the hook that easily. “Why’d you want to know?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Just wondering.”
Just wondering my ass. “Just wondering if I snuggle with those girls or if I’ll snuggle with you?”
Her eyes nearly closed. “Is that your way of asking me to snuggle, Hayden?”
“Oh, I don’t ask.” I moved closer, sliding my arms around her tiny waist and gently turning her away from me. “I just take what I want.” I pulled her back to my front, inhaling her intoxicating scent and loving the feel of her in my arms.
Her smooth hands slid over mine, linking our fingers together. “Good night, babe,” she sighed, using the same term she’d used to push my buttons at the bar and relax me in the hospital. It worked then. And it worked now.
“Good night, sweetheart,” I whispered.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ALEX
I opened my scratchy eyes, struggling to get my bearings. The curtains were pulled snug, but the early morning sun still snuck its rays into small crevices casting dim light over the dark furniture in Hayden’s bare room.
His scent filled my subconscious. So crisp and fresh. Something I’d forever associate with only him. With his arms wrapped tightly around my waist, his rhythmic breathing told me he was still asleep. His strong front pressed firmly to my back, while his right hand splayed on my bare stomach, under my shirt.
Hmmm.
Being in Hayden’s bed, with his arms holding me in place, felt like home. If I could stay that way forever, I’d die a very happy girl. Unfortunately, the fluids the hospital pumped into my body caught up with me.
I wiggled my body, hoping Hayden would let up his grasp. But it only caused him to tighten his arms.
God, I’d never felt so safe. Like nothing could touch me. It was irrational. Totally absurd to know him for such a short period of time and feel the way I did. I knew it was. But it was still the truest thing I had.
I grazed my fingertips over his hand—the one on my bare stomach. His fingers twitched, so I kept at it, this time sliding my other hand over my shoulder and around his neck, threading my fingers through the soft almost-curls at the back of his head. “Hayden,” I whispered, continuing to move both hands.
He grunted, but made no move to release me.
I had to bring out the big guns. I wiggled my rear end right where he couldn’t ignore it. Preston explained the morning male anatomy to me years ago. And from what he said, I should’ve been insulted if I didn’t garner the reaction Hayden sported. Like, really sported.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Hayden’s raspy voice hummed, his warm breath tickling my neck.
Preston who?
“Is there a reason you feel the need to rub your cute little ass all over me so early in the morning?”
My hand dropped from his neck. “I need the bathroom.”
His grasp tightened. “First tell me how you’re doing.”
I paused, considering my response. Words like scared, shocked, and unsettled came to mind. It had been an eye-opening experience to say the least. But being in Hayden’s arms made the nightmare fade. Made the pain tolerable. Made the sadness dissipate. So I answered truthfully. “Better than expected.”
“Yeah?” He sounded surprised. “Why’s that?”
There was no way I could tell him the truth. I’d said enough the previous night. So instead of using words, I reached for his hand resting on my shirt and slid it across my bare stomach with the other, loving the feel of his rough hands on my skin.
His body tensed.
I waited it out, pushing him past his comfort level.
After a long moment, his body relaxed. His fingers twitched slightly before tracing slow circles over my stomach. The tingles left in their wake nearly branded my skin, making me forget my ordeal. Forget my pain. Forget everything.
His hands slid from my stomach to my sides, delicately trailing his thumbs up and down my skin in a slow sensual path. Chills rippled through me. Glorious, wonderful chills. “Is this okay?” he whispered.
“Uh huh,” I murmured, because it was all I could muster.
He smiled into my neck as his innocuous thumbs continued moving, never venturing too high or too low. But it didn’t stop the delicious sensations from spreading down to my nether regions.
His strong hands sent every one of my nerve endings into overdrive. I couldn’t focus on anything but the heat traveling from my arms to my legs and everywhere in between. I never knew someone’s touch could elicit such a mind-blowing effect.