Page 48 of Tempting

I close my eyes and decide to give him a truth I don’t share often. “I don’t sleep much, either way, Nix. It would be nice to not be alone.”

I roll over, making room, and pull the blanket back. If tonight was about me taking control of my wants and needs, then I might as well ask for what I want, and what I want right now is to not be alone.

My breath hitches as he walks back into the bathroom, then comes back in, dressed in his boxers and carrying our clothes. “You want to be the big spoon or the little spoon?”

A giggle that sounds completely inappropriate in the quiet room slips from my lips. “I mean, I’m half your size, so the little spoon only makes sense, right?”

He lies down and wraps a hand around me, pulling my hips back and trailing his fingers up and down my ribs. “Why don’t you sleep?”

I drag my nails over the arm tucked under my head, enjoying the way goosebumps break out over his skin.

And I wonder if the light of day tomorrow will make me regret the secrets I’m sharing in the quiet safety of tonight.

“I haven’t slept well in years. Jules and Becks had me talk to a grief counselor about it when I was younger. I basically fear what will happen while I’m sleeping. What can change. What can be lost. It’s something I’ve worked on over the years, and I can go a few months at a time without it being a problem, but when it starts again, I know I’m in for months and months with very little sleep.”

He pulls me back against him, like his strength alone can keep my demons at bay. “Have you tried taking anything for it? My uncle uses melatonin to help him sleep.”

I close my eyes and soak in the warmth of his body. The delicious way his fingers skim higher with each pass of my ribs. Just up high enough to touch the outer edge of my breast. It’s soothing and sexy, and the need I felt in the shower sparks back to life. “I’ve tried everything. Herbal, prescription, exercise, meditation. None of it really works, so most nights, I end up reading charts or studying. Throwing myself into medicine was a great excuse. There was always more studying to be done.” I roll over in his arms and relish the way his eyes devour me.

“Basically...” I skim my fingers over his pecs and down his arms, tracing his Sinclair tattoo proudly inked into his gorgeous arm. “I look for anything to do to keep my brain occupied and hope that eventually exhaustion will set in.”

Nix slides his knee between my thighs, that sexy smile back in place on his handsome face. “Anything...?”

I nod my head and lick my lips. “Anything.”

NIXON

Idon’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to this no strings attached thing because lying here next to a naked, wet, vulnerable Mackenzie Hayes hits home just how much more than casual this woman will always be. It was never going to be any other way, and I’m pretty sure she and I are the only two people who didn’t realize that.

Fuck me.

I want to tell her I’ll always keep her safe, but she’s not mine to make that promise to.

And if that doesn’t rip me apart, nothing ever will

“What are you asking me for, Mac?” I cup the back of her head in my hand and stare down at her in amazement. Her pouty pink lips tip up in the corners, and the distance I thought I wanted to put between us by not kissing seems like the stupidest fucking idea I’ve ever had. Worse than no-strings sex with the one girl I always wanted.

Fucking fool.

“Show me, Nix. Show me how good it can be to not be alone. Give me that for a night.”

Her words gut me.

For a night... We’re not supposed to be more than a few nights strung together. But that’s never going to be enough.

Her arms snake up my neck, and she pulls herself flush against me. “Do you have a condom?”

I swallow down my thoughts before they get any more out of control and press my lips against her forehead. “You sure, Kenzie?”

“Don’t do that,” she quietly snaps. “Don’t put distance between us now. You told me to tell you what I wanted. Well, I’m telling you I want you to fuck me, Nixon.” Her voice shakes, but she doesn’t back down, and I swear to God the only sexier thing than her strength is her brain.

“Nix...” She presses her lips just below my ear and sucks and nips, and my cock definitely doesn’t get the message that we’re trying to be a fucking gentleman. “Please.”

Please... That one word is all it takes to eviscerate me.

I flip her on her back and soak her in. “Fucking beautiful, Mac.”

Her fingers run over my lips. “That’s better. I don’t like when you call me Kenzie. You only do that when you’re not happy. Let’s make each other happy, Nix. Show me how to make us both happy.”

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