Page 44 of Into the Lion's Den (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

“In the middle of the night.”

“You’rehere,” I pointed out. “A late-night kitchen visit isn’t that unusual.”

“I’m here because I heard you get up.”

“You heard…” I thought I’d been so quiet. Then it occurred to me that I’d never seen Reese go to his room before. I had no idea where it even was.

His other siblings’ rooms were on the second floor. I knew that because I’d helped Sam deliver housekeeping supplies one Saturday. “Where’s your room?”

He tipped his head to the side as if he thought my question was ridiculous. “Next to yours.”

“Next to mine?”

“Your room used to be my room. After my father died, I moved into his old room, which was next door. It’s the alpha’s room.”

Alpha?Where did that word come from? Maybe the sleeping pill had worked after all, and this really was a dream.

“I thought I had Dorothy’s old room. I took over her job, so I assumed…”

“Dorothy lives in town. She never had a room here.”

I swallowed hard. If I was sleeping in Reese’s old room, that meant I was sleeping in his old bed. Not only that, we currently shared a wall. Every night he’d been sleeping mere feet away from me.

I didn’t know why these thoughts gave me such a thrill, but there was no denying they did. My nipples were hardening under my camisole.

“Did you not get enough to eat at dinner?” he asked.

“What? Oh. Yeah, I did. But I was having trouble sleeping. I thought some warm milk might help.”

Remembering what I’d come into the kitchen for, I turned my back on him and hit the Beverage button on the microwave. It lit up, springing to life.

“I don’t know if I thanked you enough for what you did earlier,” he said. “Getting such a big booking.”

I smiled softly as I watched my mug circling slowly on the turntable. “You did.”

“It was good work.”

Reese’s voice was nearly a purr, and it made my skin feel hot, not to mention the more secret parts of me were growing positivelyslick. “Thanks.”

“I’m sorry I doubted you. I’m sorry I shut down your ideas before.”

Reese’s apology added to the dream theory and almost made me laugh.

However, any humor was doused when I sensed him move closer. He was standing right behind me, and I swore he brushed his fingers against the sleeve of my robe.

“Well,” I said, my mouth going dry. “I’m sorry I published the website behind your back. I shouldn’t have done that, even though it worked out in the end.”

“It’s a good thing you disobeyed me. This time. But fair warning, I wouldn’t make a habit of it.”

He was so close now, I could feel his breath against the back of my neck, and I picked up the faint scent of whiskey. “Have you been drinking?”

“A little.”

A shiver washed over me just as the microwave dinged. The sound broke the spell, and I retrieved my mug. When I turned, Reese was right where he’d been standing before, four feet away. Or had I only imagined him being closer?

“Your robe’s a little loose,” he said.

“What?” I looked down. The sash had slipped, and the front of my silk robe had gapped open. It wasn’t like I was naked underneath; I had my camisole and shorts. But I still felt dangerously exposed.

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