Page 35 of Disarming Caine

“Painting over a fireplace is a fire hazard,” she mumbled, before ending on her side, facing me with a lazy smile and another yawn. “You’re up early.”

“No, bella. You’re sleeping in. It’s noon in Napoli already.”

I crossed to the bed and slipped under the covers. She turned away from me, and I didn’t stop until my body met hers, sliding easily in my silk lounge pants. Nestling back, she removed all the space between us, stretching through her spine, and burrowing her legs underneath mine.

“When I woke this morning, I saw you lying there, so beautiful.” I pressed my lips against her and inhaled her fragrance, pushing one arm under her head. “I couldn’t go back to sleep, for fear it was another dream.”

She shook with quiet laughter, kissing the arm under her head. “So cheesy.”

I caressed her side, circling my hand to the front of the sleep tank she’d worn to bed, ending over her heart.

She sank deeper against me, interlacing her fingers with mine, rubbing her cheek along my bicep. “I missed you.”

“All days are nights to see till I see thee,” I whispered into her hair.

Gripping my hand tightly, she finished for me. “And nights bright days when dreams do show thee to me.”

I laughed softly, locking my legs around hers. One more thing we had in common, our love of Shakespeare.

“Which sonnet is that?”

“Forty-three. I read it many times while I was away.” Stroking her chest with my thumb, I relaxed into the embrace, my lids becoming heavy. Perhaps more sleep would come after all.

She twisted around, pressing her head against my bare chest, moving an arm and a leg to drape over me.

This was paradise. “I think we should stay here all day, bella.”

“That sounds wonderful, but I have to go to work.”

The encroaching tiredness vanished in an instant, and my heart skipped too many beats. Less than twelve hours ago, she’d nearly been killed. She couldn’t leave. “Call in sick.”

“I can’t.” She brushed her fingertips along my skin, far calmer than I was. “I volunteered to pick up extra time over the holidays, so a few of the other adjusters could go on vacation.”

“No, you can’t go to work today.” While failing to release my tensed muscles, I did my best to maintain a playful and flirtatious tone. I trailed a hand to the small of her back and pulled her closer to me in a further attempt to prevent myself from slipping into ridiculous commandments.

She pushed back from my chest to see my face, her lips tight. “Antonio, I have responsibilities.”

“As do I. I need to keep you safe.” The words came out sharper than intended, but she didn’t get angry this time. Instead, she became serious.

“I’ll be fine.” She placed a hand over my heart, bringing my attention to how fast it beat. Before I could speak, she moved the hand to my lips and sat up. “Listen. Best-case scenario, last night was a one-off. Worst case, someone’s after one of us.”

“Like the man Eva sent after you?”

“Elliot would have told me if he was out of jail.” She shook her head when I opened my mouth, silencing me. “Your visit was a surprise and no one would have expected you at my place, so it isn’t you. My schedule’s erratic. There are very few things I do the same every day but heading back to my hotel is one of them. If someone was waiting for me, they’d know to watch there at night. I won’t be doing anything standard today, I swear. Plus, I know how to spot a tail and how to lose one.”

Her hands waved as she spoke, and I grabbed one to kiss it.

“Call the police if that happens.”

“Now, what about you? This is a really secure building. Are you going to stay here all day?”

“No, I need to go out.”

“Then you need to be careful, too.”

“We could go together?”

She clasped my hand and frowned. “I’m going to work. I’ll be careful. You’ll be careful.”

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