Deadly Intuition(55)
“And what’s the point of that?”
“You’ll have to ask them,” Grady said. “They seem to have fun playing the game, though.”
Sophie stripped off the robe, grimacing as she did. Normally, the sight of her naked body would’ve driven Grady to distraction. The bruises coloring her chest where the seatbelt had snapped her lithe frame back into the car seat were enough to make him cringe.
Grady knelt in front of her, taking the panties back, and slipping them over her ankles, shimmying them up until she had to lift herself off the bed to finish the job. He did the same with the flannel pants. He was gentle when it came to the tank top, moving slowly and trying not to jostle her too hard. Once he was done, he gave her the once-over.
“You look kind of cute.”
Sophie scowled. “I don’t feel that way.”
“You look comfortable,” Grady said. “And that’s the most important thing.”
Grady took the opportunity to strip out of his own clothes and then climbed into bed wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. He watched Sophie get comfortable, plumping a few pillows so they would support her neck and head, and then he scooched in close, resting his arm around her waist and his head against her shoulder. “Get some sleep.”
Sophie was quiet for a second. “You didn’t finish the story.”
“What story?”
“About the great lesson James imparted on you regarding women’s underwear,” Sophie pressed, her voice sounding tired.
Grady chuckled, brushing his lips against the tender spot behind her ear. “If you go to sleep, I promise to tell you the underwear theory tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Sophie said. “I’m going to remember that promise.”
She dropped off quickly, her body going heavy in Grady’s arms. He used the time before sleep claimed him to think. He’d almost lost her today – and that idea terrified him. He was getting closer to her with each passing day – with each passing minute – which terrified him on a whole other level.
And, worst of all? James had been right about the underwear. He was perfectly content to snuggle up next to her and not try to strip them from her body.
“Crap,” Grady muttered, drifting off to sleep with his strong body protectively draped over Sophie’s damaged one.
Twenty-Three
Sophie was afraid to move. Her body was sore, stiff. Her head felt like it was too big for her body. The feeling of Grady’s body behind her almost made the pain worth it. Almost. The realization of exactly how sappy she was feeling filled her with shame. She was not the type of woman who got all moony over a man. No, she really wasn’t.
“I know you’re awake.”
“How do you know that?” Sophie asked sleepily.
“Because I can hear your mind working from here,” Grady said. “If you think any louder, you’re going to wake up everyone in the neighborhood.”
Sophie rolled over carefully, groaning as she did. She met Grady’s concerned eyes and forced a smile on her face. “Good morning.”
“Yeah, you don’t have to fake it for me,” Grady said. “And now that I said that out loud, I mean it in more ways than one.”
Sophie giggled.
“I know you’ve got to be stiff.”
“I’ve felt better,” Sophie admitted. “As bad as I feel, though, your face makes me feel worse.”
Grady pulled back slightly. “I’m not sure I know how to take that. I think that’s worse than the faking-it comment.”
Sophie raised her hand, pressing it against his chest so she could marvel at his hard muscles and warm skin in the early morning light. “I only meant that, when you look at me like I’m going to break, it makes me feel bad.”
Grady rubbed his thumb against Sophie’s waist, considering. “I was really … .”
“I know you were worked up yesterday,” Sophie said. “I feel bad about it. You don’t have to be worked up anymore. I’m okay.””
“I wasn’t worked up,” Grady said. “I was scared.”
His honestly touched her – and freaked her out at the same time. “I was a little scared myself.”
“If Mandy hadn’t been at the hospital to stop me, I probably would’ve ended up in jail,” Grady admitted.
“Why?”
“Because I needed to see you and they wouldn’t let me.”
“I think they were doing their job.”
“Rational thought wasn’t my friend yesterday,” Grady said. “All I could focus on was making sure you were okay.”
“That’s sweet.”
“It’s the truth.”