Page 61 of Close to Heaven

He flung open her bedroom door and found her sitting up in bed. As he rushed toward her, her gaze raked over him, and he remembered what he was wearing, or more accurately, what he wasn’t.

“Are you okay?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” she said.

She was atop the covers just like he’d been. “Are you too hot? Does your ankle hurt?” He sat on the edge of the bed and gently picked up her right foot, lightly pressing on the bandage to check for swelling.

“No, it’s not that.”

Resting her foot in his lap, he locked eyes with her. “What is it, then?”

“I couldn’t sleep, knowing you were in the next room dressed like that.” She sucked in her bottom lip and looked somewhat embarrassed.

“How’d you know what I was wearing?” he teased. She was so adorably flustered it was impossible not to play along.

“I have a very active imagination. Not to mention, I’ve seen you naked, remember?”

He flinched at the reminder. He didn’t mind that she’d seen him naked, but he hated the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“I was worried you fell or something.”

She shook her head. “I was just lonely.”

“Oh.” He was only touching her foot, but his erection sprang to life again.

“Would you…? Do you think…?”

“Tell me,” he said, his voice sounding unnaturally gravelly.

“Could you just hold me for a little while?”

Oh no. Holding her without having sex sounded almost as daunting as if she’d asked him to climb Mt. Everest. However, whatever she asked of him, he’d be willing to give it a try.

“Just until I fall asleep, and then you can leave.”

She shifted, and her foot accidentally nudged up against his erection. She had to have felt it, but she pretended not to. However, he was done trying to hide it.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he said, glancing down at the tent in his underwear.

She giggled. “I’m not afraid of it.”

He chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. “Okay, but I have to warn you, I’m not good at cuddling.”

“You just have to put your arms around me. It’s not that hard.”

“I beg to differ,” he said, glancing down again. “But I’ll give it a go.”

He removed her foot from his lap. Then he went around to the other side of the bed and crawled in. “How do you want me?” He knew how that sounded, but he was past caring.

“Lie on your side and face me,” she instructed.

It was nice not to have to think, and he simply did as she asked. Once he was situated, she scooted her back against him so they were spooned together. Then she took his arm and draped it around her front.

It was heaven and hell all at once.

“See. That’s not so bad, is it?”

He grimaced, glad that she couldn’t see his face. “Nope. Not bad at all.”