Page 51 of Eva's Shelter
“I suppose.” She knew he was right. Knew the self-doubt and second guessing were making her assessment more difficult. “Thanks for making me feel better.”
“Anytime.”
She expected him to return to the room across the hall. Instead the rocker keptcreakingthat soothing rhythm, lulling her closer to sleep. Except she couldn’t sleep as a new image kept her awake for a completely different reason.
She’d been disoriented when he’d stormed into the room, but she wouldn’t soon forget the view of those long, well-muscled legs and ripped abs on either side of a pair of gym shorts. Since high school she considered herself a fan of the bulky, barrel-chested type, but the lean, trim form of Carson was sure hitting all the right buttons tonight. He really needed to go before she did something stupid.
“You’re staying?”
“You’re still awake.”
Huh. She closed her eyes and recited the Night Before Christmas poem to herself. It was the happiest, most innocuous thing she could remember. Almost remember. Getting stuck on seven out of eight reindeer names gave her brain enough time to leap back to Carson.
She took it as a sign. “My mom used to tell me once you understood the nightmare you could control it. Change it up with other thoughts or memories.”
“I’ve done that. Go to sleep and give it a try.”
“It’s never worked with this nightmare.” She eased out from under the covers, crawled toward the foot of the bed.
The rocker stopped creaking. “Eva?”
“Right here.” She reached out and touched his ankle, trailed her fingers up to his knee. The rocker creaked once as she leaned forward and braced her hands on his strong thighs.
“What are you doing?” His hands covered hers and his hoarse voice sent a ripple over her skin. “Creating a better memory.” She brushed her lips against his, offering a taste, an invitation, a wealth of seductive promise in that one point of contact.
She couldn’t have anticipated the charge, the absolutely electric response zipping through her system.
His hand cruised up and over her arms, skated down her back to settle on her hips.
Those wide palms dragged her forward into his lap with an unmistakable urgency as he teased her lips apart.
Matching his enthusiasm, she pushed her hands into his hair and held on tight as her tongue tangled with the heat and demands of his.
The faint taste of peppermint toothpaste was eclipsed by something darker, more enticing. A raw something that called her every nerve to attention.
Her sheer tank top was no real barrier against the heat of his skin and she trembled when he caressed her breast with the back of his fingers.
“Do it again.” She arched into his touch, wanting more, wanting everything.
The kiss, the tender demands of his mouth on hers, spun out, and she thought she could happily drift on the dizzying pleasure forever.
Then he pulled back.
Her breath sawed in and out of her chest. “What?”
“Wow.”
She smiled, unable to come up with a better description. “Yeah.” She trailed her fingers over his shoulder, across his chest.
He trapped her hand, raised it to his lips. “As much as I’d like to follow through…”
She interrupted with a gentle nibble of his earlobe and smiled as the goosebumps rippled down his neck.
He scooped her into his arms and stood, carrying her around to the other side of the bed.
“You have good moves,” she said, expecting him to crawl under the covers with her.
But he pulled the covers up to her chin. “You need rest and we have a date at the range in the morning.” He leaned down and kissed her on the nose. “Sleep well.”