Page 16 of You Complicate Me

After that, she just gave up. Bought a fantastic vibrator with five speeds, which she used once a week. Other than that, her girl parts just went on hiatus. She hadn’t even thought of sex with someone other than her little battery-operated friend in months.

Until Nick O’Connor.

She groaned out loud and punched the pillow again.

“What the hell is the matter with you?” the object of her sexual frustration grumbled from his position in the chair next to the bed.

Of all the obnoxious… “I’m so sorry if my insomnia is disturbing your beauty sleep.”

He leaned forward. The soft, muted light from the lava lamp caressed his perfect features and tousled hair. Good grief, he looked like a living, breathing wet dream.

“Not much beauty sleep to be had in this chair.”

Thank God, she thought. If he got any more beautiful, she’d burst into spontaneous orgasms every time he walked into the room.

“Are you hungry or something?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.

That’s when it occurred to her that she was arguably the most selfish woman in the world. Here he was, spending the night practically folded in half in an uncomfortable chair, for her, a near-stranger.

Grace cleared her throat and sat up. “It occurs to me that I never thanked you.”

His dark brows lifted. “For what? For not arresting you? For driving you to River Oak? For spending the night in this chair to protect you from Cletus the potential serial killer?”

“Ugh. Okay, I get it. I’m a horrendous bitch.”

“I wouldn’t say horrendous.”

Even with the only light in the room being supplied by a lava lamp, she could see the teasing twinkle in his eyes. “Thank you, Nick,” she whispered.

He blinked slowly and gave her a sleepy smile that would’ve brought her to her knees had she been standing. She felt as though they’d crossed an invisible border in their relationship.

Which almost explained the offer she then extended.

Chapter Eight

Nick had no idea why he’d accepted her offer to share the bed. He could only assume that hearing his name on her lips made him stupid. Okay, stupider.

Grace had fallen asleep almost immediately after he’d gotten settled into bed beside her. Nick, however, remained awake until well after four.

Apparently it was impossible to sleep in a chair next to Grace, and it was impossible to sleep next to her in a bed. At least when he’d been in the chair, he hadn’t been aware that she smelled like sun-ripened coconuts and limes. Hadn’t been able to feel the heat of her skin. Hadn’t itched to brush back the wayward strands of hair that obscured his view of her face.

And for a woman who liked to be in control, Grace didn’t exercise a bit of it while sleeping. He’d already scooted to the edge of the bed to escape her flying elbows and knees.

He had to swallow a laugh when Grace muttered a few curses under her breath and rolled to her side. Not even boring in her sleep, he thought wryly.

But any amusement he might have felt died when she tucked her head into his shoulder and threw an arm over his midriff. His entire body stiffened as he watched her, sure she would wake up any moment.

Several minutes passed, and she showed no signs of coming to. Nick relaxed as best he could, considering a gorgeous woman was in his arms, all warm and sleepy.

With a frustrated sigh, he tucked her more fully into the crook of his arm. She responded by inhaling deeply and snuggling closer, drawing one leg up over his to rest her knee just below his groin. And as he struggled to keep his breathing steady, Grace did something she hadn’t done all night.

She stayed perfectly still.

Grace sighed as the feel of his warm breath sent tiny shivers of excitement through her entire body. His hand, warm and firm on her breast, had her arching against him, practically begging for more.

In no more than three hot, open-mouthed kisses, he worked her shirt up above her shoulders, giving him full access to her impatient flesh. She felt the heat of his mouth against the hollow at the base of her throat as he cupped her breast, gently tracing his thumb over the distended nipple.

She parted her lips, slowly awakening, yet dreading the moment when he’d slip into the darkness, leaving her with only a hazy dream to cling to. She didn’t want to let him go.

---