Page 48 of Danger Close

I would love nothing more than to unburden myself with you. But I can’t. I can’t!

Three letters flashed through my mind. Three letters that meant multiple things, and made up my nightmares. I.C.U.

“It’s the travel catching up to me,” I said, trying to give a half shrug.

He stepped closer. My skin heated at the possibility that he might lean down and touch me again. My soul begged for contact, even as my mind rebelled against it.

It would be disastrous to fall for him again. Not just for me, but for him. If he kissed me? I’d be done for.

He leaned over me, his body drowning me in shadow before his rough palm came to my forehead. He was checking me for a fever.

Don’t be kind to me, Cobra. I’d rather you hate me than be kind to me.

“Just the travel?” he asked, his voice heavy with concern. “Nothing else?”

“What else could there be?” I quipped when he withdrew his hand.

Disappointment flooded through me.

“I don’t know,” he sighed. “You tell me. What else could it be?”

“Nothing,” was all I answered.

Chapter 20

Nothing

Cobra

She’d dismissed me. But I refused to be ignored. The envelope from Beaufort weighed heavy in my pocket. It confirmed all of my worst nightmares. My Princess had a medical history that was far too long, and too intense for doubts. Either she was a lightning rod for bad luck, wasextremelyclumsy, or someone had—over the course of years—intentionally hurt her.

The number of times she’d been reportedly “mugged” and taken to the hospital was more than what was statistically probable. The number of broken bones she suffered from falling down the stairs, or bumping into furniture was staggeringly high for someone of her grace.

Occam’s Razor said that the simplest explanation was probably the best… so I needed a name.

“You’re tired?” I asked, feebly.

Talk to me!I wanted to cry out, to shake her, to insist that I was here. That we could get through thistogether. All she had to do was open the door just a little bit and I’d slip in and do the rest of the work.

But she didn’t move.

“I’d like to sleep.” She did sound tired, but I doubted that was all.

My palm still felt electrified from where I’d touched her forehead. Her temperature was normal. If anything, she felt cold.

I reached down and tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear. Did my fingers linger too long against her skin? Yes.Yes!But it felt so right. The contact, the desire. It wasn’t something as insignificant as lust. It was an overwhelming desire to carve myself into a shape that could contain all that she was. To surround her, protect her, care for her.

But that wasn’t my job, was it? Not really. Not until sheaskedme to.

Until then, I’d be the underhanded bastard I was, and snoop where I wasn’t wanted.

“Goodnight, Princess.”

I’d take any excuse to stay. To hold her. When she didn’t say anything, I sighed, resisting the urge to bend over and plant a kiss on her temple.

“I saw you once.” I thought my mind was playing with me when she whispered those words. It was so quiet, I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined it. “Or I thought I did.”

I braced my hand against the wall beside the open door. I turned to look at her. She lay on her side, turned away from me. Her position emphasized the beautiful curve of her full hips. I wanted to lay down behind her, spoon her, and hold her while she slept