Page 71 of Just One Silver Fox

Sonia slipped under the covers and stretched out beside Nate. He rolled to his side again and put his arm around her waist.

“You’re cold,” he murmured into the back of her neck and she snuggled against him.

“You’re warm.”

The movement of her butt in his lap was provoking another response, but Nate wasn’t going there, not now when he felt like he was holding out on her. “Go back to sleep, Sonia,” he whispered. “You’re safe now.”

“Yes,” she said, letting out a breath. “Yes,” she whispered again with more conviction. She threaded her fingers into his and nestled against him. Eventually, Nate heard her breathing slow. He thought she was asleep and he found himself dozing off, then she kissed his hand and his eyes flew open. “I love you, Nate,” she whispered, as if she didn’t expect him to respond.

He didn’t say a word, just tried to keep his breathing even.

She loved him.

It couldn’t be true.

Sonia fell asleep but he lay awake, wondering what demons she fought in her dreams.

It was only natural that he wanted to slay them for her.

But Nate knew that was a task best left for her handsome prince.

Whoever the hell that was, he was one lucky guy.

And Nate would be gone in the morning for good.

Nine

Sonia awakened early on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, feeling fantastic.

That had never happened after her nightmare and she appreciated the change. Usually, she felt like she had a hangover the next morning, or had a sense of impending doom. On this day, she wanted to sing in the shower or learn to tap-dance.

It wasn’t just because of great sex, either. Sonia felt lighter and stronger, more ready to take on the world.

But then, she never went back to sleep after her nightmare.

Nate had fixed that.

She turned to look at him in profile. He was sleeping on his back, one arm thrown over his head, his hair tousled. Not photogenic. He had to have been joking. She thought he was gorgeous.

Kind.

Sweet and hot.

Protective and passionate.

The way he kissed drove every sane thought out of her mind, and led her mind straight to the gutter. When he smiled, just a little, her heart did crazy flip-flops, and when he dropped his voice low, her knees melted. That intense look he gave her, the way he listened to her, his ability to read her thoughts, all combined to make her feel that their emotional connection was what she’d been waiting for. It seemed that she couldn’t get enough of him, that having him made her want more, which made no sense. She liked his rules about sex and thought his commitment to pleasure was the most seductive thing in the world.

The way he described being in love was exactly how she felt when she was with him.

She’d dared to say the words out loud, but he had to have been asleep. It would have freaked him out if he’d heard her. It was a complete breach of his one-and-done rule.

She was tempted to awaken him with a kiss—or a whole lot more—but couldn’t forget his words about love, or the remnant of his tattoo.

Nate had been in love.

Nate wasstillin love.

Who had the woman been? Nate had loved her enough to get her name tattooed on his arm forever—and it was clear that he still felt the same way. Yet she wasn’t in his life, apparently. He didn’t want a relationship because no one could compare to the woman who’d captured his heart, once upon a time. Had she died like his dad?

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