was so unlike the way I used to respond to Noah.
I let my guilt project itself into hate, and I directed it at Julian Tennyson, gladly, because it was better than admitting that it was nice.
Being held.
Rather than offering comfort and empty words.
It was nice, too damn nice.
Chapter Eight
JULIAN
She was beautiful when she wasn’t being argumentative. Hell, she was beautiful no matter what.
And my body was having a hard time cooperating with the signals my brain was sending, signals like Injured, Stranger, Don’t take advantage.
I wasn’t that guy anymore.
He didn’t wake up from the coma.
And any remnants left of the man who would just take what he wanted and move on had died right along with my mother.
I’d buried my past.
Or I’d attempted to.
She was asleep again. She pressed a hand to my chest and held it there like she was waiting for a heartbeat.
She said his name again.
Noah.
I wondered if this Noah realized how lucky he was. To have a woman cry out to him even in her weakest moments, in her sleep, to need him so desperately that she couldn’t stop saying his name.
Jealousy hit me hard and fast because I knew my name would never fall from a woman’s lips like that.
I was either a checkbook or a business ally. Women wanted me for my money, my power, and my influence.
Finding someone normal only happened once in a lifetime, and look how that had turned out.
“Mmmmm . . .” She lifted her head and then reached her bandaged hands around my neck. “I missed you . . .”
I froze. Dear God, let her wake up.
She moaned again. “Feels so good, right?”
Fuck.
I clenched my jaw as she moved on my lap and then straddled me. Not how I planned on spending my morning. “Princess, you’re dreaming . . .”
“It’s such a good dream,” she argued in a sultry, sleep-filled voice.
My body was on fire.
Shit.
Her forehead touched mine, I could almost taste her, could feel the warmth of her breath on my face.
One touch.
Nobody would know.
We were snowed in.
I was justifying one graze of her lips.
I was going insane.
I muttered a curse and pulled away just as her mouth came crashing down onto mine.
And then I forgot everything.
Everything.
And kissed her back.
Her lips were searing hot, her body molded against mine like it was made for me, and when her tongue slid into my mouth, I thought I was going to die on the spot.
She tasted so fucking good.
So good.
“Mmm . . .” She pulled back. “Noah . . .”
I jerked away.
Lucky bastard.
She thought I was him.
That wasn’t cheating.
It was just unfortunate.
“Hey.” I shook her by the shoulders a bit. “You were dreaming again.”
Her eyes opened so fast that you’d think I told her we had company, and then she stared at my mouth.
Was it red from her kiss?
Swollen?
“See something you like?” I joked.
She rolled her eyes and shoved at my chest. “Sorry.”
“What do you have to be sorry for?”
“Inconvenience. And you don’t seem like the sort of guy who likes to be inconvenienced. No, you’re a planner and I’m ruining your plans.”
“Technically, I ruined yours first,” I argued and then reached for my phone. “Looks like we still don’t have cell service. Do you feel well enough to get dressed and eat something?”
She nodded, her eyes uncertain even as she said, “I think so.”
“Take it easy, alright?” I slowly unraveled us and tried like hell not to look at her breasts as I helped her stand.
She slumped against me, body weak. I steadied her and waited, but she just swayed in my arms again.
“Food,” I repeated. “You need food. Let’s keep you wrapped up, try that first, and then we can see about a shower, okay?”
“I’m not dirty.”
My lips twitched. “I didn’t say you were, I just thought it might make you feel more like yourself.”
Her face changed as she looked away. “Yeah, I haven’t felt like myself in a while, I doubt a shower’s going to help.”
“You never know,” I whispered as shadows danced across her face, twirling around secrets I knew she’d never tell a stranger, least of all one like me.
“Pancakes.” She changed the subject. “Let’s make pancakes. I have enough ingredients and it should warm us up.”
“You stay, I’ll make the pancakes.” I set her back down in front of the fire, forgetting I was naked as I stood. She watched, and my body found great pleasure in being seen. “Ignore . . .” I choked on my next few words as my body acted