Page 89 of The Rogue

How am I supposed to carry her out of my bedroom and bring her down to the cold, open den? How does a man do that to a woman?

Tohiswoman?

But a promise is a promise.

Even if it has a few tweaks.

Tessa’s fast asleep in my bed when I return from the basement.

She stirs slightly as I slip my white T-shirt over her. I never want her waking feeling uncomfortable or…seen. I lift her into my arms and carry her across the hall to her bedroom.

Safe. Close.

The way I always want her.

I just hope she doesn’t hate me for it.

I stretch, moaning awake from a deep sleep. Dawn cracks through the window.

Wait.Window?

I snap my head up, scanning the space around me.

I’m in my bedroom.

Not in the den. My heart falls at his broken promise, but I take a breath and will myself to be okay with it.

Swinging my legs off the bed, I stand.

Then freeze.

The door. It’sgone.

I step over cautiously, inspecting it. Half deciding that I’m dreaming.

But this is very real. The door’s been taken off its hinges. Levi’s door is also open. I tiptoe across the narrow hall to peek inside.

He’s sound asleep. One leg resting over the covers. God, he’s sexy.

Last nightwas sexy. Every touch, every breath, every delicious thrust had me coming apart at the seams. I can’t believe I didn’t make him stop when he realized he was bare.

And God, if I’m lucky enough to have him again, I don’t want it any other way.

The reminder of last night makes me glance down at myself. I’m wearing his T-shirt.

It smells like the trees.

I take in the space with a new appreciation for where I’m staying for the rest of the summer.

This is better than the den. And it’s close to him.

This cowboy knows me better than I know myself.

Heartstrings start tugging, and pretty soon, there will be no use ignoring them. In shutting them out.

They’ll keep coming back. Stronger. Louder.

Until I admit.

---