Page 80 of Bodyguard By Night

I peeled back the tightly made bed enough to shimmy under the covers. It smelled of fresh laundry and…something else. Ransom didn’t seem to wear any cologne, but mint always seemed to be in the air around him.

As a taller than average woman, I had to admit the leg room was lovely. Even with a dog who could have starred inGame of Thronestaking up a chunk of the bed. I tucked my feet under his big body and stared at the crackling fire.

No gas fireplace for Ransom’s bedroom.

The snaps and pops of the wood and the warmth seeped into me. Usually, I had a hard time sleeping anywhere but in my own bed, but a day of too many surprises apparently was like a sleeping pill for my exhausted brain.

I wasn’t sure how long I nodded off, but I woke to darkness, save for the flickering firelight. I rolled over to find Ransom beside me, his arm draped over his face.

There was a good three feet of space between us, but it seemed like miles and no space at the same time.

“Ransom?”

“Go to sleep, Chaos.” His voice was rusty with weariness, not from being awakened.

“I just wanted to say thanks. I know I’m asking a lot of you.”

He dropped his arm, and the firelight accentuated his strong browline and slightly bent nose. Even in the shadows, I could see the furrow between his brows. As usual, I wanted to smooth it away. His gaze remained firmly on the ceiling while his arms were outside the blankets, his fingers laced on his belly again. So much muscle and skin.

He wore a tank, and I was hoping some pants, but I was too chicken to look. I didn’t want to think about all that hard muscle and his more than impressive…goods.

If you can’t say cock, you don’t get to play with one, Wil.

It was a really nice one. At least it had seemed like it from all our close contact today.

Don’t think about his cock.

My nipples tightened under his sweatshirt. It wasn’t as if he could see them, but I tugged the bedding higher to cover me.

“Did you hear me?”

“I did.”

“How about saying ‘you’re welcome, Willow’?”

“You’re welcome, Chaos,” he said quietly, then he rolled over, showing me his wide shoulders. I had the strongest urge to snuggle against his back. I knew he’d be warm and solid.

He was reminding me of all the things I hadn’t believed I wanted. My life had been my career for so long. I just assumed someday in the future I’d make room for someone.

The fact that the hazy someday man now wore his face was probably a very bad idea.

Then again, I was the queen of them. Maybe he’d just be one more in a long list.

Or maybe he’d be something else entirely.