Page 77 of Dream Chaser

“I might feel okay in the morning,” she said with another yawn.

“You’re not going to work even if you do. Now come on, get some rest.”

“Bossy,” she mumbled with a smile, but closed her eyes.

After a few minutes, her breaths evened out. A few more, and she shifted closer, mumbling something in her sleep.

Her breaths tickled my arm; the heat of her body warmed my side. I’d never slept with a woman like this—nothing sexual, just closeness.

I’d never wanted to cross the line so badly, either.

One heartbeat, and Nova pressed herself to me. So fucking soft.

I considered shifting away, but my muscles locked in protest.

Hating myself, I slipped an arm under her shoulders and brought her closer. She let out a sigh, like she was happy to be in my arms.

I stroked her hair, sliding my fingers through the silky strands. The rise and fall of her chest against my side drove me to the brink of insanity.

She draped an arm across my waist, tucking her face in the crook of my neck. Her lips grazed my skin. I glanced down at the swell of her breasts. The hardened nipples teased me, straining against her top. My breath got trapped in my lungs, and blood rushed to my cock.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Fuck. I should’ve known better than to share the bed with her.

Minutes ticked by. I lay still, listening to her breaths. Willing sleep to come.

It never did.

The sun rose behind the window, and I was still holding the woman I couldn’t have.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Nova

October

Bright sunlight flooded the room when I woke. It had to be close to lunchtime, and Alejandro’s side of the bed was empty. I ran my fingers over the sheet. His warmth was long gone, but his cologne lingered on the pillow.

I inhaled the scent, my face heating up.

That he got up before I did saved us both from awkwardness in the daylight.

He must’ve left for the office hours ago. I sat up, rubbing my neck. The spinning had stopped, but my mind was foggy.

After showering and dressing, I headed to the living room. In the doorway, my legs froze—the desk and the bookcase were no longer in their boxes. They stood assembled against the wall. A faint smell of coffee wafted from the kitchen, summoning me. I followed it and found Alejandro at the island, rubbing his chin as he talked on the phone, the cell pressed between his shoulder and ear while he typed on his laptop.

“Lo sé, Cris,” he said with a smile. I know, Cris. “Nos vemos.” See you.

Cris? As in, the beautiful Spanish woman I’d met in Barcelona? My stomach twisted painfully, and a breath froze in my lungs. Irrational. Irrational and stupid. Last night, he’d told me he wasn’t in a relationship.

But she could be his ex.

Either way, he didn’t belong to me, and neither did his time. The bitter tang of jealousy coated my mouth. I swallowed, but it lingered.

Alejandro lifted his eyes off the keyboard. They held mine captive, and he shut the laptop. “Cris, estoy ocupado. Hablamos más tarde.” Cris, I’m busy. We’ll talk later.

He hung up. I needed to play it off, say something, but I couldn’t make myself move.

“Are you okay?” Alejandro asked, standing gracefully.