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He groans, ducking his head, tightening his arms to pull me closer, his body curling around me. He doesn’t say anything, his refusal apparent. And - goddamnme - my body stops protesting, letting him snuggle me close –

Because I’m so tired. And he’s right – it feelssonice.

“You’re so warm,” I whisper, letting my head flop back onto his bicep. I can feel the heat radiating from him even through his black t-shirt.

“Yes,” he says. “All the more reason for you to stay precisely where you are. Go not into the cruel cold world, Nadia.” He nuzzles the back of my neck and my body threatens to go all limp against him. “Stay right here.”

I laugh a little and shake my head, new determination stirring in me. I mean, I can’t stay like this, just quietly spooning our nation’s Prince and heir to the throne because it’swarm. There’sworkto do.

I move again, starting to sit up, but the result is the same. Cole snarls, holding me down. I laugh, pushing harder against the mattress. Finally, he lets me up – as I knew he would. I sit up and look down at him, grinning as his body flops forward into the space I left without me there to support it.

“You’re not a morning Prince, are you?” I ask, stilling my impulse to reach out and stroke my fingers through his hair. I quickly tuck my hand beneath my leg lest it get any more ideas.

Cole groans and shakes his head.

“You need to shave,” I murmur, my eyes moving over his gorgeous face, which is somehow evenmorehandsome when his hair is rumpled, stubble dotting his jaw. Just…much more raw, less polished.

And fucking…hot. Annoyingly hot.

“You do it,” Cole murmurs, flopping his hand towards the corner of the tent where the basin still sits, full of water. “There’s a razor over there. Clean me up good.”

I grin at him. “I can only reach half of your face.”

He shakes his head, one cheek still pressed to the pillow. “I’ll turn over when you’re halfway.”

I laugh and lay both my hands on his broad shoulder, giving him a little shake. “Cole, getup. We have to go to a meeting and I don’t even havepants.”

Cole sighs and slowly turns his head, opening his pretty blue eyes to look at me. “Nadia, that statement is no temptation to get meoutof bed –“

I burst out laughing and shove his shoulder again. He laughs too, whipping his arm out and grabbing me, pulling me backdown to the mattress. I give in, letting him, lying with my head back on his arm, our noses inches apart.

Cole smiles a little, quite content to have me here, I think.

I fight an urge to bite my lip, not letting myself think about whether or not I like it too.

“What are we going to do?” I whisper.

He blinks at me, not getting it.

I grin. “Cole, I can’t show up all bloody, and I can’t run across the camp in my underwear in search of clothing. You have to go get me some.”

He sighs and then nods. “All right. I could do that. Or…”

“Or what?” I ask, confused.

“Or,” he murmurs. “You can save me the trip and just spend the next five minutesherenapping with me.”

“How does that solve the problem of pants?” I whisper.

“You can wear mine,” he murmurs, gesturing over to his little storage unit. “I have plenty of pants. You think my mom would send me on a military engagement without enough clothes for half the army to wear?”

I grin at him. “Cole, your pants are going to fall right off me.”

He hums consideringly, like that’s rather a perk. I laugh and shove my palm against his chest, letting it linger there after the violence. I find that I kind of…like the feel of him. All warm and solid.

Cole snarls lightly, slipping an arm around my back and tugging me close so that my stomach presses against his. I let him, pretending that…it’s just for warmth. Or something. My belly fills with butterflies that I likewise ignore.

“I’ll go get you scrubs if you want me to,” he says softly. “But I think my idea is better.”