Page 40 of Sackett
Not that he had an issue with the idea, but he’d assumed she would.
“What about your boyfriend?”
“I don’t have one.You see, no one to care.”
Sackett wasn’t so sure about that.Someone would care, even if it was Donna and Savage.He could almost hear it now.Not that Donna would say anything to him.No, she’d spent too long being beaten down, verbally if not physically, by the asshole behind Selena’s kidnapping.He wasn’t sure that the asshole hadn’t abused her physically, but Donna wouldn’t volunteer that information to him, and he had no plans to ask.It was none of his business and it would only embarrass her.
“Wait,” he said, after a few seconds.He’d been on the road all day and his brain wasn’t as fast as he was used to.“I just want to be certain I’m understanding what you mean.You are saying we should share the bed, right?”
“Yes, of course.”She frowned at him as if not sure what was so difficult about the idea.“I mean, if you think you can trust me not to molest you in your sleep.”
Sackett fought back the urge to roll his eyes at the thought that she could get the best of him.At least physically.He had no doubt she could best him in a contest of wits.That just turned him on more.
“It’s usually the other way around,” he said after a moment.
“You often get stuck in a situation with women where there’s only one bed?”She watched him, one brow lifted as if she was challenging him.
“Not me, and I’m sure you know what I mean.Usually in a situation with only one bed, it’s the woman worried that the man will take advantage while she’s asleep.”He scowled wondering how he’d ended up talking about this.
Selena waved one hand in dismissal.“I trust you.You have been nothing but considerate.You said before that you don’t touch a woman without permission, and I get that.You’ve had plenty of opportunity over the last couple of days to take advantage of me, if that was what you were inclined to do.I don’t think that will change just because there’s no longer a wall between us.”
Would she feel the same when all that was between them was a sheet?Sackett didn’t say that out loud.He knew better.He moved his gaze from her to the bed, for a moment, then back to her.
“You take this side.I want to be closer to the door.”He fought the urge to sigh.He didn’t know how much sleep he’d get tonight, but he’d at least be more comfortable than in the chair, or on the floor.
34
Selenawokeslowly.Atfirst the only thing she was aware of was that wherever she was, it was warm and comfortable.She didn’t want to get up.She couldn’t remember the last time she’d woken feeling so good.What time was it anyway?
It was only as she thought about the time that she realized something was off.She wasn’t curled around a pillow, like she usually was, and it definitely wasn’t the huge body pillow she slept with at home.Because she wasn’t at home.
She was in a hotel.
In Colorado.
With Sackett.
Oh shit.
She’d made a big deal last night about trusting him not to molest her in her sleep, and what had she done?Selena had no doubt she was curled against him, hell, half on top of him.He felt nice and warm, hard but in all the right ways.ALL the right ways.Oh shit.She hadn’t planned on finding out how that part of him felt.No that she didn’t want to, but he wasn’t making a move on her, so she’d be just as respectful and keep her straying thoughts, and hormones, to herself.
She needed to get up and get moving.If she had any luck at all he wasn’t awake yet.She could carefully slip out of bed, and he would be none the wiser.
She opened her eyes, then slowly, gently lifted her head as she hoped she could just ease herself away but as she lifted her head, she found herself looking into his clear golden gaze.She found herself wondering how uncommon it was to have eyes the color of honey.But that thought fled in the heat of the embarrassment that washed through her.
Selena opened her mouth to say something but realized she had no clue what to say.
“I’m sorry.I don’t know what to say.”She tried to roll away, but an arm came up and wrapped around her middle.
“Selena.It’s okay.I knew it was a possibility when I got into bed last night.And I’m okay with it.I just hope you slept well.”His voice was a low, sleepy rumble that vibrated through her entire body from the way she was pressed against him.
She froze, then looked up at him again, trying to decide if he was sincere or just being nice.There didn’t seem to be any reluctance in his expression, and she didn’t get the sense he was anything but honest with her, at least so far.
“Still,” she said as she moved away, the arm that had curled around her torso releasing her with only a little resistance.“I made a big deal about trusting you to behave, and what do I do?I end up sprawled all across you.”She rolled out of bed and stood, wondering how she’d be able to look him in the face again.
“We need to get moving if we want to get breakfast before the train.”She went to the closet and started digging through her suitcase.“Do you need the bathroom before I take it over for a while?”She kept her back to him, hoping he wouldn’t see how red her face had become.She didn’t need him to question her about it, she wasn’t ready to talk about it.Was it just because of how she’d woken up or was there more?
“I do.”His voice came from only a few feet behind her.
