Page 44 of Hot for Hostage

Sadie pulled back from Bear and burrowed into my chest like she wanted to make a home there. My chest threatened to rumble with satisfaction. She could make a home wherever she wanted.

Her soft sigh broke through whatever strange reaction I was having. “I guess I didn’t answer it fast enough, but I’m not used to visitors banging on my door late at night. And I didn’t recognize his voice.”

Vince hadn’t mentioned he’d forced his way in. It had worked out well for us tonight that Sadie didn’t have a dead bolt.

But she was right. If Vince hadn’t been there and the Skulls had realized she didn’t have a dead bolt, things could’ve gone much differently.

“Try to sleep,” I told her. “If you have any nightmares, I’ll be right here. You and Bear are safe.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, then snuggled impossibly closer before sighing. “Good night, Dav.”

My arms tightened around her, and shock thrummed through me at how content I was to simply hold her for a while.

While this wasn’t how I’d imagined having Sadie in my bed—and she was wearing more clothes than I’d prefer—I wasn’t complaining.

The dog I could’ve done without, though.

why are you naked??

. . .

Sadie

Sadie’s Guide toHostage-TakingBeing Taken HostageForming a Partnership with Your Hostage, Tip #13: Nothing can prepare you for the first time you wake up in your hostage’s bed, but proper morning-after etiquette demands you define the current hostage situation.

Running water pulled me out of a restful sleep I didn’t want to leave.

Or maybe the mouthful of dog hair woke me.

I spat it out and rubbed a hand over my tongue. “Bleh!Bear.This is so gross.”

The furry menace lifted his head from the pillow and cocked it—oblivious to my rude awakening.

It took me a moment to realize we were alone in the bed.

The very nice and verylargebed, with the most luxurious sheets I’d ever lain on. Davian’s bedroom was bigger than my whole studio apartment, but the decorations were noticeably lacking. Everything was dark and imposing, from the sheets tothe four-poster bed to the curtains framing French doors along one wall. But the room suited Davian.

The man I’d spent all night cuddled up against.

My fluttering stomach betrayed how happy that made me.

The running water I’d heard was coming from a door across from the bed—a bathroom door.

Anopenbathroom door.

I focused on swallowing. It had to be Davian in there—this was his room, after all, and he wasn’t in the bed anymore.

My tongue turned as dry as a desert as that sank in.

He wasnakedin there.

Showering.

With the door wide open.

I flipped around and buried my face in Bear’s thick fur, trying to push the thoughts of a naked and wet Davian out of my mind. Bear took the opportunity to lick my hair.

“Fresh cupcakes and buttercream icing.” I listed a few of my favorite things to distract myself. “Taking Bear to the dog park. Dog toy sales. Why isn’t thisworking?”

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