Page 42 of Survive the Night
By the way he was looking at her, though, that didn’t seem to matter to Otto. “If I try, I’ll just lie awake, thinking about you.”
Sarah could only stare as her heart pounded and a whole flock of fluttery birds danced around in her stomach. Had he really said that? It was as if her fairy godmother had told Sarah to dream up the perfect man, waved a wand, and created Otto out of a redwood tree or something. “You’re so perfect,” she said, amazed she was able to breathe, much less talk.
“No.” He blushed—he actually blushed—just proving her words all over again. “I’m not.”
Instead of arguing, Sarah just enjoyed his rapt attention and being able to look at him as much as she wanted without seeming weird. It was blissful to be able to wallow in all things Otto.
Then he made it even better. Bringing his hands to her face, he leaned down and kissed her.
It was different from the other kisses. Right away, he took over. It was rough without being scary, and hard without being painful. He nipped at her bottom lip, making her gasp at the excited thrill that zipped through her body, and then he met her tongue with his own. Rather than intimidating her, though, his aggressive kiss freed her. She could respond as wildly as she wanted, because he was just as out of control as she was.
His hands slipped down her arms, landed on her hips, and then skimmed up her sides, burrowing beneath her layers. Her whole body lit up with heat and pleasure, everything in her straining toward where he touched her. She had to touch him in return. Sliding her hands up his arms, she didn’t get any farther than his shoulders. His mouth worked against hers, and she clutched at him, holding on so she didn’t melt into a puddle on the floor or float toward the ceiling. As the kiss turned from hungry to greedy and then back to tender, Sarah just knew: Otto was the one for her. Any other man would pale in comparison to his gentle strength and kindness, not to mention how he erased the rest of the world with one look.
It wasn’t that simple, though—not for her. She couldn’t get too attached to Monroe and her new friends and Otto—especially Otto. His rough palms smoothed up her sides as he kissed her more deeply, and she had the sinking feeling that it was too late. She was already attached.
She pulled back slightly, and he followed, seeking out her lips again when she withdrew. With a breathless laugh, she put a hand on his chest, putting a couple of inches between them.
“I don’t want to stop—I mean, I really, really don’t want to stop—but Xena’s going to think we’re exhibitionists.”
He laughed softly, his breath hitting her lips. Suddenly, she didn’t care if they were being watched. Sarah just wanted to kiss him again. When she leaned in, he lifted her by the waist and turned her in a half circle. The sudden movement made her give a laughing yelp and grab his shoulders. “Should we go upstairs?” he asked. “Xena won’t be able to watch us up there.”
Sarah was wonderfully, horribly tempted. You’re leaving soon, the stern voice in her head warned, and her amusement died. The closer you get to him, the harder it will be. It was already going to be agonizing, and all they’d done so far was kiss. She needed to protect herself, but she felt so good when she was around him—talking to him, watching him, kissing him…
With a sigh that turned into a groan, she took a step back, her hands dropping to her sides. It took him several seconds to release her, but it wasn’t in a frightening way. His hands just lingered, as if reluctant to lose contact with her skin.
“You should sleep.”
“Yes.” He didn’t sound excited about the prospect, and his gaze ran over her hungrily, as if he was thinking about snatching her up and carrying her to his bedroom. Excitement at the thought made her skin prickle, and she shivered in a way that had nothing to do with cold. It was tempting—so tempting—but the nagging voice in her head wouldn’t stop reminding her of the heartache to come if she let herself be weak. “Join me?”
The words jolted through her, and she took a step closer to him before she caught herself. “I want to, but I shouldn’t. I don’t want to start something I can’t finish.” His brows drew together in a puzzled frown. “I mean, Monroe can only be a temporary safe house.” Otto flinched, and she felt like a monster. “If I have to run again…” The thought was too terrible to finish out loud.
“Your brother’s locked up,” he said. “The judge denied bail, and the FBI will be picking him up later this week, as soon as the transfer paperwork goes through. He can’t get to you.”
“What if he gets off, though? What if he bribes the next judge or pays someone to grab me? Aaron’s never been a good loser. I can’t get comfortable here, because Aaron will ruin it for me. He always ruins everything.”
Otto reached out, slow and easy, to cup her face again. “Just come sleep with me. Only sleep.” He gave her a tiny smile, but his eyes were guarded. “I’ll rest better knowing you’re safe next to me.”
She had to say no. She had to resist. “Okay.” Ugh. She was such a soft touch. There was no way she could say no to Otto, not when he was holding her face so gently and looking at her so sweetly. “Yes.”
They made their way up to the second floor quietly. Even though Otto had specified that they’d only be sleeping, bubbling tension crept up Sarah’s spine. What if she couldn’t hold back any longer and hurled herself onto his unconscious body? Her willpower seemed to be as strong as a bowl of overcooked oatmeal around him.
Automatically, she moved toward the guest bedroom where she’d been sleeping, but he took her hand and tugged her through the doorway across the hall. She looked around, not having seen his bedroom yet. It was just like him—big, but warm and cozy and a little old-fashioned. The bed was huge.
Wordlessly, he handed her a T-shirt before disappearing into the bathroom. She quickly changed, hugging the soft cotton against her and wallowing in the scent. It was a clean shirt, she could tell, but it still smelled like his detergent. As he walked back into the bedroom, she smiled at him, and he stopped dead in his tracks.
“Okay?” she asked, her grin starting to fade with concern.
“Yes.” He started moving again, right toward her. She held her breath as he grew closer and closer, until he finally slid past her and walked to the enormous bed. Pulling down the covers, he stepped back and gestured for her to climb in first.
Her entire body heated from nerves and embarrassment and need as she slid into his bed—Otto’s bed. The sheets were flannel and wonderfully soft, a small part of her noticed, even while the rest of her brain was occupied with watching Otto, dressed only in a T-shirt and loose exercise pants, get into bed next to her.
I’m in bed with Otto, she thought, delighted even as the voice in her head scolded her, telling her it was a mistake, that it was the first step on a slippery slope that ended in tears, but she tuned it out. I’ll give myself this, she decided, turning onto her side so she faced Otto. Tomorrow, I’ll be smart.
Otto smiled at her, and everything inside her loosened and warmed. His hand came up to stroke her cheek briefly. When he started to withdraw, Sarah grabbed his hand. Lacing her fingers with his, she tucked their conjoined hands under her chin, making him smile again. He kept his gaze on her until his eyes closed and his breath slowed and deepened.
Sarah held his hand tightly as she watched him sleep. Tiredness pulled at her, tempting her to close her eyes, but this was too precious. She wasn’t about to waste even a second of it.
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