idea of not holding her didn’t even cross his mind.
Ryker closed his eyes, feeling Emily relax against him.
She had a slight floral scent, and he wondered if it was her soap or shampoo. Perfume maybe? She’d just gotten out of the hospital though. Would she really bother with something like that?
None of it mattered. It just felt right having her there in his arms.
Maybe it was only for a night or two, and maybe he wouldn’t see her again after things returned to normal, but in the meantime, he’d do whatever it took to make her feel safe again.
Chapter 16
Ryker began to stir the next morning, Emily still wrapped tightly in his arms. Her head was nestled on his chest like it was a pillow, and one of her legs was wrapped over his. She’d clung to him even in her sleep.
It was cuter than hell, but he was also hard as a rock. Her soft body nestled up against his, her breasts pressed up against his chest, had him imagining all sorts of scenarios between the sheets. Of him undressing her and kissing every inch of her bare skin.
And he couldn’t exactly let her wake up to find him this way. He was supposed to be watching out for her, not making love to her.
Making love.
What the hell was he thinking?
He had sex with a woman or fucked her. He didn’t make love to the woman he took into his bed.
Gently untangling himself so as not to wake her, he stood, his cock aching against the jeans he’d slept in. Jesus. He took care of business and then started the shower, relaxing a bit as the water poured down over him.
Turning off the water a few minutes later, he stepped out and wrapped a towel around his waist. He scrubbed a hand over his jaw, deciding to let his short beard stay that way for another day or so. It was getting a little bit scruffy, but damn. He had other things to worry about.
He sauntered into the bedroom, surprised to find Emily awake.
“I heard the shower running,” she said, her cheeks pinkening slightly as she took in his muscular physique.
“I thought you were still asleep,” he said, meeting her gaze.
She shifted in front of him, and his chest inexplicably filled with pride. She was flustered around him. Attracted to him. She’d been curled up in his arms all night long and now seemed nervous that he was standing here half-naked.
He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable, but damn. Having her look at him like that had heat coursing through him. His gaze swept the room. “My bag’s still in the living room,” he said, his voice deep. “I should go get dressed.”
She nodded, and his lips quirked as she snuck another glance at him. Hell. Normally he’d be all over a woman the following morning—taking her again in bed, maybe pleasuring her in the shower as well.
But this?
He turned to go grab his stuff.
“I’ll just, uh, go shower, too,” she said.
He glanced back over his shoulder, noticing she was checking out his butt. “I’ll get dressed and check in with Hunter. Then I’ll see what we can find for breakfast.”
“Sounds good,” she said softly.
He left her there as he sauntered out of the room, smiling to himself as he walked down the hallway. Jesus. He was actually smiling over a woman he hadn’t even slept with. Well, he’d slept with her in the most literal sense. But he hadn’t had sex with her. Hadn’t seen her naked. Hell, he hadn’t even kissed her.
And he sure as shit wasn’t going to while he was supposed to be here protecting her.
He quickly dropped his towel in the living room and pulled on some clean clothes. Not that he expected Emily to follow him out here, but there was no need to make her any more uncomfortable.
Pulling out his phone, he texted Hunter.
Any updates? We’re at the cabin.
Hunter didn’t respond immediately, and Ryker strolled into the kitchen. He frowned as he opened the cupboards. There were some canned goods, as he expected, and some stale oatmeal. He’d go root around in his backpack and see what he’d grabbed from Emily’s place. He was happy he’d brought the ground coffee she’d just ordered with her groceries.
Who pulls into a cabin in the middle of the night and jokes about Starbucks?
A woman who’d been held prisoner, that’s who. She deserved every damn fancy Starbucks drink and restaurant meal in the world after what