Page 11 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

This place didn’t have extra bedding, so really, neither of them could sleep out here. They just couldn’t.

She approached the far end of the couch. “Hey.” Why was she whispering? The whole point was to wake him. She flicked on the flashlight and shined it in his face. “Hey.”

He groaned in misery, shielding his eyes with a hand. “Look, I get that you’re worried. I don’t blame you, but I don’t know what else I can do to assure you I’m harmless.”

Well, that was unexpected. She’d figured he’d yell at her, tell her to leave him alone. Instead, he understood her fears.

She nudged his feet, covered in wool socks. “Get up.”

“Why?” He looked around. “What’s wrong?”

Good Lord, this man was gorgeous. Those high cheekbones and strong jaw, and that mouth…did men even have sensuous mouths like that? And that growly, rough voice?

Hot.

She was positive he was good in bed. She could just tell.

With Landon, sex had been easy. They’d learned everything together, and he didn’t take what he wanted like she was certain this man did.

She’d never been manhandled. She’d never been used. And she hadn’t known she wanted that until this moment. Not in a demeaning way, of course. But a man who craved her, who had to have her. Someone desperate for her.

Sensation coursed through her. An awakening.

A revelation.

She’d thought Landon balanced out her ambitious, driven nature with his go-with-the-flow attitude, but her body’s reaction to this stranger told her she needed something entirely different. She needed more than her ex could offer.

A shiver racked her body that had nothing to do with the freezing temperatures.

Flustered, she rolled her eyes. “I can’t sleep when you’re making all this noise out here.”

“What noise?” He looked around as if an entire counsel of judges was watching him. “I’msleeping.”

“Yeah, well, your teeth are chattering, and it’s keeping me up.” She flounced back into the bedroom. “I need my beauty sleep, so you better get in here.”

“In the bedroom?” He sounded confused, bordering on alarmed.

“The only way to shut you up is to get you under the duvet.” She kicked off her slippers and crawled into bed. Lying on her back in her robe, she drew the thick blanket up to her chin. She’d keep the flashlight in her hand, just in case he made a move.

His body filled the door frame. “You want me in the bed with you?”

“It’s the second-to-last thing I want in the world.”

He ran his hand through his hair. “What’s the last thing?”

“Waking up to a frozen cadaver on the couch.”

“Fine. But remember, this was your idea.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get too excited. I’m building a pillow wall between us so there’s no excuse for one single part of your body to touch mine.”

“That’s real nice of you,” he said dryly. “Considering you’re squatting in my house.” Pushing off the frame, he moved to the bed. He stood there a moment, studying her. “Are you sure?”

“It’s inhumane to leave you out there.”

“I’m not arguing.” He sat on the edge of the mattress, his back to her. “Thank you.”

She liked the sincerity in his tone. “Of course. I mean, it is your house.”

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