Page 38 of Possession

He wore ancient jeans and a bulky green fisherman’s sweater that made his eyes glow tiger gold in the low light. He loomed over me again, brushing his lips over my forehead, then my temple, and finally, my cheek.

When he moved to my mouth, I turned away. I was a hot mess.

“Don’t turn away from me, Grace.”

“I’m saving you from my breath,” I said into my pillow.

He cupped my face, bringing my chin up so our lips met. I was used to carnal kisses from him. Deep, focused—they had more in common with mating than a simple meeting of mouths. But not this time.

He rested his forehead against mine as he brushed my lips with his.

The heart monitor gave a staccato beat. Enough that even Blake had to laugh into my mouth. “Is that what it sounds like inside you when I kiss you?”

“Smug bastard.”

“Indeed.” He moved his hand from my face to run his fingers over the pillow beside my head. “Hospitals suck.”

“Tell me about it.”

“For what I’m paying, they should have you on the same thread count as The Mandarin in Hong Kong.”

I looked away. “I’m sorry.”

“Grace.”

I stared at the lump where my immobilizer and busted ankle were

“Grace,” he growled. “Look at me.”

I lifted my gaze to his.

“I don’t care how much I have to pay. I just want you taken care of.”

“I hate this.”

“I understand how it feels, but this isn’t about the money.”

“What would you know about being poor?”

A muscle jumped in his cheek. “My company is only five years old, Ms. Copeland.”

I frowned. I’d just assumed he’d come from money. My research hadn’t been that intensive. All I’d been able to focus on was that he’d owned my grandmother’s home—myhome.

After that, we’d created a personal game of one-upmanship and power. Both of us returned to our corners when our clothes went back on.

He stood, then he dragged a chair up to my bed with his foot before he dropped into it. “What did the doctors say?”

“I’ll probably be off my ankle for a few days. I can work remotely.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

“I am.” I tried to cross my arms before I remembered I was tethered, and then I sighed. “When you’re left to your own devices, I have too many fires to put out afterward.”

“I did just fine without you for five years.”

“Obviously not, since no temp agency or hiring agency will work with you.”

He kicked out his leg and crossed his arms over his chest. “No one will ever be you, Ms. Copeland.”

---