Hot and Bothered - Erika Wilde Page 0,11
the caring gesture warmed her deep inside.
A brief recollection flashed inside her head, of Noah’s lips on hers and a wild, deep kiss unlike anything she’d ever indulged in. She knew Noah, and along with that certainty came the knowledge that he made her feel safe, secure, and desired. But she had no idea where he fit into her life. Was he her boyfriend? Lover? Friend? Judging by the awareness and intimate longing swirling within her, she was guessing that he was much more than a casual acquaintance.
Stretching her arm out, she gently threaded her fingers through his hair, the thick strands cool and silky to the touch. She caressed her hand along the dark, bristly whiskers on his cheek and jaw, trying to recall if she’d ever been abraded by that sexy morning stubble. His lips were parted and looked so warm and soft. So inviting. She couldn’t resist testing the feel of them for herself, and she wasn’t disappointed in the silky, seductive texture her fingertips encountered.
His lashes drifted open as he gradually awakened, his dark blue eyes at first unfocused. God, he was so sinfully sensual, so deliciously good-looking, he literally took her breath away.
The charming grin she expected to see never appeared. Instead, he slowly lifted his head and stared at her cautiously, warily searching her gaze as if he wasn’t sure what to expect from her. Odd, she thought.
Regardless, his presence soothed her, grounded her, and she was grateful that she hadn’t woken up alone. “Hi, there,” she said, her voice husky from slumber and thirst.
He swallowed hard, then finally graced her with that sexy smile that never failed to jump-start her pulse. That exciting tingling through her veins was an incredibly nice way to greet the morning, though she couldn’t ever recall waking up with this man next to her.
Not that it had or hadn’t happened. She just couldn’t…remember. Her mind felt muddled, foggy, and disoriented, and the inability to grasp any kind of clear recollection of them frustrated her.
“Hi, yourself, sweetheart,” he murmured, his tone low and rough.
Sweetheart. Yeah, she definitely liked the sound of that. And she instinctively knew that he’d used that sentiment with her before.
He straightened in his seat, then stretched his arms over his head to loosen the kinks that had no doubt cramped parts of his body due to his awkward sleeping position. Muscles flexed beneath his T-shirt and along his arms as he arched his back and reached high. He groaned in relief, and she enjoyed every bit of the male display.
“You snore,” she said in amusement.
“I’m sorry.” He cringed at that bit of information, instantly contrite. “Did I wake you?”
“No, actually it was a cute snore and not at all obnoxious.”
He laughed, the rumbling sound sending a pleasant vibration along her nerve endings. “Well, it’s certainly good to know that you think my snores are cute, but don’t tell anyone else because, for one thing, I’ll never hear the end of it and, for another, it’ll be a huge blow to my masculinity.”
“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.” She smiled, curious to know if they shared any other private intimacies. “I need something to drink. Is there any water?”
“Sure is.” He raised the top of her mattress so she was sitting up, then filled a plastic glass on the tray next to her bed. Bringing the straw to her lips, he watched her take a drink, his concerned gaze roaming over her face. “You sound better than I’d expected this morning, but how are you really feeling?”
She swallowed one last gulp of cool water, relieving her dry, scratchy throat. “My head is throbbing and I feel bruised, battered, and achy. Like I got hit by a car.”
He chuckled lightly at her wry tone and tipped his head. “You remember?”
“Not much, if anything at all.” She sighed and settled back against her pillows. “Actually, one of the nurses told me what happened when I asked last night. That’s how I know. I’m still kind of sketchy on the details, though.”
“That’s okay. It’ll eventually come to you. I’m just glad to see your beautiful eyes are wide open and clear. You gave us all quite a scare.”
“Us all?”
Nodding, he perched his hip on the mattress next to her waist and placed her hand between his. His thumb drew lazy patterns over her knuckles. “Me, my brother, Melodie, Bobby, and everyone at Murphy’s.”
She thought hard to place who those people were. Struck with a sudden dull ache at