Ride the Tide (Deep Six #3) - Julie Ann Walker Page 0,60

that she remembered the feel of them moving over her own.

So hot. So hungry. So…damn…talented.

Because he’s had a lot of practice, she reminded herself. Because he’s got that natural charm and charisma that means he’s never had to work for a woman. Because he’s one of those guys.

A man like him should come with a warning label. It should say Stop! Don’t fall for that smile and that charm and that quick wit! He’ll use it to win your heart, and then he won’t know how to treat it once he has it. He’ll hurt you so badly you’ll wish you’d never met him!

Maybe that was a little long-winded for a warning label. Perhaps all he needed was a forehead tattoo that read Stop! He’ll hurt your heart!

“Uh-oh.” He finished building the pillow barrier and caught her frowning fiercely at his back. “The look on your face is about as invitin’ as a rabid porcupine. Are you havin’ second thoughts?”

“Gee.” She flattened her mouth into a straight line. “Careful with all that flowery talk. I just might swoon.”

“Chrissy, if you’re not comfortable with this, I’ll leave. Just say the word and I’ll—”

“No,” she interrupted. She was suffering the aftereffects of all the violence. Being tormented by a hangover from all the adrenaline.

Sleep was the ticket. A few blessed hours where she wouldn’t have to relive this awful, terrible, horrible day. A few blessed hours where her mind could relax and restore itself to its factory setting—which she liked to think was pretty even-keeled.

“Like I said, I’ll be better tomorrow.” Lord, she hoped that was true. “But for tonight, I just… I just need someone to stay with me.”

“I could take you to Alex’s room. She’s got Meat with her. I’m sure the three of you could—”

“No.” Again she cut him off and had to force herself to spit out the truth, because it wanted to stay stuck in her throat. “I want it to be you.”

He tried not to smile. And failed.

“I wouldn’t look so happy about it.” She crawled into bed in her robe. She’d washed her clothes in the sink, and they were drying in the bathroom. “It’s not because I like you better than Alex. It’s because you’re more likely to engage in hand-to-hand combat should a bad guy come bursting through the door. Which will give me enough time to escape. I plan to sacrifice you to save myself.”

His tone was dry. “I appreciate the vote of confidence in my fightin’ prowess, but I can assure you, the chances of a bad guy burstin’ through that door are pretty slim.”

His weight depressed the mattress when he climbed into bed. It caused her to slide toward the line of pillows. She’d purposefully turned her back to him. But she would swear, even with the barrier between them, she could feel his heat.

Her blood rose and she pushed a bare leg out from beneath the comforter, hoping the hotel room’s air would also cool the heated images that ran through her mind because…you know…Ray “Wolf” Roanhorse was next to her. In bed.

“I bet this morning you would’ve said the chances of running into three men on a speedboat who were armed to the teeth were pretty slim too,” she told him, turning her pillow over to the cool side and punching a divot in the center to make room for her head. “And look how that turned out.”

He switched off his bedside lamp. Instantly, the room took on a golden glow, lit by the single lamp burning on her nightstand. It looked suspiciously like mood lighting. Which made her long to reach out and switch off her lamp too. But the idea of complete darkness…

She shuddered. All of her heated thoughts were once again replaced by icy visions of violence, and she pulled her leg back beneath the comforter.

Wolf changed positions and the mattress bounced. To her surprise, his hand curled around her shoulder. It was wide-palmed and warm.

She hadn’t realized how tightly she was wound until his touch loosened her muscles. The simple weight of his hand, the feel of his fingers giving her a comforting squeeze, had the strain of the day leaking out of her as easily as if she were a human sieve.

“This okay?” His voice sounded close. He spooned the pillow barrier.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Wolf might need to come with a warning label, cautioning all females to protect their hearts. But when it came to needing someone to protect their bodies, there was no