Page 48

Nadia

I wake up so warm and cozy, wrapped up warm and tight, the softest pillow beneath my head. Now, if only that stupid tapping would go away.

“Captain?” A voice calls, soft and hesitant. “Sir?”

“Go away,” Cole grumbles, nuzzling closer, his cheek brushing my hair.

My eyes fly open, and my body goes rigid.

“Seriously, Cole,” Tommy calls, his voice anxious. “General Amir is looking for you. And…Nadia. There’s a meeting?”

Cole inhales a deep breath, and I know this because I can feel it –

Because he’s spooning me, his entire body lined up with mine, my back flush with his chest, my ass tucked very neatly in against –

“Okay,” Cole calls, turning slightly towards the tent’s entrance, his voice all husky with sleep. “We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“You got it,” Tommy says, I think relieved.

But instead of getting up Cole just rolls back to where he was before, one arm wrapped tight around my waist, his other stretched out beneath my head – his damn bicep acting as my pillow –

And god – god damn it – but my body relaxes again, pulling me back towards sleep – because even if this is the most awkward wakeup I’ve ever had in my life, I’m so fucking comfortable.

But – no. Absolutely not. I start to roll, intent on sitting up and getting my dignity back together –

“Nooo,” Cole groans, his arm tightening, pulling me back to where I was. “Go back to sleep.”

“We have to go to a meeting!”

“In fifteen minutes!”

“That is not a long time, Cole!”

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 - god damn me - my body stops protesting, letting him snuggle me close –

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

“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’s warm . There’s work to 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 even more handsome 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, get up . We have to go to a meeting and I don’t even have pants .”

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

I burst out laughing and shove his shoulder again. He laughs too, whipping his arm out and grabbing me, pulling me back down 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 minutes here napping 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.”

I sigh, trying to decide, putting my priorities in order.

Fifteen minutes later, Cole and I walk across the camp together.

I raise my chin, in complete denial, telling myself that absolutely no one is noticing the fact that the pair of black trousers I’m wearing are rolled up about six times at the hem and gathered tight at my natural waist by a big black belt that had to have an extra hole added to it.

Shayne bursts my bubble in about eight seconds, gasping and dashing over to me. “Oh my god, ” she whispers, falling into pace by my side. “ Tell me it’s because he ripped your clothes to shreds -”

“Shay,” I sigh, giving her a shove, shivering a little in the afternoon air – I’ve only got my tank top on, the addition of one of Cole’s shirts was just too ridiculous. “I was covered in blood!”

“You look so cuuuute,” she coos, looking me up and down as we reach my dad’s command tent.

“Quick, give me your hoodie,” I say, holding my hand out to her.

Shayne sighs and rolls her eyes, unzipping the pink hoodie that I know is her favorite and handing it over to me, smirking at Cole as she does. “I’d be happier about this if you were the one ordering me to strip, Cole.”

“Maybe next time,” he murmurs, grinning at Shay as she slips the hoodie off and holds it out for me to pull on. I laugh at her as I zip it up.

“You’re the best, Shay-shay.”

“I demand that you tell me everything as rental payment for my clothing!” she calls as Cole holds open the flap of the tent.

“Nothing to tell!” I call back, laughing and waving to her, slipping my wooden wolf from my pants pocket to one of the pink pockets as I go.

But my smile falls away as I step into the tent and see the serious faces ahead of me – dad, and Rose, and Captain Stanzor. I carefully rearrange my features as reality smacks me in the face – that we’re still in a very serious situation.

And it’s time to get some updates.

“Nadia, Cole,” dad says, nodding to us and turning to the computer, pressing the button to start the call. “Good of you to come.”

I nod back to him as Cole and I step closer. But even as I focus on the computer screen, I can feel Rose’s glare boring through me like hot iron.