Page 26 of Claimed Gem

“There’s no reason for him to come after me.”

“I’m not willing to take that chance. Until this guy is caught, you need to lay low.”

Stephanie shook her head, “I can’t do that. I need to work…”

“No, you don’t. I’ll take care of your bills…”

“You’re not paying my living expenses,” Stephanie argued with him.

Ries ignored her and continued, “I need you to stay inside until this is wrapped up. No going out into the marketplace or the beach…”

“I’m not going to become a prisoner just on the chance that something bad might happen.”

“Does this look like a prison?” Ries gestured around the luxurious bathroom. “I won’t risk your safety.”

“It’s my risk to take,” she told him, holding onto her patience. “I can’t stay inside twenty-four hours a day.”

“I realize that but you will not be going anywhere without at least one of my security guards with you.”

Stephanie looked at him, trying to process the fact that he wanted her to take an armed guard with her. Everywhere. “Ries…”

He turned toward her, cupped her chin and gave her a look that had her hard pressed to deny him anything. “Do this for me. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.”

Stephanie could see how serious he was, she slowly nodded in acquiescence. “Fine.”

“Thank you,” Ries sagged in relief. “I will take care of everything.”

“Right now, I want you to take care of yourself. Let’s get you into bed.”

She helped him remove the short hospital gown he’d grudgingly donned after they’d had to cut away his other shirt to treat his bullet wound. She tossed it on the chair sitting in the corner and then found herself transfixed by the sight of his bare chest.

She’d seen it before but something about the cozy setting of his bedroom and the growing chemistry between them made this time different. More personal. More sexual. Needing to put some room between them, she turned around when he reached for the snap at his waist.

Ries took care of removing his jeans while she was searching through the chest of drawers for something else for him to wear. She located a t-shirt but immediately discarded that idea as he couldn’t lift his arm to put it on. She turned to ask him what he wanted to wear, only to see him lowering himself into the bed and pulling up the sheet.

She was not able to tell if he’d kept his boxer briefs on or not, and just imaging Ries lying beneath the covers, naked as the day he was born, had heat racing into her cheeks and her heart skipping more than a few beats.

“Stephanie?”

She left the dresser and walked over to the bed, “What can I get you?”

“Sit with me,” Ries held out a hand to her.

Stephanie sat on the mattress by his hip, trying to process the happenings of the day. “Are you in pain?”

“Not yet,” Ries told her.

“Shall I get you something to eat? Or some water?” she offered.

Ries shook his head, taking her hand and pulling her until she scooted closer to him. “Lie down with me.”

Stephanie shook her head, “No. That wouldn’t be a very good idea. You’re hurt…”

“So, you should stay close to me to make sure I’m all right,” Ries argued, his eyes glittering.

Stephanie knew he was playing with her but the idea of lying down next to him was tempting.

She watched him, letting her eyes trail over his face and down his chest, only to stall when she saw the small tenting evident beneath the sheet.