Murder_ A Sinful Secrets Romance - Ella James Page 0,141

around her, arranging things so her pretty face is tucked against my throat. I wrap an arm around her back and bring my knees up below hers. It takes all my self control to resist kissing her, but based on her breathing, I don’t think she seems soundly asleep, and I don’t want to wake her up.

It feels so good to be here with her, but I don’t want her knowing how fucked up my head is. It would be best if she could think it’s better when I’m near her. One, because it really is. But also because I don’t want to be trouble to her. She said she could tell me what to do for the nightmares, but that’s not what I want. She doesn’t deserve to have to deal with that. It’s mine. I deserve it.

I inhale right by her hair, trying to find a label for the sweet, unique scent.

I wonder how I’ll ever be away from her again.

Maybe I really don’t have to be. Now that I know her and care for her, I feel more sure than ever that I can keep my secret. I can take it to my grave.

I’m so damn glad I didn’t tell Kellan or Cleo. No one knows but Dove and Blue. I can handle Dove and Blue.

I shut my eyes and with her silky hair against my face, I think about my mom. I have the weirdest, hot feeling right under my throat. My chest feels like it loosens up, so I can breathe. I take a deep, slow breath, and it feels good.

Gwen’s lips tickle my throat.

“Hey…” Her voice is raspy.

I kiss her temple. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“You like it?” She smiles sleepily.

“Blue—for happy.” I kiss her nose. “Yes. I like it.”

I end up inside her, breathing hard in time with her soft breaths… Groaning as my pleasure takes me over. We fall asleep entangled in each other.

Knocking wakes us.

GWENNA

The mattress bounces as Barrett gets down off the bed. I hear the swish of fabric over flesh as he pulls pants on.

“Stay there.”

Before I can clear the sleep from my eyes, he’s disappeared. A minute later, I hear the echo of his laughter.

“What the fuck?” He sounds happy as he chuckles; very male, as if he’s greeting a guy friend. At my house?

“Come on in— well, wait a second. Gwen’s— How are you here?”

I can’t hear the answer, but my stomach does a slow flip. Does he have Delta Force friends? My pulse pounds in my head as I hop out of bed and race into my closet, throwing on the first things I touch: Lularoe leggings in magenta and black, and an oversized heather gray sweatshirt with a hood and a big hand pocket on the front. Thank Jesus for the tiny mirror on the back of my closet door. Looking into it, I smooth my hair and do the universe’s quickest braid, then bind the end with a small rubber band I find around the door knob.

“Piglet?”

I suck in a deep breath and poke my head out of the closet. “Yeah?”

Barrett’s face is radiant: his eyes alive, his smile bright. He’s shirtless, too. He steps into my closet and throws a big, bare arm around my shoulders. “Kellan’s here. And Cleo.”

“What?”

He gives a low laugh. “My brother and his fiancé.” He rocks back on his heels a little, soft affection shining in his eyes. “I want them to meet you. They’re only passing through— Not really,” he corrects himself. “They were down in Georgia seeing Cleo’s family and the bank called. House is closing. I put Kelly as a reference. They didn’t know I was even here, so they’re surprised.”

“So they just…drove up here?”

“He said they called last night.”

I blink a few times.

Barrett laughs and cups my chin. “C’mon, Piglet… You look pretty. Come meet them. Cleo wants to see the bears.”

I groan. “So one of those.”

“One of what?” He swats my ass, shooing me out into my room.

“People either think the bears are fun, or they think bears eat people all the time.”

“So…one of the ones who thinks they’re fun.” He arches his brows and makes a faux for-shame face, then gives me a warm, teasing smile. “You don’t think bears are fun?” He puts a hand to his chest.

“I think bears are really fun.” I twine my arms around his neck. “I just…need a shower.” I press my cheek against his chest and try to calm my racing heart. “How’d they find out