Page 13 of Forbidden Passions

But who was I kidding? Not myself. Not my body. I wanted to lay down beside her. Take in her sweet scent. Feel the warmthof her body next to mine. Feel alive for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.

The bedroom door creaked open behind me. I turned to find Callie standing in the doorway, hair tousled from the pillow, drowning in my t-shirt that hit her mid-thigh. Max peered around her legs, tail wagging lazily.

“Are you going to stand out here all night?” she asked, voice husky with sleep. “Because I can hear you thinking from in there, and it’s keeping me up.”

I cleared my throat. “I was just checking the storm.”

Her eyes, soft with sleepiness, saw right through me. “Gabriel, it’s almost midnight. Come to bed. I promise not to bite.” A small smile. “Unless you ask nicely.”

Fucking hell. I fought to keep my expression neutral. “I’m fine out here.”

“You’re being ridiculous.” She crossed her arms, which only served to emphasize the curves beneath my shirt. “We’re both adults. We can share a bed for a night or two without it being weird.”

It was already weird. At least for me.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I said, just to get her to go back inside.

She studied me for a moment longer, then shrugged. “Suit yourself. But fair warning—the longer you wait, the more of the bed Max and I are going to take over.”

With that, she turned and disappeared back into the bedroom, leaving the door ajar. An invitation. Or a challenge.

I waited five more minutes, listening to the storm and my own racing thoughts. This was absurd. I’d faced down enemy fire without flinching, but the thought of climbing into bed with an attractive woman had me frozen in place.

I walked into a war zone with less hesitation than I felt about walking into that room.

What did that say about me?

Finally, cursing under my breath, I switched off the lights and made my way to the bedroom.

Callie was curled on her side, facing away from the door, dark curls spilling across my pillow. Max lay stretched along the foot of the bed, head resting on his paws, watching me with sleepy eyes.

I hesitated in the doorway, suddenly feeling like an intruder in my own bedroom.

“I can hear you hovering,” Callie murmured without turning around. “Just get in already.”

Swallowing hard, I moved to the empty side of the bed. I normally slept in just boxers, but that wasn’t happening tonight. Instead, I was still fully clothed in a t-shirt and sweatpants, feeling oddly formal as I eased onto the mattress, keeping as close to the edge as possible.

I lay on my back, rigid, staring at the ceiling, acutely aware of her body just inches away. The mattress wasn’t small, but it suddenly felt tiny.

“Relaxed yet?” Callie’s voice was amused in the semi-darkness.

“I’m fine,” I said shortly.

“You’re lying there like you’ve got a board strapped to your back.”

“I always sleep like this.”

“Sure you do.” She rolled over to face me, propping herself up on one elbow. I could see her pretty face, her full lips. Those eyes that seemed to look right inside me. A strand of hair fell across her cheek, and I had to fight the insane urge to reach out and brush it back.

“What?” I asked when she continued to study me.

“I’m trying to figure you out, Gabriel Holt.”

“Don’t bother.”

Her lips curved. “Too late. I love a good puzzle.”

“I’m not a puzzle.”

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