Page 20 of Married to My Grumpy Minotaur Boss

OK, this is weird. Is it possible this is all some bad dream. I shake him. “Ronan. Are you even awake? Does it still hurt?”

“No! No, no, no.” He squeezes his eyes shut.

Leaning forward, I touch his face. “Ronan?”

He doesn’t answer. I’m becoming more sure this is a nightmare, but—

I start to pull my hand away and he cries out again. “No! Come back. Touch me. Please.”

I hesitate. This sounds horrible. Whatever is going on in his head, it’s terrible to watch.

I pat his arm awkwardly.

“Stay,” he says, sounding exhausted and pleading.

I crawl a little way onto the bed and pet his arm. He closes his eyes and his breathing slows further. Tentatively, I stroke across his broad chest and my fingertips graze the swell of his pecs.

Oh, my god, his body is so firm, it’s like stone. So firm and softly furry. I’m really badly tempted to let my fingers stray.

I don’t though. I return to petting his soft arm. The fur on his body is short and smooth if I brush my fingers downward.

Ronan wraps his arm all the way around my legs like he’s hugging a pillow or a teddy bear, then he gives a loud sigh, and settles into peaceful sleep.

Welp, I guess this is where I’m sleeping.

TEN

Ronan

I drift out of sleep with such a delicate sweet scent in my nostrils I think I’m still dreaming. It’s light and feminine, but has a musky rich depth that has my usual morning wood throbbing. Like lavender and honey...

Without opening my eyes, I reach down to stroke it over my pants.

Then I remember where I am!

My eyes shoot open. I’m nose to panty-covered pussy, with my head in my junior assistant’s lap.

Fuck!

I roll away with a grunt, grateful the covers do at least a little to hide my raging erection. “What are you doing? I thought we agreed I would have the bed?” Internally, I berate myself for the way that comes out. I don’t need to bite her head off for my mistake. I was the one with my head in her lap, not the other way around.

Justine scrambles backward toward the edge of the bed. “Oh, Mr. Kernos—Ronan, I... I’m sorry. I thought—” She tries to stand, but stumbles, sucking in a breath and rubbing at her legs. “Ouch! Pins and needles.”

How long was I lying with my heavy head in her tiny lap? What a mess. I knew this single bed thing was a bad idea.

To be honest, I don’t know what I was thinking telling her to stand in as my fake wife. It was a stupid, desperate move I can’t justify. I was only thinking about my calendar and how long itwas going to take me to catch up on everything we put off as it was.

I can’t believe I didn’t predict how strongly I’d react to her.

I sit and tug the blanket to make sure it covers my lap. “Listen, I’m sorry for growling at you, but we need to maintain a line here. I realize it’s an unusual situation, but I need to know you’ll respect any boundaries I set.”

“Oh, yes! Of course.”

She slides further off the bed, clutching at the side to keep herself up. This pulls the blanket, and I have to grab it to keep from being exposed. I can’t believe the bloody thing hasn’t subsided yet, but her too-tempting scent is still imprinted in my nostrils.

“Good.” I roll away, reaching for a phone that isn’t on the nightstand.

Justine clears her throat. “Only—”

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