Page 76 of Fallen Flame

I looked at her.

“You don’t have to share the blankets.” She smiled. “You can even sleep on top of the covers if you want to be a stick in the mud.”

I laughed. “I’ll stay.”

The relief that crossed her face made the decision feel like the easiest one I’d ever made.

“I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the bathroom.

A couple of minutes later, she came back wearing a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top. Without a word, she launched herself into bed, pulled the comforter all the way up to her nose, and watched me.

I pulled off my boots and lined them neatly at the foot of the bed. My cut followed, draped over the back of the chair. Then I reached for the hem of my T-shirt and pulled it over my head.

I didn’t have to look to know she was watching.

“I hope you know,” she said, “you put on a damn good show.”

I laughed. “I wasn’t aware I was performing.”

“Oh, you definitely were.”

Still smiling, I crossed to the light switch, turned off the lights, and locked the door before making my way back to the bed.

The mattress dipped as I slid in beside her, and without hesitation, she curled into my side like she’d done it a hundred times before. She let out a content sigh and rested her hand against my chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I didn’t answer. There wasn’t anything to say.

Instead, I wrapped an arm around her and held her close. Little by little, the tension left her body and her breathing became slower.

Within minutes, she was asleep, and I stared into the darkness, listening to the soft rhythm of her breathing.

Somewhere along the way, I’d crossed a line.

I wasn’t just the guy Wrecker had assigned to keep her safe anymore.

I wasn’t just watching over her because I’d been ordered to.

I wanted to be here.

Wanted her tucked against my side.

Wanted to be the person she reached for when the world got too loud.

And the strangest part?

I didn’t want to go back to the man I’d been before she walked into my life.

Chapter Eighteen

Lark

For a second, I couldn’t figure out where I was. My brain was still somewhere between asleep and awake, and all I wanted to do was burrow deeper beneath the blankets.

Then I heard it.

Thump.

Thump.