She stiffened at the mention of what they did earlier. She clearly didn’t want to talk about it, and under the circumstance he wasn’t going to press. But tomorrow was a different day and he was going to get to the bottom of things with her.
“It was just a one-nighter, Sean.”
Sean grabbed a soda, cracked the can and handed it to her. “Fine, I’ll take the sofa.”
“No you won’t. I will.”
“My territory. My rules.”
“I’m not going to put you out of your bed.”
“Fine then. You have two choices. You sleep in it with me. Or I take the sofa.”
“You can take the sofa,” she said, and took a long drink from her can.
With that, Sean grabbed another slice and tried not to think about how sexy she looked dressed in his clothes, her long wet hair dampening the white shirt and giving him a nice view of her pretty pink nipples.
When they finally finished eating, Madison stretched. “I should get to bed, and you still need that shower.”
“Right.”
An awkward silence fell over them as they both made their way down his hall. Sean stopped outside the bathroom door and pointed the way to her, not trusting himself to be anywhere near her when there was a bed in close proximity.
She gave a nod. “See you bright and early.”
Sean scrubbed his hand over his jaw. “Right, the interview outside the station.”
Sean jumped into the shower, and even though there was plenty of hot water left, he blasted the cold. He quickly washed himself down and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then when he spotted his jeans, her sexy panties in the back pocket, he remembered he didn’t have any clean clothes to put on.
He made his way to the bedroom and knocked softly. “Madison, I need to grab a pair of pants.”
“Come in,” she whispered quietly.
As soon as he pushed open the door and caught sight of her between his sheets, a loud bang sounded out on the street.
Madison tensed and was just about to throw her covers off, but Sean put up a hand to halt her. “Wait here.”
“I’m not staying here.”
When she gave him an agitated look, he said, “On the job, you’re in charge, but you’re in my territory now, remember?”
She threw off the covers. “Forget it, Sean. I’m coming.”
Sean was about to protest but simply shook his head instead. “Fine, but I go first. Remember, male pride and all.”
Sean pulled on a pair of jeans, and they made their way to the front door. When he pushed it open, the same uneasy feeling that someone was watching him had the hairs on his nape rising in warning. He stepped outside, glanced around the street, and relaxed when he spotted a tipped garbage can, a raccoon sifting through the contents inside.
When he turned back, Madison was standing so close to him he nearly crashed into her. “Just a raccoon,” he said.
They both stepped inside and he locked the door behind him. He followed Madison back to the bedroom. She moved past him, jumped into his bed and pulled the blankets up.
As he stared at her, he knew tonight’s blaze had rattled her more than she let on. He also knew Madison was brave and courageous, but as she lay there in his bed, he couldn’t help thinking she looked a little lost, a little thrown off her game. And why wouldn’t she, considering what she’d gone through? As everything inside him reached out to her, he couldn’t stop himself from crossing the room to slip in beside her. When he put his hand on her shoulder to offer his comfort, she turned her back to him and he felt her stiffen, her guard back in place.
“What are you—?”
“I’m just going to stay here for a little bit.”
“I don’t think—”
“Just until you fall asleep.”
“Why?”
He gave a mock shiver and knew she wasn’t ready to talk about her vulnerabilities, so he said, “The truth is that was one big-ass raccoon.” He snuggled closer. “I’m just hiding out in here until I’m sure he’s gone,” he teased, trying to lighten her mood and help her relax.
When he felt her warm heat wrap around him, his cock thickened, despite his vow to keep it marshaled.
The low noise in her throat matched his, and he could have sworn it was a heady mixture of arousal and need. Either that or his cock was bruising her luscious backside as it pressed deep, seeking entry. Good God, he couldn’t seem to keep his dick from swelling when in her presence.
“Sean,” she said again, and he wondered if she was going to kick his sorry ass to the other room, but then she took him by surprise and said, “Good night.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. She shuffled beside him, pulling her blankets higher, and a moment later her hand found his. As her fingers curled through his, he felt her body relax into his.
He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Get some sleep, sweetheart.”
As much as she aroused him, and as much as he’d love to bury himself in her and help her forget all her worries, tonight he was determined to just hold her and make her feel safe.
Tomorrow, however, was a different story. His original plan had been to talk to her, to tell her how desirable she really was, and how much they belonged together, but he suddenly knew talking wasn’t enough. He now knew that Madison had pushed him away because of her insecurities, because she didn’t feel desirable or worthy of love. He’d have to show her how special she really was and he also knew it would take drastic measures to prove to a smart, sexy woman like her that he was interested in playing for keeps.
5
Streaks of morning light filtered in through the crack in the curtains, the bright rays pulling Madison from her deep, restful slumber. As she stretched her arms out, memories of last night
