Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Don’t be silly,” I protested. “Didn’t we…I mean, I don’t remember much, but didn’t we used to sleep in the same bed, back in the day?”
Nick frowned.
“After that bastard Spaulding started bothering you, we did. It was the only way I could keep you safe at night.”
His words brought back a shadow of the past I didn’t want to think about.
“All right,” I said. “Just give me a shirt to sleep in and we can share the bed. It’s not a big deal.”
Nick looked indecisive.
“I don’t know, darlin’. Maybe we shouldn’t…”
“You think something’s going to happen?” I demanded, frowning. “I’m sitting here naked on the edge of the tub and nothing happened.”
“Of course not.” He frowned. “You’re my little sister, after all. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“That’s exactly what I said. So get me a shirt.” I shivered. “I’m getting really cold.”
“Sorry, darlin’. Come on in the bedroom and I’ll give you one of my T-shirts to wear.”
He let me lean on him again and I hop-walked into the bedroom, which had a full bed, that looked a lot smaller than I had expected. We were really going to be crowded, sharing that—considering that I was a curvy girl and Nick was so big and muscular.
But I found I didn’t mind. Though I had wanted to avoid being too close earlier, now I craved it. I had shadow memories of being wrapped in his arms, snuggling against him and feeling so safe…
Nick gave me a clean white T-shirt…which might not have been the best choice. My nipples were clearly visible through the thin fabric, but since I’d been walking around bare-ass naked earlier, I figured it was probably an improvement.
He was doing that thing where he tried not to look at me again. I returned the favor, trying not to notice when he shucked down his jeans and boxers and changed to a pair of long blue sleep trousers instead. I couldn’t help noting his fine ass though—as tight as ever and just as firm as when we were younger.
I was sitting on the edge of the bed as he finished and turned to me.
“Ready to get tucked in, darlin’? I think you should sleep with that ankle elevated.”
“It’s a bite, not a sprain,” I reminded him. But I let him get me settled on my back with a pillow under my head and another under my hurt ankle. Then he turned out the lights and climbed into bed beside me.
He was trying not to crowd me—I could tell by the way he was turned on his side with his back to me. But it just made me feel sad and lonely all over again to be in a bed with him and not even touch him. I could see my brand glowing softly in the darkness like it was reminding me that wanting to touch him—to touch the man who was my “big brother” by Pack Law—was wrong. But I didn’t give a damn about any of that.
“Nick?” I said in a small voice.
“Hmm?” He turned his head, looking over his shoulder at me.
“I know it’s kind of crowded but you look like you’re about to fall off the side of the bed trying to give me space,” I told him. “I wouldn’t mind if…if you wanted to put your arm around me. It’s kind of cold tonight, anyway,” I added, and shivered to justify my request.
“Well…” He looked at me indecisively and I saw that his eyes were glowing softly in the dark. Was that because he was a full-blooded Were? I knew my own eyes didn’t glow at night. At least, they never had in the past. Who knew what might happen now that I was getting back in touch with my half-Were side?
“Please,” I whispered, hating to beg him but unable to stop myself. “Nick, I missed you so much.”
“Oh, baby…” He turned over at once and slipped one long arm around my shoulders. “I missed you too,” he murmured, cuddling me close.
I turned towards him, heedless of my bandaged ankle, which didn’t hurt nearly as much as it had. Pressing my face to his chest, I inhaled his warm, spicy fragrance, loving the feel of his big, hard body against mine.
“God, you’re so warm and soft,” I heard him rumble in the darkness. “I missed you too, darlin’. Leaving you was the hardest thing I ever did in my whole damn life. That and staying away afterwards.”
“Why did you do it, then?” I whispered.
Nick shifted against me.
“You know why,” he said.
“No, I don’t!” I protested.
He shifted again and I thought I felt him beginning to pull away.
“Never mind,” I said quickly. “It doesn’t matter now—all that, whatever it was—is in the past. Let’s just enjoy being together again—okay?”
Nick hesitated again and then murmured, “Okay, baby.” I felt a gentle pressure and realized he had dropped a soft kiss on the top of my head.