Bare Skin (Skin Deep 5)

Chapter 16

Dani

I blinked my eyes a couple times before realizing that I was still blanketed in darkness. I’d just woken out of a sound sleep, but I couldn’t figure out why. I don’t think I’d been dreaming, and I don’t remember hearing something, but I held very still, listening hard to see if any sound had come from the baby monitor sitting beside the bed. Nothing. No sounds coming from anywhere, actually, with the exception of the soft breathing behind me.

My gaze landed on the green digital display of the alarm clock, noting that it was only four in the morning. Four a.m. meant that it was Saturday now, and I’d been at Calland’s for almost two weeks.

The time I’d been here had been uneventful, comfortable even. I hadn’t left during the evening, though, not since that Tuesday night. I’d been able to do a little bit of my…surveillance, for lack of a better word, during the days as Calland was at work all day long. But I couldn’t take the look on his face when I’d come back that night.

He’d looked so suspicious, though he’d kept his word, not badgering me for details or anything. I knew he’d wanted to, doubly so for figuring out the reason I’d been crying. I’d never confirmed it, never actually come out and said that he was right, that I’d been sobbing that night. But I had been.

Because I’d found what I’d been searching for. And I’d never felt so much relief, anger, and elation all at once before. And guilt.

I’d been back there a few times, like I said, for my ‘surveillance,’ but I still didn’t know what to do next, how to move forward with what had to happen. I didn’t know what would happen, but I knew that it could have significant impact for quite a few others. And depending on what happened, that impact could be fucking awesome…or it could be absolutely devastating.

I sighed, not wanting to go down that road right now, but it was hard not to, lying here awake.

I wasn’t happy about being up this early, especially because I couldn’t figure out why I was up this early. But that didn’t mean that I didn’t push my thoughts away enough to take advantage of the moment, to enjoy the quietness, to revel in the feel of Calland’s hard chest pressing against my back, his arm thrown around my waist, holding me against him even in sleep.

Like he’d done every night since I gave in to him.

I worried that I’d regret doing it, regret coming to stay with him, given the fact that he was a virtual stranger to me, no matter how much I wanted to jump his sexy ass. But I hadn’t. In fact, my biggest worry now was if I’d be able to walk away from him when it was time.

He was absolutely amazing with Kaden, and he made me laugh constantly. He was sweet, but he was also totally alpha male…and at night, when the baby was asleep and we were alone? Holy. Fucking. Hotness.

And his family? God, I loved his family. Every single one of them, because I’d met them all last weekend at something they all called Sunday breakfast. Even the extended-not-really-related ones like Allie’s grandma, whom everyone called Nanny. She was probably the greatest person I’d ever met in my life. I’d laughed so hard the entire time she was there, especially when she’d pinched Brandon’s ass and insinuated something about seeing him naked again. (I hadn’t worked up the courage to ask when she’d seen him naked to begin with, but I had a feeling it’d be a hilarious story.)

Calland’s arm tightened around me as he shifted. “You’re thinking too hard over there,” he murmured, his voice thick and gravelly with sleep. “What time is it?”

“Just after four,” I replied quietly.

He leaned forward, kissing my shoulder. “What are you doing awake?”

“Nothing. I just woke up for some reason. What are you doing awake?” I asked him back.

He stretched against me and yawned before he answered, “Trying to figure out what you wanted, or if something was wrong. You kept tapping me.”

“Huh? I wasn’t tapping you…I was just lying here thinking.”

“Dani. You’re still doing it.”

Awareness slowly seeped into me, and I realized that my fingers had been non-stop tapping against his arm. I jerked them away, feeling like a moron.

“I’m so sorry,” I told him, twisting in his arms so I was facing him. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

His lips found mine in the darkness, kissing me softly, but he pulled away quickly and rolled off the bed. “Hold that thought.”

I giggled softly as he stumbled into the bathroom. He was back in a flash, sliding back into bed and rolling me under him.

“Now, where were we?” he said, his head lowering until his lips were nuzzling my throat.

“Mmmm…” I groaned, arching my neck to give him better access, but then froze, realizing that I had just woken up and probably had dragon breath.

“Wait a second,” I blurted, my hands pushing against his shoulders. “Let me up real quick.”

I felt him lift his head immediately. “What’s wrong?” he asked in concern.

“I just gotta get up for a minute. Like you did,” I hinted.

He got the message, chuckling as he moved. “You could have just said you had to pee.”

I huffed as I rolled off the bed. “I’m a lady, Calland. I don’t announce when I gotta take a piss.”

I smiled to myself as I closed the door behind me, my smile growing to a grin when I heard him bust out laughing. I hurried, doing what I needed to do and then took the time to brush my teeth before making my way back to the bed.

I’d barely made it to the side of the bed when he grabbed me, yanking me onto the mattress and rolling me under him once again.

“Finally,” he said, his lips finding mine in the darkness. He slid his tongue along my bottom lip and I opened for him, touching it with mine. He tasted minty and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped.

He jerked his head back. “I don’t think it’s ever a good sign when a woman laughs when you kiss her.”