Page 57 of Being Bold
When his hand stroked down her back, she relaxed into him. Tonight, she would take what he offered—his company and the comfort of being held. For a few hours, she’d be safe and able to think of something other than the danger they were in.
“Your eyes.”
Chapter 16
Bo
Bo woke up slowly from the deepest sleep he’d had in years. The birds chirping outside the window told him he’d managed to sleep through the night. With no nightmares.
Huh.
Felt like the last time that happened, he’d been in his teens. But judging by the enticing scent in his nose and the softness molded against him, he had a pretty clear idea of why. He was spooning Selene, his face buried in her neck. His left arm wrapped her waist, and there were precisely zero inches of space between his dick and the round globes of her ass. Before coming to his room last night, she’d changed into a loose t-shirt and leggings that molded to her like a second skin.
Do NOT get hard.
Of course, thinking that meant he instantly did. Cracking an eye open, he peered at her, hoping she stayed asleep. Her back moved in a peaceful rhythm with her breathing. She was out.
Thank fuck.
She didn’t stir when he shifted, trying to put some distance between her curves and his disobedient body. Either she wasn’t a light sleeper, or the last few days had left her exhausted. He didn’t want to move his arm, though. Didn’t want to stop holding her.
Passing the night with her, even without having sex, was the best time he’d ever spent. They’d talked about anything other than her situation. He now knew her favorite color was red, she liked obscure European bands he’d never heard of, and she’d lived all over the globe, falling in love with paella in Spain. She’d even made him laugh—once.
They’d kept things light, and it had brought him . . .peace?A measure of it, at least. Is this what falling for someone felt like? Wanting to spend time with them doing nothing at all? Just listening to Selene’s melodic cadence put him at ease. If he were a different man, abetterman, he might’ve considered what she’d said about deserving to love.
But he wasn’t. And he hadn’t been lying when he told her he didn’t do relationships. A frown tightened the lines of Bo’s face. Still, it didn’t change the fact that he cared for her. In a way he’d never cared for a woman. He could admit it. To himself.
But those feelings? He wasn’t going to do anything with them. His feelings wouldn’t matter in a few days, a week, or however long it took to complete this mission, and she walked out of his life forever.
Even if he hadn’t been broken, Selene deserved better. What did he have to offer her? He lived in a cabin barely big enough for one, his job was unpredictable, not to mention dangerous, and his baggage was heavy enough to weigh down the strongest of shoulders.
Sheshouldwalk away from him orrun.
If the ache around his heart were any indication, when she did, that shit would hurt. But he was no stranger to pain. Closing his eyes against that inevitability, he breathed in deep. He didn’t know much about flowers, but whatever her perfume was, it smelled exotic, like a plant that only bloomed at night when the moon danced over its petals.
About to curse at himself for thinking something that sounded like poetry, his eyes flew open as Duke burst into the room.
“Hey, Bo-man, Vic—” A cocky-ass smirk lit Duke’s face. He’d woken Selene, and she’d shot into a sitting position. “Well, hello, sunshine.”
Her hair was a sexy tousle, her eyelids heavy as she tried to get her bearings. Bo wished he could ignore Duke, pull her back into his arms, and finish what they’d started the night before. But he couldn’t.
Aiming his scowl at the smug bastard, Bo barked. “Give me five. And shut the damn door on your way out.”
When Duke left, Selene met his gaze. Her cheeks had colored, and she shot him a tentative smile. “Hi.”
Fuck, she was gorgeous. He cleared his throat and smiled—naturally, his lips turning up with ease. “Morning.”
Her eyes lit, and with the sunlight streaming in, they were more gray than green. “I should probably go. Before . . .”
I jump you.
Her blush deepened as if she could read his thoughts. But he felt sure she’d only meant to imply before someone else came looking for him.
He stopped her when she moved to climb off the bed. Trailing his hand up her arm, he let it rest at the base of her throat. Her skin was warm against his. Her pulse fluttered under his palm. “How did you sleep?”
Trying to smooth her wild hair, she let out a nervous snort. “Like the dead.” Her face fell immediately, realizing what she’d said.
And if that wasn’t a total mood killer . . .
