Your room?
When the meaning of his words finally dawned on me, I stared at him in surprise. “Where are you sleeping?”
“Outside. On the couch. Sleep tight.”
Made sense, given the pillows and blanket on the couch. “I thought I’d sleep there.”
He walked past me, clutching a pillow under his arm. “You’re my guest, Laurie.” With a last glance, he closed the door behind him, leaving me standing in the middle of the room, struck speechless.
“Good night,” I murmured too late.
My gaze remained glued to the closed door as I fought a sudden wave of disappointment.
That’s it?
No good night kiss? Nothing?
I sat down on the soft sheets and peered around me. On the left side was a walk-in closet next to a sitting chair and reading lamp. The floor-to-ceiling windows on the far right provided a beautiful view of the city. The entire atmosphere screamed luxury and comfort. Chase’s king-sized bed was so huge, I felt as though I might just be swallowed up whole and I’d be fine with it. With a delighted sigh, I leaned back, spreading my arms out in the process, when my gaze fell on my reflection in the huge sunburst mirror above the bed. My mouth dropped open.
Holy shit.
He had a mirror…above his head.
Who had something like that?
People who liked to look at themselves while doing all sorts of dirty things. I felt disgusted, and yet, at the same time, a delicious tremor worked its way through my abdomen and settled between my legs.
I was staring at my pale face in disbelief when a soft knock carried over from the door. My face flushed with heat, as though I had just been caught doing something I wasn’t supposed to do.
I rose up on my elbows and called out, “Yeah?”
“Sorry.” Chase’s head popped in. “I forgot to ask. Do you need anything? Spare pillow? A blanket? A nightcap? Or do you want me to turn on the heat?”
“We’re in California.” I smiled at him, unable to push the thoughts of Chase’s naked reflection in the mirror out of my head.
“Some women freeze. Or so I’ve heard.”
“What about some company?” My heart began to race as I patted the empty space beside me with a confidence I didn’t really have.
“You sure?” He sounded surprised, but he didn’t decline my offer straight away.
What the heck was I doing? Now I couldn’t take it back without him thinking I was one of those indecisive women who couldn’t make up their minds.
“I can’t really let you sleep on that couch in your own apartment.” Shoot, now it sounded like an invitation to share my bed, when I had only wanted him to keep me company for a few minutes. I cringed inwardly. At the rate I was going, I’d be buried in my own hole before I knew it.
“I don’t really mind.” He stepped closer, but still didn’t take me up on the invitation.
Didn’t mind what? Coming in? Sleeping on the couch?
“I’m serious,” I heard myself saying. Talk about trying not to sway him. Oh, god. “You’ve been so nice to me and the couch looks like a medieval rack. I bet it’s very expensive and not particularly comfortable and your bed’s huge. And soft. We could pile up pillows right in the middle and—” I stopped and bit my lip, wondering why the words kept flowing.
Actually, the sofa didn’t look so bad. Surely he knew I didn’t really mean my brainless invitation, and that I was just being friendly.
“Okay.”
What?
All heat drained from my face, but Chase was already out the door to get God knows what.
Within two minutes he was back and his jeans and shirt were gone. My mouth went dry at the glimpse of bronze skin and hard muscles. He liked to work out—a lot—which wasn’t surprising considering his profession. But did he have to look so good?
I flicked my tongue over my lips nervously, wondering how the heck I could possibly sleep next to him and not think of what his body might feel like under my exploring fingers.
“Is that what you’re wearing to bed?” I brushed my hair out of my eyes and pointed to the boxers and his snug, white shirt. He arranged the pillows in the middle of the bed until they had formed a little wall, his gaze avoiding mine.
“No.” His lips twitched. “I usually sleep naked.”
“Oh, okay.” I snorted, uneasy. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen, Chase.”
Damn.
He wasn’t even in bed yet and already the temperature had risen a few degrees.
“Don’t worry, I can keep them on.” His tone was meant to instill confidence in me, but only made me more nervous, maybe because he hadn’t said that he would keep them on.
He patted the makeshift wall, which looked like it would crumble if one of us so much as turned in our sleep. “Is this working for you?”