Forged in Stone - Alyssa Rose Ivy Page 0,51

I had to do some research of my own before I met with the Guards. This was not the kind of research that Ainsley could be involved with.

I inhaled her intoxicating scent again, letting it take over my senses. I needed to get as much of her as I could, because I could not make her mine no matter how much my mind, body, and soul demanded that she be.

I tried to slip away, but she snuggled in more. “James,” she mumbled my name.

She was dreaming about me. How was I going to leave when I knew that? I would have to find another way to get the information I needed.

She shifted, kicking off the covers. My eyes went to her now exposed long legs. She was sleeping in nothing more than a t-shirt and underwear.

She smiled. Her eyes were still closed, and I wondered if the smile was from her dream. Her dream about me. My heart rate picked up and my body hardened. If only I had the gift to slip inside her mind. I wondered if her dreams were anything like my own.

She shifted again, this time draping one of her silky legs over my body. I groaned. This was torture. To have such complete beauty nearly on top of me without being able to do anything about it. I wanted her. No, I needed her. I ran my hands down her back. It was a safe gesture. I could touch her without crossing a line.

“James.” She did it again. She mumbled my name. Did she realize what she was doing to me? The discomfort she was causing? I ached for her.

I laced my fingers through hers. Maybe holding her hand would be enough. She pulled our joined hands against her chest. I could feel her breast beneath our hands. It was getting worse. Much worse.

I tried to pull my hand away from hers, but she held on tight. I might wake her up if I tried harder. Instead I closed my eyes, and focused on the sensations. The feel of her breast underneath the thin cotton of the t-shirt, the way her leg felt pressed against me.

I focused on her breathing again. It had gone quieter. Maybe the dream was over. Either way, I could not move without waking her. She was too peaceful, and I was too comfortable to ruin that.

I relaxed, and before long my breathing matched hers. I felt myself falling asleep, but I did not fight it. Instead I embraced the feel of sleeping beside Ainsley.

* * *

I BLINKED. Light poured into the room through the open curtains. Ainsley still lay mostly on top of me, but the quilt was pulled up over us. I did not remember doing that, so maybe it was her doing.

I thought about moving the blanket so she would not get upset with me, but I resisted. She should know how close we had been sleeping together. I wanted to see how she would react.

She murmured something and then blinked, finally opening her eyes. She looked into my eyes. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” I waited with anticipation.

“Oh.” She looked down at our entangled bodies. “No wonder I slept so well.”

I grinned. “I slept pretty well myself.”

“I guess we both spent the night in your bed.”

“We did. You are the first woman I have spent an entire night with.”

“Oh? Usually the love and leave them type?”

I gave no answer. I had no interest in thinking about other women with Ainsley so close. No one else could compare. “I wouldn’t mind a repeat of this.”

An unreadable expression crossed her face. “Did I talk in my sleep? I’ve been told I do that sometimes.”

“A little bit.”

“Oh no!” She put a hand over her mouth. “What did I say?”

“Only my name a few times.”

She blushed. It was the cutest blush I had ever seen. “Yeah… I was afraid of that.”

“Have some nice dreams last night?” I teased. Maybe she would share them.

“Yes.”

“About what?”

“Are you purposely trying to embarrass me?”

“Dreaming of me is not embarrassing. I hope you do it every night, as long as the dreams stay good.”

“I was afraid I’d have nightmares. I have that problem a lot.”

“You suffer from nightmares?” I ran my hand through her hair. “I didn’t know that.”

“You don’t know me well. It’s not something I tell someone when I first meet them.”

“We know each other well now, or we should considering we spent the night together.”

“We slept in the same bed. That is not spending the