Page 64 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

“What amIdoing?” I pointed my fingers at his chest. “What areyoudoing, hiding from me under there?”

Laughing, Cale looked down then cut his eyes up to me, and that one look alone made my heart swell.

“I wanted you to find me. I didn’t expect you to tickle me, but I didn’t mind.”

“Oh?” I inched closer to him and gently pinched his hips, and he reacted again, holding out his arms to stop me from tickling him anywhere else.

“Okay, okay!” he laughed. “I won’t hide from you again.” He held my arms back.

I caught his lips against mine, and within seconds, our play turned to intimacy once again.

When the sound of something scratched at the window, Cale pulled away and looked over. “It’s Dyna. We should let her in.”

“She’s fine.”

“It’s freezing outside.” He went to move, but I took his chin in my hand and pulled him back to look at me.

“And give up this?” I asked, amused by his flushed face. “I’m not done with you.”

“Are you wanting to do it again?” Cale’s eyebrows perked up.

“Maybe. But not with that cat in here.”

Cale leaned up and grazed his lips against mine. His tongue slid against my bottom lip, and he took it into his mouth, sucking it gently. Then he pushed me away and got off the bed.

I landed back with a grunt, staring after him.

“You should be nicer to your cat,” he said, opening the window.

Dyna bounded right in, meowing instantly.

‘I see you let him into your bed,’she said.

Sighing heavily, I rolled over onto my back and propped my head up on my arm. “Well, there goes that.”

“What do you mean?” Cale laughed as he slid under the covers beside me.

‘Yes, do tell.’

“I don’t want to do it with her in here.”

Cale’s brow popped up. “Why not? She’s just a cat.”

“Sure.”

“Are you serious?”

Dyna seemed tickled, as she laughed at me, but it came out as nothing more than sneezes.

I couldn’t tell him that I could speak with Dyna. He might think I was mad. Instead, I said, “No, but I’m too tired to do it again anyway. Let’s just get some sleep.”

Of course, as Cale settled on my arm and curled into my side, I didn’t intend to go to sleep. However, as the minutes ticked by, and I looked down to see how heavy Cale was sleeping, I couldn’t help but close my eyes.

Dyna is here,I told myself, hearing her purr from beside Cale.She’ll look after me.

And like that, I fell asleep.

WhenIwokeinthe morning, I was surprised to still see myself in Gil’s bed—not that I expectednotto be there, but he had always found a way to leave my room before. But today, there he was, sleeping beside me, his arm curled around me, holding me close.

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