Page 80 of Renard's Deliverance

Before she could tell him that it didn’t matter, he was gone. The pills started to take effect and she could feel the pain in her back ease. She slid down lower in the bed, managing to get the heating pad back into the right spot.

Fuck.

She was so tired.

Her eyes were closed and she was dozing when he came back.

“You find something?” she asked.

“Nope. I’m going to have to stay the night.”

“Wait. What?”

“You got a spare toothbrush, Gem?”

“Yeah, there’s a new one in its packet in the cupboard under the sink,” she said. “You’re really staying?”

“Yep. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Oh. Of course.

But maybe he should sleep with her.

“Not going to risk bumping you by sleeping in your bed and I want to be close to the window.”

Who knew how long that latch had been broken for, though?

“Do you need me to bring back a cloth so you can take off your make-up?” he asked.

Hell no.

Nobody saw her without her makeup on!

“Nope. I’m good, darlin’.”

“Hmm.” He eyed her. “Can’t be nice going to bed with makeup on.”

“The last time anyone saw me without makeup on was when I was twelve, before I started wearing makeup.”

“I don’t care what you look like without makeup,” he told her gruffly.

Maybe not.

But she did.

When he walked back in, she tensed. Renard was going to sleep in her house.

“There’s blankets and spare pillows in the linen cupboard,” she told him.

“Thanks. You look tense, Gem. Something wrong?”

Crap.

What did she say?

“Let me guess, you’re wondering how you’re gonna stop yourself from jumping my bones.”

Um. What?

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