Page 67 of Stripping Bare

When Tessa woke, the room was black except for a fingernail moon glowing from outside the massive windows. Her fingers clutched at the sheets under her, but she refused to panic. Maybe the bedroom lights were on a timer. The switch was about six inches above the bedside table. All she had to do was reach outand—

A big hand landed on her right butt cheek and she squealed. With a desperate shove, she hit the switch and low light glowed. She fish-flopped to her back, which only moved the hand from her backside to herfrontside.

Her thundering heartbeat throttled back slightly. She knew that hand, because it was attached to the dark-haired, scruffy-faced man currently breathing rhythmically in deep sleep. Why hadn’t he woken her when he came in? Why hadn’t Badger alertedher?

Thanks a lot, KingB.

The duvet had been pushed down, revealing the broad bare expanse of Jonah’s back. A tender impulse made Tessa want to press a kiss to each bump along hisspine.

How could she get out of this awkward position without waking him? By his deep breathing, it was obvious the day had worn him out as much as it had her. Probably more, since he hadn’t slept the nightbefore.

To shift his hand away, she circled his right wrist just below his tattoo. The three connected triangles each held a jewel-toned gem. Every time she saw them, his tattoos set off heat low in her body. They were even sexier from this vantage point. Would they stretch over his forearm when he slid his fingers inside her? Would they flex and bunch when he withdrew and thrust inagain?

She wanted to see that so badly. But not like this. Not while he wasunaware.

Her touch must’ve set off some reflex. Because Jonah’s fingers curled possessively between her legs, pressing the fabric of her pajamas against her and sending a jolt through her body. Her hips instinctivelylifted.

Jonah’s eyes opened. No sleepy haze. No foggy confusion. Just asleep one second, and awake the next. “What are you doing?” His voice was a sexy, sleep-roughenedrumble.

“Um…ah…I was tryingto…”

He glanced down and seemed to realize the location of his wayward hand. To her surprise, he didn’t pull it away. Instead, one side of his mouth lifted in a bad-boy halfsmile.

And oh, that did her in. Set her on fire. Made her wet. Made herwant.

He had to be able to feel herresponse.

And if he didn’t do something about it, she would go to her room, dig out her vibrator, and stomp back here and…and…

“Something fierce just went through your mind,” he said. “What wasit?”

“That if you don’t follow through on your hand’s promise, I’m going to trade you in for a sextoy.”

At that, heblinked.

“I was just trying to move your hand. I didn’t want you to wake up and think I somehow tried to take advantage ofyou.”

“Seeing as it’s my hand on you, that doesn’t really compute. Were you waiting on me in mybed?”

Oh, put that way, it did look more than a little calculated. “I had a glass of wine and watched part of a movie. I was sleepy, but didn’t want to go back to my room because I knew you wouldn’t wake me totalk.”

“You wereright.”

“So this wasn’t some big seductionplan.”

“Then let’s go back tosleep.”

“I’ve had sex,” she blurtedout.

“I knowbecause—”

“I’ve had sex with men besides you. Before whatever we did in Seattle andafter.”

“Oh.” The word was more of an annoyed grunt than an expression ofrelief.

“Remember when you asked me about touchingmyself?”

“I’ll remember until I’m ahundred.”