I rose from the floor and walked to the fireplace, adding more kindling to it. It might get colder tonight, and I wanted to keep her warm.
Was she warm enough now? Did she need a thicker blanket? I frowned at the flames.
What the hell is this? What the hell am I feeling?
I was an expert at blocking things out—thoughts and feelings. These things were dangerous if I let them take rein. But ever since I’d met her, I couldn’t find the switch to turn them the hell off.
I tensed when I heard the rustle of sheets on the bed as she pulled herself up.
“Hey, Bigfoot.”
Damn. Damn. Damn. I lowered my head. Fought it. Failed. I gave up and smiled.
“Don’t run away,” she said.
I looked at her over my shoulder. And my heart thudded against my chest.
Her hair looked dark in the firelight. It tumbled over her shoulders, as if she’d just woken from a wild night of sex. Her eyes, feline eyes I couldn’t get out of my head no matter what I did, watched me now, waiting, wondering.
“Are you sorry you told me?” she whispered.
Told her about the maze? Never.
“No.”
“Then what is it?” she asked. “Because you’re doing it again.”
I had no explanation for her. I couldn’t even understand what I was feeling, so how could I even begin to explain?
I crossed over to her, my eyes on hers. She surprised me when she scrambled up, kneeling on the bed facing me. I stopped in front of her.
“I don’t mean to do it again,” I said.
The fire popped and sizzled behind me.
“Is it hard to talk about it?”
“Yeah.”
We were whispering in the dark. I could see the light from the flames playing on her alluring face. Slowly, I reached out and stroked her cheek, slid my hands down, and held both sides of her neck as I rubbed her nape with my fingers. She closed her eyes, her body leaning in for more.
“But we both know you can get anything out of me if you want to, don’t we?” I said. It wasn’t a question.
Now she smiled. A knowing smile. She tipped her face up to me, silently demanding a kiss, and I kissed her softly, taking my time, nibbling on her bottom lip.
My hands traveled down to her shoulders, her arms, then gripped her hips, and I lifted her up. I loved how she automatically hooked her arms and legs around me, how trusting she was that I wouldn’t let her fall.
“Did I give you blue balls?”
I smirked. “Yeah. Big time, but you made up for it when you screamed my name.”
“I did not!” she blustered. “I think you screamed my name.”
I nuzzled her neck. “We’ll do more when you’re ready.” Don’t think about that. “Can’t sleep?”
It took her a moment to reply. “No.” Her voice was raspy, and I wondered if she was thinking of the more. I wanted her to be. “Where are you taking me?”
“Kitchen. You have to eat.”