Page 66 of Shifted

He laughed. “Yeah, no. I’m sleeping in the bed. I’m too damn tired and in too much pain to sleep on a sofa.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Then go back to your own room,” she demanded.

He snagged her towel in one hand and yanked it off her. “Or I could stay here with you in the bed.”

Her mouth opened and closed again. She was speechless. How dare he? “Give me my towel.”

“No. Get in bed. I need sleep.”

“I don’t give a shit what you need. Give me my towel.”

He shook his head. She narrowed her eyes at him and then turned and went over to the closet. She pulled out a tank top and a pair of pajama bottoms and pulled them on. She wanted to yell at him, but what was the point? He wasn’t going to leave, and if she went downstairs, she’d have to sleep on the sofa. The old couch was lumpy to sit on; as a bed, it did not appeal at all.

“Turn off the lights,” she demanded as she crawled into bed. She turned on her side and faced the wall, her back to Dalton.

The lights went off, and then the sound of clothing hitting the floor reached her. She huffed out a breath and tried to relax. It was going to be a long night. She knew she was letting him get to her, and that would never do. Instead, she tried some breathing exercises and worked on trying to relax.

Dalton Hughes was an ass; there was no doubt. Still, he wasn’t wrong. It had been a weird few days and someone was out there killing people. She rubbed her face. How the hell had it come to this?

“If you could stop breathing funny, it would help us both fall asleep.”

“Listen, you jerk. I’m trying breathing exercises so I don’t scream at you. Be thankful I’m not smothering you with a pillow right now.”

“Like to see you try,” he growled.

Grabbing her pillow, she whirled around and attempted to shove it over his face, but he gripped her wrists and held her back. They fought for a few seconds, but then she realized Dalton was shaking with laughter.

“It’s not funny, you big oaf.”

He laughed harder.

She let go of the pillow and pushed him in the chest, but then she started to laugh. This situation was ridiculous. She pulled her pillow out of his hands, put it back in place, and flopped back onto the bed.

Dalton rolled over and covered her with his body. “You done trying to smother me?”

“Yes, I’m on to planning your demise in other ways.”

“Good,” he said as he leaned down and kissed her neck. “You keep planning. I’ll just be here amusing myself.” When he kissed the hollow of her neck, she struggled not to arch into him. Damn him. It wasn’t fair.

She pushed against him, trying to break free. "Dalton, stop it. You're distracting me from my plan."

But he only chuckled and nibbled on her earlobe. She gasped, and he took the opportunity to capture her lips and then deepen the kiss. His tongue expertly explored her mouth and she moaned her pleasure.

Even if she didn’t want it, his touch sent a thrill down her spine. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, but she couldn't resist him. His lips moved to her ear, breathing hot and heavy as he whispered something that made her heart race even faster.

He pressed her down onto the bed, his body on top of hers, every inch of him hot and hard. This was a mistake she was going to enjoy making.

Lips pressed against hers, he let his hands explore her body. Her nipples hardened under his touch and as his hands worked their way down to her hips, she arched into him. When he kneaded her flesh, she bit her lip to keep from crying out. It felt so good.

She wanted him. It was bad. He was okay with this being a one-time thing. Hadn't he said as much earlier? She, on the other hand, was a goner. She’d known it the moment she'd seen him. She shouldn't have given in before, in the garage. But now that she was here, she wanted him. She dug her nails into his back as he ran his hand over one breast, pinching her nipple. His lips nibbled on her earlobe as he ground his hips into hers.

"I've missed you, Greer," he said, his voice low in her ear. He took her hands and pinned them above her head, lacing their fingers together. "You have no idea."

"I missed you, too," she said breathlessly. The heat of his desire pressed into her. She wanted to feel that pulsing length deep inside her, taking her over completely.

When he let her hands go, she traced her fingertips over his back.

He tensed.

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