Page 27 of Wraith
“We won’t be here long,” Liam told her. “I’m sorry it’s not better. We have to lay low and a mainstream hotel means more eyes and cameras.”
“I understand.”
Amelia left him to work to wash her face and hands. She didn’t see the point really—the room itself was dirtier than anything she could have touched outside. In the small toilet, most of the tiles were missing and she could see the grout underneath. Amelia didn’t bother pulling the shower curtain aside to check out the tub. What was the point? She wholeheartedly believed if she’d looked into the tub, there would be a dead body. She carried the three towels she found in the bathroom back to the bed and spread them over the sheet. She draped her jacket over the pillow and tried to get some rest. She managed to doze off for a few minutes but woke up screaming. Amelia took a breath and turned to see Wraith was staring at her with an unreadable expression—the same one he’d given her the night they’d met.
“Nightmare,” she said simply. “Why is it so cold in here?”
“I checked earlier. The thermostat is broken and the vents in this room are stuck closed.” Liam rose and walked over to the bed. He climbed in beside her and wrapped an arm against her hip.
“What—what’re…you doing?”
“You’re cold.” Liam pulled her back into his chest. “You trusted me before, Blackbird.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“What should I call you?”
“My name is Amelia.”
He shrugged. “I like Hummingbird.”
Amelia said nothing. Deep down she secretly loved the new nickname. As a kid, she’d watch hummingbirds fluttering around her mother’s garden. They tend to love the hibiscus flowers the most. Though she picked other flowers to carry into the house during the summers, she never picked the red and yellow hibiscus. Deep down, she felt if she did, the beautiful, fluttering birds wouldn’t visit.
“We probably shouldn’t,” Amelia said. “I mean, it’s not like you’re single.”
Liam quirked a brow.
“Forget I said anything, okay? I’ll just use my jacket to pull over the sheet.”
“Amelia—why don’t you ever say what you mean?”
“Because I don’t want to fight.” Exhaustion mingled with the cold was beginning to make her pissy enough to cry. “I just—I want a good night’s sleep in a place that doesn’t smell like cat piss and turpentine and isn’t cold enough to freeze my nipples!”
“Your nipples are cold?” Liam smirked at her as his gaze dropped to her chest. “Well, so they are.”.
Amelia crossed her arms over her chest.
“Come on, Hummingbird. Let me help you out. I’ll behave. Scouts honour.”
She cuddled into his chest. “You were never a scout.”
Liam laughed softly. “But it worked, didn’t it?”
She grunted.
Of course, it was a bad idea. Being close to Liam Snyder was the big daddy of horrible ideas. But the room was the North Pole and she couldn’t seem to stop shivering. Just like the night in the woods, he was hard under her. The thoughts floating through her mind were dangerous—thoughts like, she belonged against his body in every way Lili probably had been. His warmth gave her safety and his massive chest became the perfect pillow to cushion her head.
Amelia closed her eyes as her body warmed, remember Liam’s face—dark brown hair, a full beard and grey eyes which saw into her soul. She’d never liked men with facial hair. The lumberjack look never turned her on. But Liam’s was neatly cut as though he took care of it. It was perfect. At nights she lulled herself to sleep, imagining how it would feel against her body—the small of her back, the soft insides of her thighs, against her nipples.
She trembled.
Liam pulled her closer.
Chapter 8
A while after Amelia fell asleep, her heated breath bathing Wraith’s skin, he remained awake. He scooted off the bed to check the doors, and windows then left the hotel room to unscrew the light bulbs in the hall. He felt the darkness would slow any attackers down—give him and Amelia time to get it together and move. After checking a few more things, he climbed back beside her.
She shifted into his arms causing him to moan. Her breasts squeezed deliciously into him and Wraith had to fight for control. The almost primal sensations flooding his soul had never happened to him before while on duty. Arousal sent a tremor through him, and Wraith was tempted to leave the bed. Caressing her arm, he closed his eyes, willing himself to get some sleep.
