goin’ to happen, Remy. I need sleep desperately, and right now, I don’ like you very much.”
“Why? What the hell did I do wrong?”
She recoiled for just a moment at his tone, and then her chin went up. “Figure it out. In the meantime, I’m goin’ to bed to sleep, so go away.”
“That’s not goin’ to happen, Blue.” He threw her words right back at her. “I’m stayin’ right here with you.”
“You can’t tell me Saria won’t give you a place to sleep.” Bijou stalked across the room to the edge of the bed, yanked down the covers, and tossed her robe aside.
Before she could hide, he saw the dark smudges on her body. She moved a little stiffly as if, like him, her body ached. He reached out and caught the covers, holding them open for her so she could crawl in the bed.
“I’m takin’ a quick shower, and then I’ll be sleepin’ right next to you,” he warned.
Bijou slid into bed and turned on her side, clearly savoring the feel of the mattress and soft sheets. “Do whatever, Remy. I’m too tired to argue. Just please don’ wake me, because I don’ want to have sex with you.”
“I’m waitin’ for lightning to strike you, woman,” he replied.
She didn’t even look at him, her lashes already veiling her eyes so he couldn’t read her expression. It didn’t matter. He knew. She craved him every bit as much as he did her.
Remy took a long shower, allowing the hot water to run over his tired muscles, washing his hair and going over everything that had happened between them. Had she still been angry with him for leaving her earlier? Most likely, although for a short while she’d seemed to have forgiven him.
He sighed and made his way back into the bedroom. Bijou clearly had fallen asleep and the towel she’d wrapped her hair in had come loose. Her long hair was everywhere, still damp. She looked young to him, too young for the kinds of things he’d done to her.
He slipped into the bed and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into the protection of his body. She was warm and soft. He buried his face in her shoulder, kissing the bite marks along her neck. He laid back, content to just be with her, so close, his body tight against hers, his cock nestled between the firm globes of her buttocks and her breast in his palm. He drifted off to sleep with the scent of lavender surrounding him.
12
REMY woke to pounding on the door. He kept his eyes closed just that little bit longer, holding Bijou close to him, enjoying the warmth and softness of her body. Beside him she stirred, moving with a low groan of protest.
“Remy! Your cell phone is off. They need you at work right away,” Saria called out. “There’s been another murder.”
He dropped his head on Bijou’s shoulder and swore softly under his breath. “Not again. This can’ be happenin’ again to us.”
The pounding continued.
“I hear you, Saria. I’m on it, thanks,” he called out reluctantly.
Bijou rolled over in his arms, her gaze meeting his. Her eyes were such a deep, perfect color of blue. He knew he’d never get enough of falling into them and just drowning.
“I’m sorry, Blue, I’m goin’ to have to go again. I know we need to talk . . .”
She sat up and pushed back her heavy fall of wild hair. “Remy, I’m perfectly fine. I’m some kind of freak, but I’m fine. We have great sex and no attachment, but guess what, I’m still fine. I’m all grown up and I’m just as responsible for what happens every time we get together. The freaky change into an animal thing, I’m just goin’ to ignore until I’ve had my coffee. I might give it some thought then.”
He rubbed his palm down the length of her spine, needing the contact with her. “Great sex with no attachment? We’re havin’ a long talk about that misconception. But you make me laugh. You wake up grumpy, don’ you?”
“Only when I’ve destroyed an entire room in my only friend’s beautiful Inn with some kind of depraved sex and then turn into an animal and run around the swamp like a sex-starved cat hussy. Otherwise, no, I’m perfectly fine when I wake up.”
He leaned over and brushed a kiss over her temple, keeping his lips against her skin. “And you aren’t sex-starved anymore. We’ve taken care of that,” he whispered.