Page 20

CHAPTER NINE

Casper woke up with a headache, feeling like he did when he’d overindulged.

He was actually a little nauseous as well, which wasn’t normal for him after a night of drinking.

He tried to remember what he’d drunk, but he couldn’t remember much of anything .

He remembered going to Anchor Point with Laryn, then hanging out with the guys…

and that was about it. The rest of the night was a blank.

Anxiety hit him hard. Not being able to remember was scary as shit, and he was a man for whom control was very important.

Opening his eyes, he realized he didn’t recognize the ceiling he was looking at.

It was light outside, which meant it was morning.

Or afternoon? Shit, even not knowing what time it was upped his anxiety.

Turning his head to get his bearings, Casper froze at the sight that greeted him.

He was in a bed he’d never seen before. In a room he didn’t recognize at all.

And lying beside him, was Laryn.

Then something else occurred to him. He was naked.

Well, okay, not completely, but his flight suit was unzipped, twisted around his waist, and he was basically in nothing but his underwear.

Laryn was wearing a tank top and shorts he vaguely remembered her wearing the night before, but the top was twisted and one of her breasts was on full display.

He couldn’t see her actual flesh because of her bra, but it was enough to make his cock harden and his fingers twitch with the desire to touch her.

But the most unsettling feeling was that he had a suspicion he’d already touched her. He didn’t remember doing it, but the memory of her tit in his palm was as clear as if he’d spent the night pleasuring the woman.

Horrified at what he might’ve done when he was intoxicated, Casper moved. He practically threw himself off the side of the bed and promptly fell on his ass, tripping over his flight suit, which fell to his ankles as soon as he stood.

He discovered he was also dizzy as hell, and standing had made a million hammers start up in his skull. He sat up carefully, trying to understand what the hell was happening, just as Laryn peered over the edge of the mattress. His not-so-coordinated exit from the bed had obviously woken her up.

But instead of chewing him a new asshole for whatever he’d done to her last night, she looked concerned. “Are you okay?” she asked.

Casper could only stare up at her in confusion.

“Right, of course you aren’t okay. You woke up in a strange room, in a strange bed, with the last person you thought you’d ever wake up next to.”

Her tone was no-nonsense and matter of fact, and it surprisingly went a long way toward making him feel better. She was blushing though, which made him wonder anew at what had happened last night.

“What—” Casper was surprised his voice was so scratchy. He cleared his throat and tried again. “What happened?”

She sighed. “I’ll get into that in a second.

First, let’s get you up. I think you’ll feel better after a shower.

I don’t have anything else you can put on, so you’ll have to make do with your flight suit until you can get home and change, but you’ll feel more like yourself after a shower.

I’ll get coffee going while you’re doing that. ”

Casper wanted to protest, but his brain still felt foggy. And he was still on edge for some reason, which wasn’t like him. He wanted to insist she tell him right this second what had happened, but instead, he blurted, “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Laryn had gotten off the mattress and, thankfully, straightened her tank top so she was now sufficiently covered once more.

But covering up her womanly parts did nothing to make Casper want her less.

She was gorgeous. Skin flushed from just waking, curves in all the right places, and her hair was thoroughly disheveled…

sex hair. The woman had sex hair , and he couldn’t remember a damn thing that happened.

“Hurt me? No, of course not.”

She sounded so affronted that he’d even asked, relief swept through Casper. But her reply confused him all the more. If they hadn’t had sex…why was he in her bed? And why the hell couldn’t he remember?

“Come on,” Laryn said. She walked over to where he was still sprawled on the floor and held her hand out.

Without thought, Casper took it and let her help him up.

He grabbed his flight suit with his free hand and pulled it up, so he was no longer exposing himself, and followed behind as she led the way out of the room and into the hallway.

She hadn’t let go of his hand, and for that he was grateful. It felt grounding.

In a world that seemed upside down, she was suddenly the only constant.

He trusted her. Not only with his life when he was in a chopper, because there was no doubt the woman was a magician with the machines, but with his well-being in general.

He was off-kilter and more anxious than he could ever remember being, even right before missions.

But with Laryn at his side, he was able to control the unfamiliar feelings coursing through his veins.

She led him into a nondescript bathroom that reminded him of the one in his own apartment. Formica countertops, shower/tub combo, cheap fixtures, and fluorescent lights.

Laryn pointed to the toilet and ordered, “Sit.”

Casper sat.

She began to open drawers and the cabinet under the sink, mumbling under her breath, before saying triumphantly, “Ah ha! I knew I had one in here somewhere.” She held up a toothbrush still in its container.

“Got this the last time I went to the dentist and, like a bad patient, I didn’t switch out my old one. Stay,” she ordered.

Bemused, Casper watched as she stepped out of the bathroom, then returned with an armful of towels.

“There’s a washcloth and hand towel here, as well as one for after your shower.

Take your time. You’ll feel like a new man after you wash off the funk.

I’ll be in the kitchen with coffee. I’ve got some bagels and some frozen hashbrowns I can make. Don’t have eggs though, sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said.

With that, she stepped to the door, about to close it behind her.

“Laryn!” he blurted, not wanting her out of his sight for some reason. She felt like the only familiar thing in the world at the moment.

“Yeah?”

He wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. She couldn’t exactly sit in here while he showered. Besides, he was a grown-ass man, a Night Stalker. He didn’t need someone to hold his hand while he got ready for the day. Except whatever happened last night was messing with his head.

“Thanks,” he eventually said a little lamely.

In response, Laryn stepped back into the small bathroom and came over to him. Casper widened his legs, giving her room to get closer. She didn’t hesitate, stepping into his personal space. Because he was sitting, she was taller than him. She put her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes.

“You’re okay, Tate. I know you’re confused, probably anxious, still tired, and maybe even a little nauseous. From what I’ve read, that’s normal. And I’ll tell you everything over breakfast. Promise.”

Licking his lips, Casper nodded slightly.

She’d nailed the feelings coursing through him.

Acting on instinct, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head to her chest. Her hands came up and caressed his hair as he rested against her bosom.

He could feel her heat through her shirt, hear her heart beating under his cheek.

Her scent soothed him. Vanilla. He remembered that from the night before last. How her lotion smelled like cookies.

Another memory flashed in his brain. Of him lying against her, his hand under her shirt, his lips pretty much where they were right now…against her tits. A feeling of comfort engulfed him. That safe feeling returned.

It was way too soon when Laryn shifted against him, and he reluctantly dropped his arms and lifted his head. Without a word, she smiled at him before turning and leaving the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Taking a deep breath, Casper stood and carefully stepped out of his flight suit. Leaving it on the floor and wearing only his underwear, he stared at himself in the mirror and saw a man who appeared to be on the verge of an anxiety attack. It wasn’t a good look, and it definitely wasn’t him.

He turned on the cold water and splashed some onto his face. Surprisingly, that made him feel much better. The water was a shock to his system, but it also seemed to bring some clarity. Laryn was right, he needed to shower. Clear his head. Find out why he was so groggy and out of sorts .

As he brushed his teeth, he thought over what he remembered of the previous day.

The flight trials, the feeling of triumph.

The congratulations from his friends, Laryn standing in the background looking proud of her work…

as well she should be. Of asking Laryn to celebrate with them at Anchor Point.

He recalled her being uneasy about wearing her coveralls into the bar and watching her strip them off.

As far as he was concerned, that was the sexiest strip tease he’d ever been witness to…

and Laryn hadn’t even been trying to seduce him. Yet, she’d done it all the same.

But everything after that, until he’d woken up this morning, was a blank.

He didn’t remember if they’d met up with his friends or what had gone on in the bar.

Hell, he didn’t remember how he’d gotten back to Laryn’s apartment.

He hoped like hell he hadn’t driven. But as soon as he had the thought, he dismissed it.

Laryn wouldn’t let him drive if he was impaired.

Though, he couldn’t imagine drinking so much that he’d had such an extreme blackout.

He liked the occasional beer and shot, but he wasn’t the kind of man to drink to excess.

So what the hell happened?