The silence between them stretched, yet it wasn’t uncomfortable as night crickets, rustling leaves, and the occasional snap and crackle of the fire filled the void. Marley stroked the back of his hand, lightly playing with the golden hairs sprinkled across his skin. His fingers splayed over her ribs, the width of his hand large enough that his thumb brushed the underside of her breast through her tank top, while his pinkie finger almost reached her waist.
She closed her eyes as a wave of contentment washed over her. She could happily stay like this with him forever. Thoughts of Nate and Karl and Dale tried to intrude, but she pushed them away to concentrate on the feel of Justin’s body enveloping her in its warmth.
She drew in a deep breath, and as his subtle scent filled her senses, she decided just this once she could be selfish. She would enjoy the moment and worry about life’s sobering complications later.
When her eyelids drooped a few minutes later, she didn’t fight sleep. Instead she snuggled deeper into his embrace and gave in to the exhaustion.
“Marley?” His voice rumbled through her body.
“Hmm.”
“Thank you.”
“Mm-hm.” She hugged his arms tight for a moment.
“Tired?”
“Mmmm-hm.”
“Want to go inside?”
“Nm-mm.”
****
Justin woke with that crick in his neck but a warm body in his arms. From the look and feel of it, the fire had died out hours ago. Only a tiny curl of smoke rose lazily from the gray ashes. The first rays of the rising sun shone from behind the house, chasing the night across the mountains to the west of the city.
He would’ve enjoyed the scenic view laid out before him from the top of the ridge, but he had something more beautiful to look at; Marley’s head pillowed on his shoulder. Waking with her in his arms made his sore neck more than worth it.
Last night had been hard and easy all in one. Hard to talk about the accident, but easy to talk to her. He had tried to explain a few different times to Jordan, but could never come up with the words. With Marley, he hadn’t struggled for the words, they were just there. She’d offered him support from the beginning, and given comfort at the exact moment he needed it most.
He wasn’t even disappointed things hadn’t turned physical. That was a revelation in itself because he actively avoided relationships. This, lying here with her, simply enjoying holding her without expecting anything else, smacked of relationship like nothing he’d ever done before. It was more than a little disconcerting, but exciting at the same time.
Marley murmured in her sleep and snuggled closer. His arm had fallen asleep and after she shifted, the numbness made way for that annoying tingling sensation. A quick glance at his watch told him they should get going anyway, so he reluctantly woke her up.
Her sleep-filled eyes blinked up at him, the soft green of them drawing him in like the automatic rewind on a measuring tape. His stomach somersaulted, and his heart started to pound.
“Morning?” Her low voice was extra sexy in its sleep roughness. After all his sappy thoughts of a minute ago, he suddenly wanted her so bad it hurt.
He cleared his throat and shifted her to a less painful position. “Yeah, it’s morning.”
“I s’pose it’s time to get up.” She stretched against him like a contented cat and Justin didn’t know how much more he could take.
“We should get to the hospital to talk to Nate.”
She sat up then, fully awake, and he regretted mentioning Nate so soon. He didn’t like being the one to bring that look of fear to her face. But reality always had a way of intruding, and like it or not, they had to face it.
“I want to make a few calls, too.” He stood after she did. “One to Chuck, and the emergency crew. I want to follow up on the possibility that one of them could’ve been on call like you said.”
“To match the footprint.”
“Exactly.” He followed her inside. When she started for the kitchen, he took hold of her arm. “You want tea or coffee?”
She gave him a look of surprise. “Coffee.”
“Go get ready, I’ll bring you a cup.” Then he grinned. “I’m guessing sugar—lots of it.”
She smiled sheepishly. “Three teaspoons, no cream.”