“And you’ve spent a record ten hours here without either one of us attempting to murder you. Come on, Stella. It’s not like you have many options, other than to freeze to death out there on yourown.”
“Okay, fine, but I’m not sleeping in your bedagain.”
“For the record, I put you in my bed so I’d keep you from losing your limbs to frostbite. I may have fallen asleep afterward, but it’s only because you’re such a greatcuddler.”
She folds her arms in front of her sweet rack. “I thought you said you put your clothes back on, and didn’t peekonce?”
“Busted,” Emmettsays.
“I meant this morning.” I grin, and I can tell by her exasperated expression that I’m losing her. “Come on, country. We’ll even put you up in the eastwing.”
“We have an east wing?” Emmett says, lookingconfused.
“The guest rooms at the other end of the house,Em.”
“But that’s not where you make the puck bunnies sleep when you have parties. Eli toldme.”
“Okay, let’s play that game where we zip our lips and stop airing all our big brother’s dirty laundry in front of pretty strangers.” I smile tightly.Jesus, way to throw off my game,Emmett.
“I’m just being honest,” Emmett deadpans. Sometimes I forget how literally my brother takeseverything.
“I barely ever haveparties.”
“Right.” Stella smiles, but it isn’t friendly, and I swear to god, my dick is hard in three seconds flat and seeking her out like a missile. Locked and loaded. When I found this woman by the side of the road, it wasn’t my intention to keep her, but damn if I’m going to let her go without having ataste.
“Well, I guess if I have nowhere else to go you should show me to your room.” Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. “My room. Not your room, because that’s where yousleep.”
“I don’t mind snuggling again, especially if it’s naked snuggletime.”
“Knock it off, Van,” Emmett says, and I shrug.Can’t blame a guy fortrying.
“Come on,” I say to Stella. “I’ll show you to your room. It’s right down the hall from mine in case you decide you can’t sleep without your snugglebuddy.”
Her responding glare threatens to burn a hole right through me, but I know she wants me. Even if she hasn’t yet figured that out. She will, and I have every intention of making that little songbirdsing.