Amber Eyes - Maya Banks Page 0,6

closed the distance between them and dropped the blankets in a heap beside Hunter.

Turning away from the sight of the woman in Hunter’s arms, Jericho forced his attention to the fireplace, adding more logs and stoking the glowing embers until the flames licked high and heat radiated from the core.

When he was done, he turned back to see that Hunter had wrapped her in several of the blankets and was reaching for another.

“Help me get this around her and move her closer to the fire,”Hunter said as he held out her bundled body.

Jericho took her while Hunter scooted forward on the floor. When Jericho had swathed her completely, Hunter, who was now directly in front of the fire, reached for her.

Jericho hesitated and looked down into the face of the woman. “I’ve got her,”he said softly.

“What you need to do is give her to me and find as many more blankets and pillows as you can,”Hunter said. “We’ll put her between us so she warms up as fast as possible.”

Jericho sucked in his breath. Did Hunter have any idea what he was saying? Or the memories he dredged up? Hunter had sworn never to put another woman between them, literally or figuratively.

Beside him, Hunter cursed. “That wasn’t what I meant, Jericho, and you damn well ought to know it. Look, bringing her back here was your idea, not mine. I’d just as soon she not die here.”

“Keep your panties on,”Jericho murmured as he relinquished his bundle into Hunter’s arms.

He got up and went into the bedroom to drag the covers from his bed. Next, he hit Hunter’s room and made two trips with blankets and pillows.

When he came back the last time, he saw Hunter sitting on the floor in front of the fire, the woman curled into his arms, nearly swallowed by Hunter’s embrace. There was a look of determination and, oddly enough, tenderness on Hunter’s face as he stroked one hand through her hair. In that one unguarded moment, Jericho saw more emotion on his friend’s face than he’d seen in years.

Silently he went about making a pallet on the floor by the fire. Hunter scooted over to give Jericho room as he arranged more blankets and pillows.

When Jericho was finished, he stood and stripped his shirt off. He sat on the couch so he could pull his boots off, and he tossed them toward the front door. They landed with a thump, and he stood once again to unfasten his jeans. If he was going to be lying on the floor, he was going to be as comfortable as possible.

Stripped down to his underwear, he stepped onto the mound of blankets and gestured for Hunter to relinquish the woman. Hunter carefully leaned over and eased her into Jericho’s arms. While Hunter stood to undress, Jericho positioned her to his side, lifting the blankets so that she fit flush against his body so his warmth would bleed into her.

She stirred lightly. A soft, whispery moan escaped her parted lips and blew gently over his neck. As if seeking more of his heat, she snuggled deeper into his chest, her legs twining with his.

God it felt good to have a woman in his arms again. It had been so long. Too damn long. All soft curves and swells. There was nothing like holding a woman this close.

Hunter got down on her other side and turned away from her and Jericho. Without a word, he moved until his back was molded tightly to hers. Jericho could feel the tension radiating from Hunter. It was tangible. If Jericho were smart, he’d turn his back as well. She needed their warmth and nothing else.

It was too easy to remember the last—and only—time he and Hunter had slept with a woman between them. Back when they were young and foolish and thought they had all the answers.

He glanced down at the still-sleeping woman nestled so sweetly in his arms.

“Who are you?”he murmured. “And where did you come from?”

Chapter Four

Kaya stirred but quickly stilled and held her breath. Warm. So warm. She let her breath out in a soft sigh of contentment and then opened her eyes. All she saw was human flesh. Her nose was pressed solidly against a chest. She carefully inhaled, recognizing the scent immediately.

She came fully awake as panic engulfed her.

She tried to roll but rammed into another human. Hunter. Hands came out to steady her, but she bolted upright, shaking them off and scrambling frantically away.

“Hey, easy now,”Jericho murmured