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His lips twitched. “How did you guess?”
“As I recall, you only used to drink coffee. Thick enough for a spoon to stand up in it. I can’t imagine you’ve changed that much.”
“You know me.” He grinned as he shrugged. “And she gave me directions, so I shouldn’t mess it up too badly.” After placing tea bags into mugs, he filled them both with water. Then he slid one toward her.
Needing something to do to occupy herself, she curled her hand around the warmed ceramic and lifted it.
Steam rose, creating a miniature cloud, and she breathed in the delicate floral, honeyed scent.
Comforting. Appreciated. Almost allowing her to forget the uncertainty that brought her here.
A few moments later, she pulled out the tea bag. After it drained, she threw it away. He followed suit, as if he’d been waiting to see what she did.
The slight hesitation from this fierce warrior charmed her, lowering her guard.
“Join me?” he invited.
With a nod, she followed him to the living room.
Thankfully, Gregorio took his chair, allowing her the couch.
Holding her mug carefully, she snuggled up, tucking her legs beneath her.
In the grate, the fire hissed and popped, and she stared into the flickering flames.
“You must be tired.”
This situation had drained her more than she’d realized.
She looked over at him. In the dim light and crackling flames, he was cast in an amber glow. “I think I’ve been running on adrenaline.” And now that it had faded, her energy was depleted.
“Get some rest. We’ll come up with a plan in the morning.”
Maybe it was being with him, or the tea, or the hot shower, or the sensation of being safe, but she nodded.
For tonight, just tonight, she could give up control.
“Take my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“No.” She was the unexpected and uninvited guest. “Absolutely not.”
“I insist.”
Sasha shook her head. “I can’t let you do that. You’ve already gone above and beyond. Asking you to sleep out here isn’t fair.”
“In case you are confused, that wasn’t a request, Petal. And you didn’t ask.” He stood. “If you don’t agree, I’ll have no choice but to carry your ass into the bedroom and cuff you to the headboard.”
Shocked, she slowly blinked.Are you serious?From what she’d seen at the Den, he was definitely a Dominant. Maybe tying women to the bed was something he did regularly.
The thought should disturb her.
But it didn’t.
“And to be safe, I’d join you.”
Her pulse revved into overdrive. Surely that was his mad idea of a joke.
“What will it be? Are you going to bed alone?” He studied her. “Or with me?”