Page 29

The hotel lotion smelled way too much like gardenias. I needed to moisturize but the scent just made my nose wrinkle. One night wouldn’t kill me. Shuffling back out, I said, “Bathroom is free.”
“Thanks.”
I crawled into the bed and dragged the blankets over me. It was a little softer than I liked but it could have been a marshmallow or a brick, I didn’t care. I just wanted to sleep. Sinking fast, I burrowed into the pillow.
A gentle hand against my back nudged me. “Shift over, darling.” The soft voice practically crooned the words. I didn’t want to wake up, much less move. The lightest sound of laughter touched his voice. “Alright, you sleep. I’ll take care of it.”
The warmth of the blankets went away, but before I could protest I glided over onto cooler sheets. That was even worse. I wanted to retreat back to the warmth.
“Shh, Grace.” The hum of sound wrapped around me as neatly as the blankets did and then there was warmth all along my back.
Oh, that was better. Much better.
Another huff of laughter. “So,” he murmured. “You’re a cuddler. Good to know.”
Those words meant something, but what little awareness I’d reclaimed evaporated as I sank like a stone.
“C’mon,” he continued. “Get up here.” Weight hit the edge of the bed, then shifted until something heavier settled against my legs. The tuck of a head to my calf.
Oh, that was nice.
Then I was out.
The next time I surfaced, it was dark and the warmth wrapped all around me, securing me like I was wrapped up in a blanket burrito. Too early if it was this dark and I closed my eyes again.
Breath whispered against my throat and my eyes flickered open.
Breath?
“Shh,” the soft voice had deepened into a mellow rumble. A hand on my hip massaged a slow circle against the fabric of my t-shirt. “You’re safe. Sleep.”
The casual comfort eased some of the disturbance of realizing Bones was in bed with me. A yawn cracked my jaw and I rubbed my cheek against the pillow. The arms around me tightened and the shifting weight near my legs reminded me of Goblin.
Trust Goblin’s instincts. That little voice wedged right through the sleepy cloud and I nestled into the warmth again. Warm.
Safe.
Sleepy.
The next time I snapped my eyes open, it was still dark but the cozy comfort had gone away and taken all the heat with it. My heart raced and I fisted my hand against the blanket. Worried, I reached behind me and felt only empty space. The sheets were still warm, so he hadn’t been out of bed long.
Where…?
I sat up abruptly and glanced at the bathroom as the toilet flushed, then the water ran. Disquiet tangled around me. The flash of the light from the interior blinded me in the split second between Bones opening the door and him flipping the switch off.
“Hey…” The gruff, sleep-roughened voice soothed the jangle of nerves that were all rattling like we were being visited by Marley’s ghost or something. “Didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“You didn’t.” That came out a squeak. Grimacing, I coughed a little to clear my throat. “I just woke up.” Better.
“Need the bathroom?” The question poked at me, jarring me out of me staring into the darkness. Did I need the…
“No,” I said. “Sorry.” Then I scooted some, though Goblin gave a little groan and shifted his own weight so I could move over farther to let Bones get back in the bed.
His weight depressed the bed and then he was under the blankets. The furnace of heat suddenly present chased away the chill that invaded in his absence. With one hand, he groped around until he found me and then he tugged me back toward him.
The fact he’d rolled until my back was snugged to his chest again and he caged me in his arms was kind of embarrassing. Okay, the act wasn’t what got me—it was the little sigh I let out and the fact the knotted tension in my shoulders and back gave way.
“Go back to sleep,” he ordered, though his voice lacked any of the punch he usually gave to snap commands. “It’s still early.”