Page 50 of Agent Zero
“What?”He was over at the window again, not peering out at whatever it showed.He just stood there with his head down, and for a guy who had just had a serious chubby pressed against her just a few minutes ago, he looked a little...lost.
Struggling for patience, maybe.
“You’re real to me.”It sounded unhelpful now that it was out of her mouth.“I mean, really real.”Like that’s better.Goddammit, Holly Rachel, can’t you say something useful for once?
His shoulders dropped, too.The silence between them, no longer dangerous, was still full of something...uncomfortable.
“I hope so,” he said quietly.“Brush your teeth and get some sleep.”
That sounded like a good idea, even if she felt too keyed-up to really rest.“Are you going to sleep too?”
“Maybe.”
“You can...I mean, there’s the bed, here.We could share.”Oh, Lord.Well, I’ve been divorced for two and a half years.This probably isn’t a rebound.The weird, irrational desire to laugh like a lunatic swamped her again; she pushed it down.
“If you want.”Offhand, as if it didn’t matter.
I do actually need sleep if I’m going to sort this out.If it’s possible.“I, ah, think it would be good.For you.Okay?”
“Okay, Holly.Whatever you want.”
Oh, Jesus.She grabbed for her backpack, got herself upright, and padded toward the bathroom.Halfway there, she looked back over her shoulder.
He just stood there.Waiting, maybe.For what?
Whatever you want.
Was it really that simple?
Why couldn’t I have met you before I got sick?
That might not have made anything any better, though.Because of Phillip, because of everything.Holly shook her head, wiped at her wet cheeks, and escaped into the bathroom before anything else happened.
THIRTY-ONE
He waiteduntil she was asleep.Eased himself onto the bed, a millimeter at a time.Clothes still on, boots still on, belt still in place and his backpack next to hers, right on the floor.
You’re real to me.Really real.
Maybe she even meant it.The beginning stages of dependence on him; Reese should have been overjoyed.He was, in a way.When he wasn’t feeling like the lowest fucking worm on the goddamn planet.
Holly moved restlessly; he froze.Waited until she settled again.Warm and safe under the covers, her inky hair spilling over the pillows.Maybe he could roll over and smell her up close, maybe even slide an arm around her just to make sure she wouldn’t get any damn rabbit-ideas while he slept.
So tired.And the weather wasn’t giving him anything but worry.First real serious storm of winter meant things were going to get dicey.Add his growing certainty that they were being tracked somehow, and he was a ball of nerves just when he needed clarity and control most.
Pushed her.Held her down.It didn’t help that her response had been immediate, and pretty goddamn volcanic.Smelling the sudden wash of coppermusk heat from her had just about made him embarrass himself.
Which made him think about Tangiers.
Don’t.Reese found himself edging closer, hardly daring to breathe, moving up slowly as if she was a target.
She muttered something formless, moved again, and as his arm curled over her waist, Holly sighed and scooted backward, settling against him with an absolutely scorching little wiggle of those hips of hers.
Reese let out a soft breath into her hair, closing his eyes.
It was just as good as he’d thought it would be.
No.Better.
