Page 31 of Trigger

Sleeping Arrangements

Carter

I wokeup feeling drowsy, not knowing how long I’d slept. Being stuck in that bunkermade me feel as if time didn’t exist, or the world for that matter. There wasonly darkness, and silence. Well, almost. I could hear the water dripping fromthe ceiling, and that repetitive sound was like a torture device. I could feelthe earth beneath me, damp and cold. I could feel the body behind mine, so warmand comfy I wanted to bury myself in it. And the hot breath at the nape of myneck—

Igasped and sat bolt upright with my heart in my throat.

“Whatthe fuck?”

Thorsensat up too, instinctively reaching for his gun that wasn’t there.

“Whatis it? What happened?”

“Whatdo you mean, what happened?” I all but yelled. “What the hell were you doing?”

“What?You mean sleeping?”

“Youwere lying right next to me!” I exclaimed, aghast. “I could feel your entirebody against mine. Your breath on my goddamn neck! Your chest, your legs, evenyour…” I gagged, shuddering.

Helooked at me incredulously. “Are you fucking kidding me? That’s why you woke meup?”

He wasabout to say something else, but a sneeze stopped him.

“I wasprobably cold, you prick,” he said, sneezing again. “You scared the shit out ofme.”

“I’msorry,” I muttered, feeling guilty because he looked exhausted. “I was just… Ifreaked out.”

“Fuckoff,” he muttered, wiping his nose with the hem of his shirt. “Insensitiveass!”

I toremy gaze away from his shredded abs, mentally slapping myself for wanting to askhim which gym he frequented.

“Ididn’t expect to feel you so close to me.” I tried to explain. “It would makeanyone upset.”

“Itwouldn’t upset me, tinman. Do you know why? Because I have a heart.”

“Isaid I’m—”

“Justleave me alone, okay?” he grumbled, lying down and turning his back to me. “I’mnot talking to you from now on.”

“Realmature,” I murmured. “Are we back in elementary school?”

“Dropdead.”

Ittook him five minutes to fall asleep again and five more for me to lie downnext to him. After a while, he rolled over until he was facing me, but hisbreathing remained deep and steady. I only hoped he wasn’t a sleepwalker,because that was a freaking scary thought.

Tenminutes later, he shifted closer to me, but since he was asleep, I couldn’teven blame him for it. I merely shook my head and moved further away from him,cursing the day I was born. Fifteen minutes later, he did it again. At thatpoint, I gave up. He was seeking my body heat, which was perfectlyunderstandable since we were both freezing our asses off. So when his bodybrushed against mine, I remained where I was, willing myself not to move. Andwhen he snuggled against me, I gritted my teeth, curbing homicidal tendencies.Only when he threw his arm around my waist did I reach for it and return it tohim. I had to draw the line somewhere.

On thebright side, at least I wasn’t cold anymore.

I onlyhoped I would still have my toes in the morning. Without frostbite.

***

“Thorsen.”

“Hmm?”

“Wakeup.”

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