Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I laugh and use both hands to push him down. “I’m going to rub your back. It will help you fall asleep.”
He turns, and the look he gives me is filled with doubt. “If you think I’m going to be able to go to sleep with your hands on me, you’re sorely mistaken.”
The heat of his words hits me in my very core. I wish they were true, but there’s no way. I’ve put off vibes since I’ve been here, letting him know I’m interested, but he’s either not interested in me or the fact that I work for him makes it too complicated. I swat at his back and laugh. “Yeah, whatever, nice try. Just give this a chance, okay? If nothing else, you get a back rub out of the deal.”
He lays his head back down on the pillow, and I start to rub my hand up and down his back. He’s tense, and I can feel the knots resist under my palm. I get up on my knees, sliding closer to him. He eyes me warily, but he doesn’t say anything. I lean over him, pressing my hands into his back. “You’re tight. Your muscles are so tight, Huddy. No wonder you can’t rest.”
He moans as I work at the muscle of his shoulder. Over and over, I knead my hands into his muscles. Every now and then, he lets me know what feels good, and I go deeper, applying more pressure.
His eyes are closed, and I use the time to explore him as I work. Since I’ve met him, I’ve wanted a closer look at the tattoos on his arms and back, and now I have free rein to inspect them.
He’s so quiet, his breathing evened out, and I wonder if he’s fallen asleep, but I keep rubbing him until I feel the muscles of my arms and hands revolt. When I seem to have worked out all the knots, I let go. He doesn’t open his eyes and doesn’t move, so I slowly start to move off the bed. His arm comes out, and he puts his hand on my bare knee. “Stay.”
His voice is deep and commanding.
He’s looking up at me with his hazel eyes, and I know I can’t deny him anything. “You want me to stay?”
He nods. “Yeah, I think I can sleep… if you’re here.”
Speechless, I nod. I reach for the lamp and turn it off before lying down. I pull the covers up over top of us and sigh at the comfort of the bed. Even though we’re not touching, I can feel the warmth of his body next to me. I turn to look at him, blinking until my eyes adjust. “Can you sleep?”
He shrugs his shoulders.
“Do you want me to rub your back some more?”
Instead of answering me, he asks his own question. “Do you trust me, Ellie?”
I barely resist rolling my eyes. “Uh, you’ve saved me countless times—heck, Huddy, I feel more protected with you than I’ve ever felt in my life. I trust you.”
He’s watching me closely. He opens his mouth and closes it. I know he’s wanting to ask me something but doesn’t. We lie here quietly for the longest time before he continues. “Can I hold you?”
I am about to answer him when he holds a hand up. “No funny business. I just want to hold you, that’s all.”
I try not to let my disappointment show. A part of me wants him to want more. “Yes, Huddy. You can hold me.”
I scoot closer to him. As soon as my body touches his, he wraps me up in his arms. One is slid under my pillow and touching my neck. The other is over my waist, pulling me against his chest. My whole body ignites at his touch. I rest my cheek on his chest, and he pulls me until I’m sprawled over top of him and our legs are tangled together. Even though i don’t want to move, I also don’t want to hurt him in his sleep. “Huddy, you can’t sleep with my weight on you all night.”
He moans and somehow pulls me tighter into his embrace. “Yes, I can. Fuck, this is perfect, Ellie.”
I lie here and try to control my breathing. My nipples are pebbled, and I wonder if he can feel it against his chest. My core is pulled tight, and I know there’s a slickness between my legs. Heck, since the day I met him, I’ve been this way, but this, in his arms, held against him is a whole other level.
His hands go up and down my back in big, soothing strokes. When he doesn’t stop, I bite my lip to hold back my moan of pleasure. My voice is shaky as I stutter the words out. “I’m supposed to be helping you sleep.”