Page 61 of Follow Your Instincts

Maggie looked down at them and sighed. “Damnit, I think you’re right. Can you grab my pajamas out of the bag for me? I can get them on, but I don’t think that zipper is my friend right now.”

“I’ve got a better idea,” I said and bolted through the bathroom and into my room from the connecting door. I grabbed a t-shirt and a clean pair of boxers and sprinted back to her room.

“For you, milady,” I said, breathing hard. Maggie laughed at me and pressed the shirt to her nose.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely.

I helped her get out her toothbrush and toothpaste and plug in her phone to charge. “Do you need anything else?”

“I… would you… never mind,” she said, blushing again.

“Yeah, no, you’re gonna need to finish that thought,” I said.

“Would you mind staying with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone after today.” She was staring at the floor, but when I didn’t immediately answer, she looked up at me.

“Hell fucking yes,” I said, my heart racing. “But still on my best behavior, of course.”

I went back to my room to change and met Maggie in the bathroom. She was already wearing my t-shirt and boxers and she looked so good in them it should have been illegal. It didn’t help that her eyes went straight to my bare chest and tracedtheir way down to the waistband of my sweatpants.

Best behavior, I thought sternly.

We brushed our teeth side by side at the sink. I tried and failed not to laugh at poor Maggie holding her toothbrush between two bandaged hands, and then followed her back into the guestroom.

She scurried into bed as quickly as possible, pulling the blanket up to her chin. I switched off the light and slid under the covers beside her. The sheets were cool and crisp. We lay in silence for a moment, then Maggie scooted closer to me and I met her in the middle. She pressed her back against my chest, and I curled around her, draping my arm carefully across her waist so I didn’t hurt her ribs.

It felt so right, having her in my arms. She sighed and snuggled closer to me.

“Thank you for staying with me,” she said, already drowsy.

“The pleasure is all mine, sweetheart,” I said and kissed the curve of her ear.

She drifted off quickly, but I lay awake, breathing in her scent and marveling at the fact that we’d finally found our match.

Chapter 24

Maggie

Iwoke up sweating. Ben was still pressed to my back, our legs intertwined, but we’d kicked off the covers sometimes during the night. Light was peeking through the curtains.

So hot, I thought, and slowly snuck out from under Ben’s arm to go to the bathroom. The air was chilly against my skin.Am I running a fever? Did the cuts get infected?

At that thought, I remembered I could take off the bandages on my hands. I unwrapped them carefully and sighed in relief that they looked a million times better. The scrapes were super shallow and not red at all.

Maybe it’s my leg, I thought and looked down at the bandage around my knee. It didn’t hurt any worse, just a dull pain that pulled a bit when I walked.

I pulled at the collar of Ben’s t-shirt, fanning myself, and looked in the mirror. My skin was flushed, and my eyes were a bit glassy. Maybe I should have someone take me to see Dr. Meninger and make sure it wasn’t some kind of internal infection from the broken rib. That could happen, right?

I went back into the bedroom. I crawled back into the bed, my torso aching from the broken rib, and squirmed back into Ben’s arms. He instinctively tightened his arms around me andsighed.

I was still so hot, but it was nice being in his arms. More than nice. I turned slowly so I could get my face close to his neck and inhale his scent better. Fuck, that was good. He was warm, and his scent was rich. The sweetness of his watermelon scent blended so well with my fruity notes. I wiggled in as closely as I could. An ache was building that had nothing to do with my injuries, and I was getting panicky. I couldn’t get close enough to him. He started to stir and groaned softly as I pressed myself against him, gasping at the feeling of his morning erection.

On instinct, I licked up the column of his throat and moaned at the taste of him.

“Maggie,” he groaned and rolled us so he was over me, his hips pressing into mine. He rocked gently, pressing against my sensitive clit, and I moaned again.

“Sorry to wake you up, but I need you,” I said, more of a whimper than words. “Please, Ben, I need you.”

“Sweetheart, you are really testing my control right now.” Ben’s voice was thick with sleep, but he seemed to wake up quickly.

---