BUCK HAD JUST RETURNED from buying groceries when a knock sounded on his front door. Thinking it might be Sadie, he opened the door with a fat smile—which twisted to a scowl when he saw the faces of his friends Ethan and Harris.
“What are you two doing here?”
Harris shoved his way in. “What kind of welcome is that?”
Butch rounded the corner in a near-hysterical tangent, slid to a halt when he saw it was only Harris and Ethan, and immediately quieted. His tail stopped wagging, and his little face showed his disappointment.
Buck decided that he and Butch were in a bad way. They were two bachelors who’d accepted their fates, but hadn’t yet informed the ladies of the new plans.
Ethan stepped past Buck. “Hey, Butch.” Then to Buck, he said, “You been torturing the little guy? He doesn’t look too happy.”
“He probably thought you were Tish.”
“Tish?” Harris straightened in interest. “What the hell kind of name is that for a woman?”
“I think it’s cute,” Ethan argued. “She sounds like a woman with big boobs.”
Harris laughed. “And an IQ of two.”
“Look who’s talking,” Buck accused. “Has anyone accused you of being bright lately?”
Smug, Harris said, “Yeah. Clair.”
“She doesn’t count,” Ethan argued. “She married you, so she has to keep your ego healthy.”
“Actually,” Buck interjected, before they could start a debate on Harris’s intelligence or lack thereof, “Tish is fat and bald and this morning, she stole my underwear.”
Both men wore comical faces of horror, until Buck began to chuckle. “She’s my neighbor’s dog. A Chihuahua. Butch took one look at her and fell madly in love.”
“Poor guy,” Ethan said sympathetically. “I know just how rotten that feels.”
“Right,” Harris sneered. “You knew Rosie forever before you realized you loved her.”
“Wrong. I always knew I loved her. I just didn’t realize I was in love with her. Besides, you’re no better. It wasn’t until you saw naked photos of Clair that you got the love bug.”
Harris, ever sensitive about the photos Clair’s past boyfriend had taken without her knowledge, grew taut with anger.
“No fighting. It’ll upset Butch.” Buck turned his back on them and headed for the kitchen. “So do either of you yahoos believe in love at first sight?”
“No,” Harris said.
“No way,” Ethan agreed, then he added, “But Riley must.”
Buck paused in the middle of putting cans of cola into the fridge. “That’s right. He took one look at Red and was a goner, wasn’t he?”
“In a big way,” Ethan agreed. He snagged a cola before Buck could put it away. “It was almost embarrassing, the way he branded her right off.”
“I wish he was here.”
Harris and Ethan looked at each other. Slowly they grinned with conspiratorial humor. Harris, being the bigger goof of the two, said, “Tell Uncle Harris what ails you.”
“Go to hell.”
“A woman ails him,” Ethan said. “I know the signs.”
“It was only a matter of time, you know.” Harris grabbed a can of cola, and together, he and Ethan made a toast. “Here’s to happily married men.”
Buck said, “Marriage hasn’t matured either of you at all.”
Ignoring that gibe, Ethan said, “So tell us who the lucky lady is.” His brows pulled together in consideration. “Is it Beth? I remember you were partial to her, but I gotta tell you, Rosie doesn’t like her much.”
“Rosie doesn’t like any woman who smiles at you, Ethan, but no, it’s not Beth.”
“Then it must be Rachel.” Harris held his hands out in front of his chest as if juggling melons. “There’s a lot of her to love.”
Buck narrowed his eyes. “Clair’s gonna kill you when she hears what you said.”
“Well, for God’s sake, I was just kidding around. Don’t tell her!”
Just then, a knock sounded on Buck’s French doors—and there stood Sadie with a squirming Tish in her arms. Buck’s underwear was half wrapped around the dog. Belatedly, Sadie noticed Ethan and Harris and appeared ready to bolt.
Buck wondered if he could somehow magically make the guys disappear. He ran through his options—but one look at them told Buck a team of wild horses couldn’t drag them away. He gave up and opened the door.
Taking her by surprise he whispered, “Hey,” and bent to press his mouth to hers in a warm kiss.
When he lifted his head, she looked speechless, breathless and too warm. She glanced at Harris and Ethan, who smiled at her in turn, and her blush intensified.
“I can come back later,” she blurted. “I didn’t mean to interrupt—”
Harris literally leaped forward. “You’re not. Come on in.”
Ethan pulled a chair out for her. “Have a seat. Can I get you a cola?”
She looked overwhelmed by her welcome. “Well…”
Buck had to grin. Damn, but he had great friends. They were total idiots at times, which was part of their charm, but he could never doubt their loyalty.
Butch came barreling around the corner, saw Sadie and Tish, and there was no curbing his exhilaration. He turned circles, barked maniacally, and all but demanded that Sadie put Tish down.
“Young love,” Harris crooned with a hand over his heart.
He tried to pet Tish, but she almost threw herself out of Sadie’s arms trying to get away. Sadie juggled her to the ground, Tish snatched the underwear away from her, and together with Butch, she made her hasty escape.
Harris stared. “My God, she hates me.”
“Probably heard about your reputation.” Ethan grinned.
“Ha, ha.” But Harris was both appalled and wounded by the dog’s rejection. Buck knew just how he felt.
Sadie tried to reassure Harris. “She’s very shy. She hasn’t even gotten used to me yet. It wasn’t personal.”
“She was mistreated,” Buck explained.
“Mistreated?” Ethan demanded. “Who would mistreat that little thing?” Buck told them all about what Tish had been through, then he went on to describe Sadie’s role in caring for the animals. He left nothing out, extolling her dedication and caring.
She blushed as Harris and Ethan heaped praise on her for her generosity. Within minutes, the two men were settled at the table, drinking his cola and eating his pizza and hanging on Sadie’s every word. Whenever she paused, they asked another question. Their interest was genuine, but Buck also knew they were deliberately welcoming her, trying to make her feel at ease.
There was something about Sadie that brought out a man’s protective instincts. Her big heart, yes, but also her naked vulnerability, the way she left herself so emotionally exposed.
Buck thought about throwing them out, then decided it’d be nice for Sadie to get to know them better. He’d have her alone soon enough.
Or so he thought.
Two hours later, Harris and Ethan were still going strong. The dogs had reappeared for a drink and a doggie treat, then gone off again for the alone-time Buck craved.
He’d done little more than think about making love to Sadie. At first, he’d resisted the idea, thinking it might be better to ease her into it. Maybe spend a week just necking, then a week petting…but he knew his control wasn’t strong enough for that. Not with Sadie.
And there was the very real concern that if he waited, she’d misconstrue his impatience for lack of interest. He couldn’t have that.
He brought his attention back to his guests in time to hear Sadie say, “Yes, it’s incredibly hard to give the dogs up, but I always make sure they go to a wonderful and appropriate home.”
“So,” Harris asked with visible hesitation, “would I be eligible to take one? Clair’s been talking about getting a pet since we’ll be moving into our own house soon.” Then to explain, he added, “Ethan’s wife, Rosie, is a realtor and she’s always finding great deals on houses. The one we offered for is a handyman special, and since Buck is a real handyman, I couldn’t pass it up.”
Ethan nodded. “Rosie made kids and a dog and a damn picket fence all a stipulation before saying yes to my proposal.” He winked. “I’ve been working most diligently on the kid part. Since that’s not happening real fast, maybe I could surprise her with a dog. What about us? Do we qualify as suitable?”
Because Sadie barely knew Harris and Ethan, she glanced at Buck.
He nodded. “You’re visiting with bona fide heroes, honey. Firefighters. Ethan’s even been written up for daring deeds, and Harris once went back into a fire to save a kid’s guinea pig. Neither one of them would ever neglect or abuse an animal. And their wives are terrific, too. You couldn’t find a better home for a dog.”
Harris pretended to sniff. “Damn, Buck, now you’ve made me all weepy.”
Ethan laughed. “True friends always make each other sound good.”
“Thank you,” Sadie said with a smile. “I’ll definitely keep you in mind.”
Buck took Ethan’s elbow. “Speaking of friends and what they do for each other—it’s time for you two to hit the road.”
Ethan allowed himself to be hauled out of his seat. Harris rose on his own steam with a lot of feigned offense. “What? No dessert? No coffee? See, this is why you need to get hitched. You’re a lousy host.”
Buck surprised them both by saying, “I’ll see what I can do.” He didn’t turn to see Sadie’s reaction. He’d find out how she felt about a real relationship soon enough.
As he practically dragged Harris and Ethan to the front door, they yelled back their farewells to Sadie, then started sniggering and elbowing Buck as he tried to shove them out onto the stoop.
Buck gave up. “So what do you think?”
Bobbing his eyebrows, Harris whispered, “Still waters run deep.”
“Very sweet,” Ethan added. “And gentle.”
Buck was so relieved, he grinned. He’d been half afraid his buds wouldn’t recognize Sadie’s appeal. It wasn’t in your face, like a lush figure or a stop-traffic face. She didn’t have a load of sexual confidence or snappy charisma. She wasn’t a fashion plate.
Sadie was subtly attractive.
So much so, he’d been afraid they might not see her appeal at all. God knew he’d missed it at first. But through Sadie, he was learning the truth about cats, dogs…and women. He was learning the truth about himself, and what he really wanted out of life.
He wanted Sadie.
Anyone so quietly kind and caring deserved a lot of love.
Buck had a hell of a lot of love to give.
“Thanks,” he told his friends. “And goodbye.”
Harris had his mouth open to say more when Buck shut the door. For good measure, he locked it. He could hear the male laughter of his friends as they strode away.
Bending down, he peered under his couch. Butch and Tish were curled tightly together in the yellow underwear. He could hardly tell where one Chihuahua started and the other ended. Cute.
Tish opened one eye, saw him and inched farther back.
“It’s all right, baby girl. I won’t bother you. Go back to sleep now.” She kept watching him as if waiting to be pounced on.
Sighing, Buck decided that sooner or later, he’d win her over. He really, really wanted to hold her.
Sadie stood in the kitchen doorway. “The dogs are hiding?” she asked.
Buck straightened; their gazes met. Sadie’s lips were parted to accommodate her fast breathing. His muscles tensed, his abdomen clenched.
It was time—and they both knew it.
“Yeah.” He walked to her and held out a hand. “How long will they nap, do you think?”
Sadie put her hand in his. Her attention was on his mouth. “Long enough. At least, I hope so.”
His smile felt silly and right and full of anticipation. His heart turned over. Damn, but she was perfect.
And starting now, she was his.
* * *
SADIE WENT DOWN THE HALL to Buck’s bedroom with her heart tripping, her stomach fluttering and her thighs shaking. Anticipation stole her breath.
Her hand felt tiny in his. She watched the play of muscles in his broad back beneath the soft cotton shirt. He was so sinfully, deliciously, unbelievably gorgeous.
And he wanted her.
Sadie didn’t care if it would be for an hour, a day, a week. It didn’t matter; she wasn’t about to turn him down. Whenever she fantasized, it was of a man like Buck, a man who was physically big and strong, but emotionally gentle and loving, who filled her dreams.
No other man she knew had ever been so concerned for an animal. When he spoke to Tish, it was as if he related to her. That took confidence, in himself and in his masculinity. Though she’d deliberately kept her distance, she’d always admired him. And after seeing him with her dog, her heart was lost.
He tugged her into his bedroom and shut the door. Facing her, his gaze molten and very direct, he murmured, “I don’t want the dogs to wander in.”
“No?”
“I’m not into exhibitionism.”
He liked to joke. “I doubt they’d understand.”
She didn’t understand. Not yet anyway. But soon.
He leaned against the door. “You put your cardigan back on.”
Excuses tripped on her tongue, but nothing coherent came out.
Lazily, Buck reached out with his long arms and began undoing the buttons for the second time that day. “It’s okay. I like undressing you.” His eyes lifted briefly to her face, then returned to her sweater. “Do you mind?”
Did she mind what? Nervousness took hold, making it hard for her to think beyond the obvious desire to know him physically.
“Would you be more comfortable in the dark? I can shut the blinds, but the truth is…I’m dying to see every soft, pink inch of you.”
Oh, God. If he said things like that, she’d never get through this. Sadie licked her lips. “No one’s ever looked at me before.”
His expression heated even more. “I know.”
He pushed away from the door, and with his fingers busy on the last button of her sweater, took her mouth. The kiss was unlike the ones earlier in the day. He ate at her mouth, consumed her, made her burn.
“Damn.” His laugh was shaky as he stripped off her sweater. “I should be honest and tell you that your virginity is an enormous turn-on. I can’t wait to take you, to see your face when I push inside you, when you come…”
Sadie sucked in a startled breath. She couldn’t wait, either. “You first.”
Buck paused. “Me first what?” He half laughed. “If I come first, I’m afraid the gig is up. I’d need at least an hour to—”
“No.” Her face burned. “I meant…would you undress first? Then I won’t feel so…naked.”
He shrugged one hard shoulder. “Sure. Modesty isn’t one of my virtues.” Reaching back, he grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked it off. He dropped it onto the floor beside them. Smiling at her, he lifted one foot and tugged off his shoe and sock, then removed the other.
Sadie’s heartbeat accelerated. Buck wasn’t an overly hairy man, but there was a nice patch of brown curls between his well-developed pecs, and farther down, trailing from his navel into his jeans. She already knew that hair was silky soft and that his skin was warm and taut.
He opened the snap of his jeans.
“Okay?” he asked, watching her closely.
“Yes.” More than okay. She’d already seen him in his underwear and a towel. Now she wanted to see everything.
He shoved the jeans down, taking his underwear off at the same time. He kicked them aside, straightened—and let her look her fill.
Holy moly. Everything in her felt tight and liquid and hot. Embarrassment ebbed, replaced with fascination. Sadie had never seen a naked man up close. It was so nice that her first was the epitome of masculine perfection.
Raising her gaze to his face, she said, “You’re amazing.”
A startled laugh escaped him. “Look all you want, honey, but you know, you can touch, too.”
That was all the encouragement she needed. “Thank you.” She leaned up against him. “Kiss me again, okay?” It’d be easier for her to explore his body if he wasn’t looking at her with such probing expectation.
His tone was more serious than she had expected when he said, “Anything you want, Sadie.”
And then his mouth was over hers, treating her to a long, slow, tongue-teasing kiss that made her toes curl in her shoes.
Sadie started with her hands on his shoulders. His skin was hot and sleek, but she preferred the feel of his hairy chest. When her palms grazed his nipples, he gave a small growl of pleasure, and then his hands were on her breasts, too.
Even through her blouse, she could feel the heat of his palms, the strength. He cuddled her breasts, shaped them, and finally his thumbs moved over her nipples, circling, barely stroking, but eliciting a gasp of surprise at the sharp intensity of the sensation.
“Nice, huh?” he murmured against her mouth.
“Yes.” She knew her reply sounded a lot like a moan.
“You’ll like it even more once we get your clothes out of the way.”
As far as hints went, that was pretty clear. “All right.”
He showed his appreciation of her reply with another voracious kiss, while his hands left her breasts to tackle the buttons on her blouse. These were smaller than the ones on her sweater, and not as easy to undo. But Sadie had little thought for her own clothes with Buck’s powerful body bared for her pleasure.
She let her fingers trace the tense muscles of his abdomen, tease the silkier hair beneath his navel, then she dipped lower. His penis jutted out, hard and warm. Fascinated, she cupped him in both hands.
With a low growl, Buck seemed to forget about undressing her. He dropped his forehead to hers. In a rasping whisper, he said, “I love having you hold me, Sadie.”
A little awed, she spoke without measuring her words. “You’re so hot and so soft.”
“Not soft at all.”
“No, I didn’t mean that. Your skin is velvety. I didn’t expect that.” She continued to explore him while Buck made sounds of mingled pain and pleasure. “And you feel alive. You’re even throbbing.”
His hand curled over hers, forcing her to squeeze him a little tighter, then stroke. Once. Twice. “Okay. That’s enough of that.” With a raw, broken laugh, he pulled her hands away, kissed each palm, then put them on his shoulders. “Safer ground, at least for now, okay?”
Confused, Sadie asked, “I did it wrong?”
“You did it too right. And no way in hell do I want to come early on your first time.”
“Oh.” He was so frank in his speech, she should have been embarrassed again, but somehow, his lack of embarrassment reassured her.
She’d forgotten about him unbuttoning her blouse until he dragged it off her shoulders. Her bra was plain white cotton with no decoration at all.
But Buck didn’t even seem to notice. Once the blouse was gone, he reached around her and unhooked her bra with practised ease. He stepped back, leaving the bra to hang loosely on her slender frame. His gaze burning, he used just his fingertips trailing over her shoulders to drag the straps down her arms. The bra slipped, then fell free past her elbows. Sadie let it drop to the floor.
Refusing to be too timid, she put her shoulders back and kept her spine straight.
Buck’s gaze was so hot, so admiring as he stared at her breasts, that she didn’t feel too small despite her modest bust. Throwing his own words back at him, she whispered, “I don’t mind you looking, but you’re welcome to touch, too.”
“Yeah?” he asked with a slow grin. “Thank God. I’m not sure I could mind my manners right now.”
But he didn’t just touch her. No, he shocked her senseless by catching her waist, lifting her to her tiptoes while he bent down, and then his mouth was over her left nipple, his rough tongue licking, curling around her, and then he sucked.
“Buck.” Sadie tunneled her fingers through his hair, holding on for dear life.
He gave a rough groan and moved to her other breast.
She felt the draw of his mouth everywhere, in each of her breasts, in her trembling thighs, and most especially low in her stomach, where a tingling ache expanded on waves.
“We gotta lose the skirt now, too, baby.” He set her back on her feet and hurriedly opened the zipper down her side. “I’m sorry, I know I’m not being very patient.” He went down on one knee and pulled her skirt to her ankles. “But it’s crazy how bad I want you.”
Sadie stared down at him, touched, flattered, turned on. “Whatever you want, Buck.”
He helped her step out of her shoes and skirt. “I want this. Don’t faint on me, okay?”
That was all the warning Sadie got before he cupped her fanny in his hands, pulled her forward and kissed her through her white cotton panties.
“Ohmigod.”
“Yeah,” he murmured, and even his breath felt erotic and tantalizing. “You smell delicious.”
Never in her life had Sadie imagined a man saying such a thing while doing such a thing.
His tongue pressed against her, seeking, and her knees wanted to buckle. “I…I need to sit down.”
“Not yet,” he growled. “Once you’re on the bed, things are going to get out of control pretty quick.” He squeezed her bottom, kneading her, then hooked his thumbs into her waistband and eased her panties down. “Step out, Sadie.”
She had to brace herself on his shoulders to do that. When she stood before him naked, she expected him to stand. He didn’t. He put his thick arms around her and hugged her close, with his cheek on her belly, his hands opened wide on her back.
“You’re beautiful.”
Sex talk, Sadie thought, and smiled. While her muscles turned to mush, she stroked his hair and wondered how long this euphoria could last.
It wouldn’t be long enough for her.
Buck leaned back and looked up at her. “You don’t believe me?”
Her smile twitched. “It doesn’t matter.” She cupped his jaw in her hands. “You can’t know how happy I am to be here with you. Not just with any man, but with you, Buck.”
His gaze holding hers, he dragged his palms down her back to her bottom, then the back of her thighs. “Why?”
“Besides the obvious?”
His fingers rose higher again, this time between her thighs. His gaze never wavered. “What’s the obvious?”
“That you’re sexy and handsome and have an incredible body.”
That gave him pause, but only for a moment. Sadie felt his fingertips touching her intimately from behind. Another thing she’d never imagined!
“What’s not so obvious?”
“I…I can’t talk while you do that.”
“Yeah, you can.”
One finger teased at her tender lips, gently probing without quite entering her. Sadie felt her own wetness and had to close her eyes to think.
“Tell me,” he insisted. “Why me and not some other guy?”
“You’re good to Tish. You’re gentle with Butch.” She opened her eyes so she could make sure he understood. “And you make me laugh.”
He pushed his finger deeper, his expression strained, his breathing harsh. “You’re so damn tight.”
Sadie tipped her head back and moaned, as much from what he said as what he did.
“Am I hurting you?”
She shook her head. “No.” She knew in her heart that Buck would never hurt her. Not physically. But he was bound to break her heart when their time together ended.
He kissed her belly. His tongue dipped into her navel, trailed a damp path down to her pubic curls, then he used his thumbs to open her. “You’re wet, Sadie, but I want you wetter. I want to know for sure that I won’t hurt you. You’re just so damn small, and I’m not—”
“No,” she agreed with a smile. “You’re not.” That she could smile at the moment, that even now Buck amused her and made her feel lighthearted, was nothing short of a miracle. He was a miracle. And for now, he was all hers.
She felt his tongue searching, and had to lock her knees. “Buck, I really need to lie down.”
“In a minute.” He worked a second finger into her, pressed deep, slowly withdrew, and pushed in again.
“Oh, God.” Giving up, Sadie automatically widened her stance and let him do as he pleased, because what he did pleased her, too.
He nuzzled closer, his breath burning, his tongue damp and soft, seeking until he curled it around her clitoris. Her heart and lungs threatened to explode. Her body shivered all over.
And then he was suckling again, this time with such devastating effect that she almost couldn’t bear it. Sensations grew, twisting inside her, shaking her, all the while expanding, receding, then coming back stronger—and she knew what was about to happen.
She clenched her fingers in his hair to stay upright and let the awesome shock waves roll over her.
Somehow she ended up on her back on Buck’s bed. His mouth was now at her breast, sucking strongly, while his fingers remained inside her, keeping her orgasm alive. Sadie twisted and groaned. She couldn’t silence her cries or hold herself still.
Finally, after long agonizingly amazing moments, Buck kissed his way gently up to her temple. He pulled her close and just held her.
Sadie stared at the ceiling in blank surprise. She’d never dreamed…never quite imagined… “Buck?”
“Hmm?” He kissed her ear and hugged her.
“That was wonderful.”
He shoved up on one elbow and, though he wasn’t smiling, she saw the glint of humor in his green eyes. “You’re something else, you know that?”
She shook her head. She’d always thought she was pretty darn ordinary, in a plain, easy-to-ignore way.
Buck looked down at her breasts and began tracing one nipple with a fingertip. “I expected you to be really shy.”
“I am.”
“I expected you to be uptight. I thought I’d have to work at getting you to relax.” He bent and gave her a quick kiss, which made her blush considering where his mouth had just been. He grinned. “But you’re a hedonist at heart, aren’t you?”
Sadie considered that. “I enjoyed what you did.” She turned a little toward him so she could stroke his chest and abdomen. “And you make me feel comfortable. You’re so matter-of-fact about everything. I didn’t quite know how this would work, but it just seemed natural with you.”
He nodded, looking far too grave. “Right. With me.” He sat up and opened the bedside drawer. “Remember that, okay?”
Sadie watched as he located a condom and rolled it on.
“You’re going to finish making love to me now?”
“No. I won’t finish now. I’ll take my time. But I am dying to get inside you. And after we both come, maybe we’ll nap or get a snack or watch a movie.” He stretched out over her, held her face and kissed the bridge of her nose. And in a voice husky with arousal he said, “Then we can start all over again.”
“Really?” Sounded like a great plan to Sadie.
“Oh, yeah. You’re spending the night, okay?”
Before she could answer, he kissed her deeply. He went on kissing her until she punched his shoulder and demanded he get a move on.
Laughing, Buck said, “Yes, ma’am.” He reached down between their bodies, opened her and slowly pressed in.
Her breath caught.
His jaw clenched.
He was big, and she felt incredible pressure.
“Stay with me, Sadie.” He braced himself on stiffened arms, which increased the pressure between her legs. He squeezed his eyes shut, clenched his jaw, then had the nerve to say, “Relax.”
“I don’t think I can.”
He groaned. “Bend your knees, honey. Lift into me.” To help her, he lowered himself onto one elbow and wedged a hand under her hips. “That’s it.”
His fingers clenched on her bottom, he let out a long, exaggerated groan, and then he sank deep.
Sadie cried out, not in pain but with mind-numbing pleasure. Buck didn’t slow or give her time to get acclimated to his size. He pulled out and drove in again. Both hands went to her bottom, tilting her up to take more of him. His body was warm and heavy. The friction was incredible.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, and tried to follow his rhythm.
But far too soon, he stiffened. Sadie knew he was about to climax and curiosity distracted her. Until he opened his mouth on her throat and gave her a love bite. It was so wicked, such a sexual act of possession, she felt her own orgasm swelling again and she embraced it. It was different this time, with Buck a part of her. It was more powerful, and more satisfying, to be able to squeeze him tight inside her body.
Her limbs trembled and throbbed. Vaguely she was aware of Buck trembling, too, his muscles all straining, his growls raw and broken. Moments later he lowered himself onto her, but immediately rolled onto his back so that she was on top.
For several minutes they lay there like that. Then Sadie felt him pull out of her, and even that was an enjoyable experience.
“My backside is cold.”
He grunted and blindly reached for a sheet, dragging it up and over her. “Sleep woman. I need to recoup my strength.”
His heartbeat was a steady thumping beneath her cheek. His arms were around her, his hands now cuddling her bottom, presumably to warm it. And she felt so lax, so utterly replete, that she dozed off without a single care on her mind.