“I should go,” she whispered.
But he tucked her under the covers and climbed in behind her. Because God help him, he couldn’t send her away. Not when she was so close.
Would they ever have a shot at anything more than this fantasy? It seemed less and less possible.
He hugged her against him. “Stay here tonight. In my bed. In the fantasy.”
She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t try to leave, either. Her soft, even breathing was all the answer he needed for now. Because at least for tonight, she’d stay. In his arms. In the fantasy. Even though he couldn’t get reality out of his mind.
Chapter Nine
Chloe opened her eyes and stretched. The soft covers floated around her like a cloud, surrounding her in warmth, tranquility, and…
Panic.
She was in Gage’s bed. The soft light of late morning filtered through the room and warmed her face, but he was nowhere to be seen.
What had happened? She’d had sex with Gage…in the mud, during a rainstorm. He’d taken her to his place, and then they’d showered and gone to bed without having sex again. What had he been thinking? What had she been thinking? Showering without sex. Sleeping in the same bed without sex. The only people who did that were people in relationships. The kind of people she’d insisted she and Gage could never be.
She should have left him last night as soon as she saw where this was going. Instead, she’d lain there, her head against his chest, and had fallen asleep.
What had she been thinking? What had he been saying?
Everything in the light of day felt more like a mess than last night, which was an actual mess. He wanted to see where things went between them? Like on a serious level? Dating?
She shook her head. No. He’d be gone as soon as the next mission came his way—then everything would go back to normal. He’d get caught back up in saving people, and by the time he came back, he’d have forgotten about changing what was between them into something that couldn’t last.
Damn him. Damn him for making her care about him. Damn him for opening her up to the kind of loss she couldn’t face. She’d seen how love—and loss—had destroyed her mother. She wouldn’t let it destroy her, too. She knew better.
This had to stop. She was already getting too attached to Gage. Usually, he’d be gone by now and she’d never have the chance to think these things, to feel for him. Except he’d been here for a few days, and already her heart was opening to him in ways it never should.
She should cut this off now. Tell him to leave her alone, at least for now. Maybe forever.
The front door opened, and Gage walked in carrying a paper bag. He headed her way, set it on the bed, and quickly kissed her lips. She glared at him.
“Well good morning to you too,” he said.
“I need to go.” She started to roll off the bed, but he stopped her.
“I got you a sandwich.” He unwrapped the food from the bag and handed it to her.
She lifted a slice of bread and examined the ingredients. “No bell peppers or mustard?”
“No. I thought you hated those.”
“I do,” she whispered. He knew her so well—down to how she liked her sandwiches…
He knew her.
She shook her head. “I really should go.”
“I didn’t poison your food,” he said sarcastically.
She got up and tugged on her dress, which had dried mud on it, but she didn’t care. Her place was only a few blocks away, and if walking down Main Street looking like a slob was what she had to do to get out of there, she would. Because the world was crashing around her and she was losing hold on her safe indifference.
“Tell me what’s going on,” he said.
She tugged on her shoes.