die. Then Alec… He’d covered her body with his and held her tight. He'd protected her.
He’d thought of someone other than himself. And when the plane crashed, she’d been so shellshocked she hadn’t been able to help anyone at first. She’d been frozen, barely able to breathe, but he’d been helping others right from the start.
Brie crumpled to the floor of the shower, curling up under the hot spray and staying like that long after the water started to cool.
“Brie?” Alec’s voice came from the other side of the door.
She snapped out of it, scrambling up and turning the water off. “Just a sec!” Quickly, she stepped out, wrapped a towel around her body, and hastily combed her wet hair with her fingers before she cracked the door open. Alec peered down at her through the slit of the door frame.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his eyes dark with worry. “You’ve been in there for over half an hour.”
“Yeah, totally fine,” she lied.
His gaze narrowed. “You’ve been crying.”
“What? No, I haven’t.” She rushed to the counter to peer at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red. Had she been crying and didn’t even realize it?
Alec shouldered his way into the bathroom. “Brie…”
She spun to face him. “No, I’m okay. I’m really okay.” She held up a hand, but he caught it and pulled her close. Her eyes closed and she surrendered to the feel of being near him. She felt safe here. She didn’t know how that was possible. They were basically strangers, yet she felt like as long as he held her, she didn’t have to be afraid.
“How come you aren’t falling apart?” she muttered miserably as he held her.
“I did that on the plane after the plane stopped sliding in the snow.” He cupped the back of her head, massaging her scalp through the wet tendrils. “Men process adrenaline faster than women.”
“What? That’s BS.” She burrowed closer to him.
“No, it’s true. We have an immediate adrenaline rush to get through a battle, for example. Women have the same amount of adrenaline, but it doesn’t kick in until much later and it lasts far longer. Women tend to react more calmly. They maintain strength and speed to collect the food and children before they escape to safety. But when you come down from the adrenaline, it’s a lot harder than men do. My hands were shaking the second after the plane stopped. I just about fell over trying to walk down the aisle. I was already peaking from hormones and started coming down right as your rush started.”
“You know, that sounds really sexist.” Brie almost smiled with her words.
“It’s science. It’s actually sexist against men if you think about it. You have the advantage to get through something dangerous for a longer period of time than I do. We’re treated like cannon fodder. Besides, I think you are handling the situation rather well. But you need to relax. Rest. It’s the best way to get over this anxiety you’re feeling.” He nodded at her clothes. “Change and then let’s sleep, all right?”
“Okay.” Brie stepped back before Alec turned to leave her alone in the bathroom. She changed into her pajamas, dried her eyes and her hair as best she could.
Alec was already lounging in the bed wearing just a pair of flannel gray pajama pants when she came into the bedroom. He had his iPad out and was staring at the screen. He looked up from his tablet as he said, “Sorry, I didn’t have a spare shirt, and I don’t usually wear one to sleep. Does it bother you?”
His long, graceful fingers moved elegantly as he typed whatever he was working on. After a second, he closed the device and focused on her. God, all those sleek muscles and raw power. Even just sitting there he looked impressive. His suit had looked so good on him, but what lay beneath the clothes was so much better. She let out a little sigh and then realized he’d been talking.
“Hmmm?” She inwardly winced. “Sorry, what did you say?”
He chuckled. “I’ll take that as a no.” His laugh sent a delicious, intimate thrill through her. It was the sort of laugh that only a lover of this man would hear, a sound reserved for the bedroom. Brie responded instantly and had to fold her arms over her chest to hide her nipples hardening.
Alec set his iPad on the nightstand and pulled back the quilt and sheet. While she