s that damn warmth again.

I’m sure she can feel my erection between us—I’ve been stiff since I picked her up in her bedroom—but we’re clearly pretending it’s not there since we agreed nothing can be done about it, anyway.

It was a one-time thing, I remind myself while wondering why the hell I decided on such a cruel form of torture.

“Can I ask you something?” Her swallow is audible.

“You haven’t asked for permission until now.”

“After we kissed for the first time in your office . . .” She shifts, and I gather she’s digging deeper for courage. “You just disappeared. Where did you go?”

“I have a ranch a few miles outside of the city. I decided I’d sleep at the farmhouse for a couple of days.”

She gasps. “The location of Madison and Brie’s wedding?”

I nod. “Maddy and I lived in that farmhouse for a few years when she was younger, so she has a lot of memories of it.”

“Do you go there often?”

I shrug. “When I can or when I need a breather. I have someone who comes and takes care of it when I’m not there.”

“You needed a breather from me.”

Clearly, she focused on only a specific part of my response. She didn’t state it as a question, but I gather there’s one there.

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