Secretly Craving You(15)

What was going on? Had someone planned this? Although she was annoyed at whoever assumed she wanted to sleep with Nick, a fuse of excitement also lit within her. Her three-year fantasy could become a reality.

No, that would be stupid.

The two men murmured in the background and she only understood a phrase here and there. "Dixon will be in the hallway all night," Pierce said.

She assumed that was one of the uniformed cops guarding them.

When Pierce left, Nick closed the door and came fully into the room.

"There's only one bed," she said.

He stopped short, glaring at it. "Hell."

She lifted a brow, unsure if she bought into his irritation. "Is Pierce encouraging us?"

"No, Pierce didn't book the room. All I know is this was the only room available for check-in this late. I assumed there'd be two queen-sized beds." He glanced around. "I'll use the sofa. I need to stay alert anyway."

That could work. Still, she felt bad he couldn't sleep in a comfortable bed when he'd done so much to help her.

"We'll take turns," she said.

"What?" His gaze swept to her and intensified.

"I'll sleep a while in the bed, and then I'll guard while you sleep."

He chuckled. "No. That's not how it works, sweetness."

She wished he wouldn't call condescending names. She supposed it was just his smart-ass way of dealing in a harsh world. But lots of things he did or said made her feel completely naïve. Which she wasn't.

"You need some sleep," she said.

"I'll be fine." Dropping the black duffle bag that Pierce had brought him, Nick laid his gun on the side table and reclined on the sofa.

If he insisted. A man would never listen, anyway. Taking her overnight bag, she escaped into the bathroom and locked the door.

What had her ex gotten her into?

* * * *

Nick sat in the darkened hotel room, staring at the red numbers on the clock. 2:36 AM. Emily had been in bed more than an hour. He assumed she was asleep since she hadn't moved and her breathing was deep.

Five minutes ago, he'd checked the hallway and found both uniformed police officers on guard. He'd worked with them before and knew they were trustworthy.

Nick had gotten very little sleep the night before either. Hell, when did he ever get enough sleep? He needed some shut-eye bad. He'd have to drive her to Savannah tomorrow, then be two-hundred percent on alert, protecting her from that psycho murderer.

Preparing to sleep, he shoved off his jeans, leaving on his black boxer-briefs, and lay lengthwise of the sofa. It wasn't long enough and didn't pull out into a bed. The arm of the sofa jabbed into his calves. And no telling whose ass had sat right where his head lay.

Sitting up, he eyed the king-sized mattress, beyond tempted to crawl onto it with her. It was huge. Would she mind sharing?

Wearing a short, silky blue gown, she'd slid between those clean white sheets earlier. For the last hour, he'd fantasized about running his hands up beneath the gown and now he had a hard-on that was driving him crazy. He could think of nothing but touching her, stripping the clothes from her body, tasting every inch of her skin.

He stood and crept forward. If he lay on this edge very carefully, maybe he wouldn't wake her. At the moment, he was so sleepy and tired, he couldn't do anything about a sexy woman in bed with him anyway. His erection told him that was a lie. Ignoring it, he pulled down the comforter and slid beneath. He wouldn't get under the sheet. That way if she accused him of trying to take advantage of her, he'd have proof his intentions were platonic.

Ha.

Nothing about his urges around her was platonic, but he could lie. And get some shut-eye in the process.

Damn, the bed was comfortable and the pillow soft. He'd probably wake up before she did, anyway, and he could slide out of bed without her even knowing he'd been in it.

* * * *

Emily awoke, for a moment unsure where she was. Thick draperies blocked most of the light from the window. Then she recalled the hotel room, the killer, the near-accident and Nick. With the sweltering covers up to her ears, she was drenched in sweat. Whew. She threw the hot comforter back, but something heavy still lay across her waist. Someone lay snuggled behind her!

Nick?

She glanced back as much as she was able. His eyes were closed and his long hair covered part of his face. She stared for a moment, transfixed by his deliciously chiseled lips and the dark gold stubble on his strong chin. She remembered what those lips could do…had done to her last night.

Get a grip, Em!

Heat suffusing her, she faced forward again. What the hell was he doing plastered to her in bed? And what, exactly, was she going to do about it?

Mumbling words she couldn't understand, he hugged her closer and nuzzled his face into the hair at the back of her neck. His heated breath against her neck stimulated a tickling sensation that traveled down her spine, spreading mesmerizing arousal to every cell of her body.