Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family #7)(47)

My hotel room is very small and only contains the basics, but I spend such a short time inside that it doesn't bother me. I discard my clothes, hop in the shower, then crawl into bed, all in less than ten minutes. Only when my head hits the pillow do I register something. I bolt upright in bed, turning on the light. My eyes zero in on the package lying on the small table next to the door.

That's when I remember that one of the assistants told me I'd received a package today and the receptionist brought it to my room. I hadn't been paying attention because I was focusing on an e-mail, and then I forgot altogether. Though I desperately need the sleep, there's no way I'll wait until tomorrow to open it.

I love receiving things, always feel like a kid on Christmas morning, so I venture out of the bed, shuddering. I'm naked, and it's chilly, so I take the package back to bed. There's no information as to who sent it, but that doesn't dampen my excitement in the slightest. I unpack with as much euphoria as Will attacked his presents on his birthday. Inside I discover a... gadget? Something electronic for sure. I pick up the accompanying handbook and my face cracks into a grin. An anti-sleep system for my car.



       
         
       
        

Blake sent this. I can barely resist texting him, but it's late and he could be asleep. I'll call tomorrow. I can't believe he's so sweet. His gesture warms me up, filling me with a fuzzy feeling. Aaaah, what's this man doing to me?

I startle when my ringtone fills the room, then make a grab for my phone. The one and only Blake Bennett is calling. I answer immediately.

"Hey! I was just thinking about you."

"Great minds think alike." There's background noise on his end, so he's working, as I expected.

"Thank you for the alarm."

"For a safe trip back home. Promise you'll use it."

"Of course. I wish you were here," I say in a small voice, hoping it doesn't come across as needy. I have no idea what the rules are for "no labels". Then I break into a long yawn. "I need to sleep, I'm still exhausted."

"Oh, sweetness, you wouldn't be getting much sleep if I were there."

"Really? And why is that?"

"I couldn't keep my hands and mouth off you."

"You did a pretty good job not touching me two nights ago."

"Yeah, I was being a gentleman, and I used all my dose of gentlemanly that night."

Another yawn takes me by surprise, but I stifle it, not quite ready to say good night. I love talking to him. It doesn't hurt that his voice is pure sexiness. I hadn't realized that until now, possibly because when we're in the same room, I'm too busy drinking in his appearance to pay special attention to his voice. I really need to work on my distributive attention.

"Are you sore?" His voice is lower and huskier now. So damn sexy.

"A bit but in a good way. In a way that makes me want more."

"Clara...." He groans softly, and I bite down on my lip.

OhGodOhGodOhGod!

My name in his mouth sounds almost sinful, and I haven't even really provoked him. I wonder what he'll sound like if I do, and settle on immediately finding out. Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today and all that.

"I'm naked in my bed."

"I'm working."

"What's one thing got to do with the other?"

"I need to concentrate. If I have an image of you naked in my mind, I'm going to wreak havoc. Tell me you made that up."

"Fine! I'm wearing period panties and a baggy T-shirt."

"You really are naked, aren't you?" he sounds defeated.

"Yup."

"I'm a dead man."

I open my mouth but shut it again when I hear a voice calling to him from his background. "Blake, come on! Don't leave a girl waiting." 

I feel my insides tighten because I don't recognize that voice. Certainly not one of his sisters. Oh man, I have to find a way to stop panicking all the time.

"I'll leave you to get back to work."

"I have a bachelorette party here. Half the women are drunk already."

"Did they hire a stripper too?"

"Over my dead body will I have strippers in my bars."

"Blake! Come on. We need more tequila," yet another woman's voice calls from his end of the line.

Many customers at the bar call him by his name. He has this approachable quality to him that instantly pulls you in, makes you feel like you've known him for ages. I've watched him with customers, and socializing comes easy to him. Almost as easy as it takes actors to slip into their characters. Only Blake isn't acting. He's genuinely a warm and funny person, and I can't get enough of him.