Page 69 of Just the Wrong Twin

Nate had sensed immediatelythat something was wrong.

He never slept deeply, not since doing his tour of duty, and the change in Sonia’s breathing awakened him immediately. She made a different incoherent sound than the one he liked, one that was agitated.

He was crushed between her and the wall in her single bed, which would have been just fine if she hadn’t been upset.

It was just like the week before.

How often did she have nightmares?

Was it a recurring one, or a whole variety pack of terrifying scenarios?

Nate slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

She stiffened and caught her breath, and he knew she’d woken up fully. He saw her eyelids flutter and her gaze dart to him. He kept his own eyes partly closed, assessing her mood before he revealed that he was awake.

She exhaled shakily, looking around her apartment as if seeking reassurance.

Or verifying her location.

Where had she been? Nate wanted to know what haunted her.

She abruptly slipped out of his embrace. Nate watched as she retrieved her phone from the charger. She didn’t call anyone or send a text. Maybe she was changing the settings. His thoughts flew to her twin.

Maybe she was unblocking Katia.

Nate was burning to know the whole story, but he reminded himself that when he left in the morning, that would be it. He lay on his back and watched Sonia. It was incredible that the sight of her should still stir him up as much as it did. She’d been amazing tonight. A seductress demanding satisfaction and then wanting more.

How could it get better every time?

Sonia stood at the window and took a couple of deep breaths. She seemed to be fortifying herself for something or maybe just pushing aside the last of her nightmare. The building was quiet, the city beyond the window humming just a little. Time seemed to stop. Nate realized she was breathing steadily, in and out, the way people did in yoga class. She was calming herself, and the soft sound settled his jitters, too.

Eventually, she came to stand beside him and he could feel her gaze as keenly as a touch. He kept his eyes open just a little, watching her. She was looking at his arm with a little frown between her brows and his first thought was that she was turned off by his injury. But that made no sense, given how she’d responded to his touch, and Nate studied her more intently.

No, she was looking at his tattoo.

The hearts—or what was left of them.

Sonia’s gaze flicked to his face and back to the tattoo again, and Nate could almost watch her doing the math. Yes, he’d been madly, deeply, utterly in love with Trish. If she wanted to think he still was, that was all good—because Nate was never going to be that emotionally defenseless again. Sonia might think he was good for her now, but that would change.

Nate wouldn’t be left picking up the pieces of his heart ever again.

Even if that meant being alone for good.

“Did you have a nightmare?” he asked quietly.

She jumped a little, surprised by his question. “I thought you were asleep.”

“Light sleeper.”

“Since your tour of duty or always?”

“Afghanistan gives that souvenir.”

Sonia nodded, her hair falling to put her face in shadows. Nate yearned to reach up and push it back, but he remained where he was. “I usually do a yoga workout,” she admitted in a whisper that did hot and thick things to him.

“I’m awake. Go for it.”

Instead, she sank down to sit on the side of the bed. “What’s it like?” she asked quietly.

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