“Well, this certainly isn’t a good bed for people who want personal space,” Cassie remarked, trying not to elbow her partner as they attempted to sort themselves out and get comfortable.
“Do you want personal space? I can sleep on the couch,” Stone offered.
“No, no!” Cassie assured him hastily. “I was just saying, that’s all. Look,” she added, wiggling around. “I was joking about the spooning before, but now I think it might be the only way we can sleep on this bed without squishing each other.”
“All right. I will be the ‘little spoon’ as you requested to be the ‘big spoon.’” Stone turned on his side, putting his broad, bare back to her.
Cassie turned on her side as well and tried to get comfortable, but to be honest, it wasn’t working. Stone was way too big for her to spoon him comfortably and the position just felt wrong.
“This isn’t working, Stone,” she said at last, after shifting restlessly to try and get to a better position. “You’re too big—I feel like a flea on a dog’s back!”
“It does not work for me, either. Let’s try it the other way.” And Stone turned over to face her.
Cassie gave a little gasp as his hard, muscular chest brushed against her breasts and their bodies connected front-to-front. She was naked under her thin nightgown and she felt the heat of her partner’s big, muscular body like a brand against her own.
For a long moment, they looked into each other’s eyes and Cassie thought he was going to kiss her. In that moment, she knew she would have let him—in fact, she wanted him to. But finally, Stone spoke, breaking the breathless silence between them.
“Turn over, Cassandra,” he murmured, his voice hoarse and low. “Let us see if it works for me to be the ‘big spoon’.”
Biting her lip, Cassie did as he said. At once, Stone pulled her close, cradling her body with his own, surrounding her completely. His size and strength made her feel like a child again but in a good way. She felt protected…cared for…loved.
No, don’t be stupid, Cassie. Don’t make this into something it’s not, she lectured herself. Stone is just spooning with you because it’s your first night on a weird new planet and he’s trying to make you feel safe and comfortable. He’s being a gentleman, like always. So don’t start catching feelings—remember what happened with Gil when you let yourself love him.
But she couldn’t help liking the way her partner’s big body surrounded hers. His warm, dark scent filled her senses and his muscular arms held her close, making her feel safe and secure as she never had while sleeping with any other man.
“Mmm, this is better,” Stone murmured in her ear. “I think I should always be the ‘big spoon’.”
“I think you’re right,” Cassie murmured. “I mean, as long as we’re here, anyway.”
“Yes…” He sighed softly in her ear. “After this mission, we will never have a reason to be spoons together again.”
His awkward phrasing made Cassie smile but his words made her sad. He was right—they were going back to plain friendship once they got back to Earth. What excuse would they ever have to sleep together entwined again?
Well, then you’d better make the most of it now, whispered a little voice in her head. Enjoy it while you can, Cassie.
“We should get some sleep,” she said aloud. “Got a big day tomorrow.”
“You’re correct. We should sleep,” Stone rumbled in her ear. “Lights, very dim,” he added and the glows in the corners of the room slowly dimmed themselves in response, until the room was in almost total darkness. “Goodnight, Cassandra,” he murmured.
“Good night, Stone,” Cassie whispered back.
And settling herself more comfortably against her partner’s broad chest, she allowed herself to sink into darkness.
Thirty-Two
A persistent knocking on the door woke Stone and he frowned as he realized there was someone in bed with him. Someone small and soft who had a sweet, familiar scent.
Cassandra! he realized, looking down at his partner, who was cradled against him.
How many times had he dreamed of sleeping with her in his arms? How many times had he longed to touch her, to bring her pleasure? To taste her sweet juices? Many of his dreams had come true the night before—so many that he almost feared he was still dreaming.
It was a dream he never wanted to end.
But then the knocking on the door, which had woken him up, came again and someone called from outside,
“Wake up! By order of his Slimefullness, Xempi Gozeriam, come to the door!”
“What?” Cassandra stirred in his arms. “Who is it, Stone?” she murmured sleepily. “Tell them to go ‘way.”
Stone was inclined to do exactly that. But he couldn’t ignore the knocker’s use of their new employer’s name. He was certain that here on Bachanalius, whatever Xempi Gozeriam wanted, Xempi Gozeriam got—and right now he apparently wanted them to get up for some reason.