Page 10 of A Cold Fateful Night
Like nothing he had ever seen before Dorian watched in raptattention as the little songbird finally talked herself to sleep. Innocent andsoft she was the picture of pure temptation curled up in his clothes.
Letting his eyes travel from her sleeping face they settled on thebrown curls that fell past her shoulder and imagined what it would feel like inhis hands. Frowning he thought of the mystery man out there waiting for hercall tonight. It didn't matter he thought, as he grabbed her untouched tumblerand knocked back the whiskey in one gulp, that poor bastard was as good as gonefrom her life—he would make sure of it.
Lasette was perfection in his eyes, if he did believe in a higherpower, Dorian would swear she was made for him and their meeting tonight waspreordained. He needed her by his side in life, and it was more than apparentshe needed him. In one night he rescued her from an elevator, a possibleassault, freezing to death, and now to top it all off, she was curled up on astranger's sofa. The little songbird needed someone to keep her safe and close,and he was just the man for the task.
Going to the bedroom, he built a fire until it burned bright.Layering some more blankets on the king-size bed, he pulled down the covers.Walking back to the living room he stopped in front of her, she was sleepingsoundly. Hooking his arm underneath her knees and behind her back, he easilylifted her from the couch.
Carrying her to the room he gently lowered her to the bed.Watching her frown in her sleep, he could tell her brain was fighting herexhaustion to wake up. Without hesitation, he pulled at the over-sized sweatsaround her soft waist pulling them off completely leaving her in only his shirtbefore placing the covers over her.
Slowly her eyes opened.
Confused Lasette stared at the wooden rafter beams above her,searching her brain for answers. Finally remembering that day's events, sheturned her head on the wonderfully soft pillow to see Dorian standing on theother side of the bed.
Pushing herself up onto her forearms she tried to protest. "Ican sleep on the couch I don't mind,” she said sleepily.
The bed was sideways in comparison to the fireplace in the room.Her side of the bed faced the fire allowing her to fill the full warmth of theflames while his side of the bed faced the doorway.
Setting his gun on the nightstand next to him he pulled his shirtover his head tossing it onto the floor beyond. Even through her exhaustion,Lasette found her mouth becoming dry at the sight. Good heavens, he wasbeautiful, perfectly defined abs led to a strong chest while his muscular armsfolds and stretched with each movement.
"Go back to sleep," he replied. "I have enough woodto maintain one fire throughout the night, and I'll feel better if you are inarms reach on a night like tonight," obviously referring to the currentlawless chaos. Even knowing what he meant she had to take a deep breath at theheart constricting feeling those words caused, he had no idea how desperatelyshe wanted to throw herself into those muscular arms.
With no energy left to oppose him she nodded in concession, shecouldn't remember the last time she felt this tired. Relaxing into the softmattress, she watched the sculpted man dip into the bed next to her.
Closing her eyes, she fell immediately into sleep's embrace.
It took a considerate amount of effort on his part but heeventually was able to will his aroused body to obey his mind and calm downjust enough to sleep. When sleep did finally claim him, Dorian was notsurprised he found it far more comforting with Lasette's soft presence by hisside.
It was the sound of a vibration that alerted him out of his sleep.With his hand hovering over his gun he listened staying completely motionless.The humming sound went off-again, and he realized what it was. Taking anotherlook at Lasette's beautiful sleeping face he got up from the bed walked to thekitchen. It was still very late out and the power seemingly still was not on.Glancing out the tall windows overlooking the large pond in his backyard hecould see that the other houses were just as dark.
The humming vibration sounded again.
Sitting side-by-side on the counter where their cell phones heplugged into the extension cord earlier. Lasette's phone was flashing. Takingthe liberty, he unlocked the screen to see various missed calls. It was evidentthe cell towers were back online. Narrowing his gaze at the worried messagesfrom a guy named Lance, he ignored them and focused on the response text fromCorey. There were about twenty or so, all following the picture message he sentearlier with his ID, all ranging from highly concerned to irate, and nowbordering on hysterical.
She was loved that was apparent. From her description of herfamily, he could tell they would be deeply devastated if anything happened toher. For a moment he let his mind wander to what it would have felt likegrowing up with siblings much less two devoted parents. As soon as the waywardthought sprung forth he closed it off, it didn't do him any good thinking aboutsomething that didn't exist. Though he did have every intention of making thatdream his future. It felt like he knew the moment she stumbled out of thatelevator tonight that their lives were destined for each other.
Putting her phone back down, Dorian was just about to investigatethe blinking light on his phone when the screen lit up. The number was not inhis contacts, but he recognized it with a smirk.
"Corey Crane I assume," he answered the phone, enjoyingtaking the upper hand from the man.
"Where is my sister?" Dorian could hear the man's tightbarely suppressed rage in his voice.
"Safe. Warm. And asleep in the next room over," hereplied.
“You know the drill ranger, I want to hear her voice." Coreysnapped back.
As expected the man did his research. Dorian could bet the man hadhis complete history in front of him by now. A dark part of him wanted to tellthe SEAL where he could shove it, he wasn't in the mood to take orders, but heknew that would gain him no favors from Lasette if he pissed off her brothers.Besides if it was him looking for Lasette he could easily imagine the same darkconsuming anger.
Walking back into the bedroom he sat on the bed and nudged Lasettesoftly until she stirred awake. Smirking at her disorientation, he pressed thephone to her ear.
"Talk to your brother so he can calm down."
With a scratchy tired voice, she answered. Sleepily she tried toanswer all of his questions and promised to call him first thing in themorning. Handing the phone back to him she promptly snuggled back underneaththe covers.
"Feeling better?" He asked, stepping back into thekitchen.
“I want to thank you for sending your information," there wasa lethal edge to the man's tone foreshadowing an inevitable threat. Dorian justwaited patiently leaning on the counter-top. "Because I know just who togut alive if anything happens to my sister."
Tired and wanting to be back in bed next to Lasette, he told theman what he wanted to hear.
