Page 25 of An Inconvenient Marriage
“Natalie?”
It would seem I was fresh out of luck. Swallowing whatever was stuck in my throat, I slowly lifted my eyes to his. And oh my gosh, that dark, intense stare he always pinned me with was back.
The need to avert my gaze was so overwhelming, but there was this small part inside me that wanted to show him I wouldn’t shrink away or be intimidated. Holding on to that part, I tilted my chin and said, “I’m fine.”
His eyes darted to the bedspread clutched against my chest, then slowly traveled back up to meet mine again. Then he held out his hand.
I didn’t want to touch him. My body was already doing all sorts of crazy things from a simple look. What the heck would happen if my skin touched his? But then again, this had been the first time where he hadn’t regarded me with disdain.
What if this was finally my opportunity to make an ally out of him and I squandered it by being silly?
In the end, there were worse things to worry about than the way my poor heart was slamming against my ribs or how the butterflies inside my stomach were on a passionate mission to become aCirce de Soleilact.
Still clutching the bedspread to my chest with one hand, I slipped the other into Zach’s. His touch was warm and soft when his fingers closed over mine, and he pulled me up from the floor.
Unfortunately, the universe still hated me, because my foot caught on freaking thin air and I stumbled forward… straight into his chest. His very hard, very naked chest.Oh, heaven help me. This was far worse than falling on my butt and making a fool of myself.
Far, far worse.
To steady myself, I’d let go of the bedspread and gripped Zach’s waist. Planting my forehead right above his pecs gave me a pretty good view of everything below. Or rather, the thick bulge inside his black briefs.
Yet again, Spanish curses fell from his lips. His voice was harsh and strained, and when he dug his fingers into my upper arms and pushed me away, it wasn’t gentle.
“I’m so—”
Before I had time to finish my apology, he’d spun around and stomped to the bathroom. The door slammed shut with a way-too-loud bang. I jerked where I stood, still desperate to make sense of what the hell had just happened.
It was all so weird.Maybe I’m sleeping?I pinched myself and… Nope, definitely not dreaming.
Closing my eyes, I fought hard against the urge to scream. This right here was why I didn’t want to share a bed with Zach. And speaking of the damn devil, why in the name of all things holy did the man sleep in his underwear?
Who did that?
Unbidden, an image of his impressive bulge popped into my head. I wondered what— Nope, nah-uh. Not going there. I was so shocked at where my thoughts almost went, I covered my face with my hands.
Even if I hadn’t felt the warmth in my cheeks, I would have known it was there. Even though I was alone and no one was aware of what I was thinking, I was embarrassed out of my mind. Because I wasn’t someone who thought about men and their bulges.
“Oh my gosh,” I groaned against my palms. “What’s wrong with me?”
And then, just because the universe liked to add insult to injury, the bathroom door flew open. I was still standing in the exact same spot with my clothes in the exact same way as he’d left me who knew how long ago.
Maybe if I pretended I didn’t know he was there, he’d go away long enough for me to get some sense of normality back. Maybe. Without so much as a glance in the bathroom’s direction, I turned and gathered the sheets to make the bed.
Channeling all my energy into getting the silk wrinkle-free, I did my best to tune out everything else.
It would have worked, too, if Zach hadn’t stepped in behind me and yanked the sheets from my hands.
He was way too close for comfort. I could practically feel his warmth at my back. Every short drag of air to my lungs assaulted me with all things Zach.
It was… intoxicating.
“What are you doing?” he rasped next to my ear.
I swallowed two times before I could speak. “Making the bed.”
“Why? It’s not your job.”
“I slept in it, it’s only right that I make it.” Goodness, my voice was so breathy I hardly recognized it.
