He wasn’t a long-lost lover back to sweep me off my feet. Neither was he some kind of romantic hero or a prince charming who would make everything better with one kiss. Although, I wouldn’t mind walking my fingers down the line of his happy trail and wrapping my fingers around his c—
“Like what you see?” He asked, sounding sleepy. Max yawned, yipped, turned around, and snuggled into the crook of Keegan’s arm. Traitor.
I folded my arms. The outline of my hard nipples beneath the robe wasn’t something he needed to see. “I wanted to make sure you were still breathing because if you were, I was going to put a pillow over your face to remedy that.”
He rolled over and dove for my hand. “More lies.”
Afraid his touch would turn me to mush, I jumped out of his way and sat on the edge of a fireside chair. Taking care to avoid glancing in his direction, because I might surrender to my lust and leap on top of him, I yanked my robe tighter and rested my chin on top of my balled fists.
“We can’t sleep in the same bed,” I pointed out. “You know that, right?”
One of his hands held the sheer curtain back while the other hand absently stroked Max’s back. This would go down in my personal history as the first time I’d ever been jealous of a dog.
“Where do you want me to sleep? On the flagstone floor?”
“I’ll call Brendan and have him bring up a cot.”
“I’m six-two and 200 lbs, and you want me to sleep on a cot?” The bed creaked, adding all kinds of sordid images to my already X-rated thoughts. “When the fire dies, I’ll freeze to death. You’re not that cruel.”
I smiled, imagining him curled up in a ball and shivering on a narrow bed with the sheets sliding off. “I think you’ll find I am.”
“If you’re worried about your virtue, Tessa, it’s safe with me.”
If only it were my virtue that worried me. I gave my head a mental shake. For crying out loud, I was a grown woman capable of keeping myself in check. It wasn’t like I’d rip his clothes off in the wee hours and beg him to screw me.
“Fine. Whatever.” I dismissed him with a wave of my hand. “You can sleep in the bed but keep to your side. I’ll make sure there are enough pillows down the middle in case you feel like cuddling something during the night.”
“I wouldn’t dream of venturing into no man’s land. I value my life too much.”
“I’m a light sleeper. One move from you, and I’ll bite you where it hurts.”
“Promises. Promises.” His lidded gaze slid down my body, stopping on my bare legs.
Shit. When was the last time I’d shaved? A week ago? Longer. To check the prickle depth, I ran my toes up my calf. Less than two weeks, longer than one. Why did I even care?
“Does that mean you’re okay sharing a bed?” he asked.
“It’s not like I have much of a choice.” Who was I kidding? I had lots of choices, but sharing a bed with Keegan, even if he were a stranger, wouldn’t be all that bad. Would it? It wasn’t like I hadn’t shared a bed with a stranger before. But at least this time, it wouldn’t end with drunk, disappointing sex followed by a walk of shame in wrinkled clothes and smeared makeup. My college years hadn’t been my finest.
I stomped over to my suitcase, unzipped it, and selected a pair of fleecy pajamas covered with cartoon Christmas kittens.
“Very sexy.” Keegan raised a judgmental eyebrow. “You can be certain no moves will be made with you wearing those.”
“They’re not for your benefit. And anyway, look who’s talking. You’re wearing a washed-out t-shirt and sweatpants. Lucky lady who gets to go to bed with you.”
He stretched, causing his t-shirt to ride higher, revealing more of the delicious line running down the center of his abdomen. “Got that right.” He showed he wasn’t serious by giving me a cheeky smile and a sexy wink.
I bit back a grin, grabbed a lacy, black thong from my suitcase, and threw it on the bed beside him. “Those more your taste?”
Using his pointer finger, he scooped up the flimsy thong and dangled it from his fingertip. “Not really. Underwear tends to get in the way. I’d rip these off in less than a second.”
My breath hitched, and my heartbeat accelerated. Would he use his teeth or his hands to rip them off? “Are you always so… you?”
“What’s wrong with being me?”
“If only I had time to make a list.” I hugged my PJs to my chest and marched into the bathroom.
Leaning against the vanity, I took several deep breaths before facing myself in the mirror. My eyes sparkled, and a rosy glow flushed my cheeks, which pissed me off even more. “Asshole. Shithead.”
Shaking with a mixture of cold and anger and something else I didn’t want to acknowledge, I shoved my pajamas on in record time. When my temper had subsided enough to go into the bedroom without picking up the closest blunt object and throwing it at him, I put a wide smile on my face and opened the door.
“I’m going to get some hot chocolate, do some work, then I’m going to sleep.”
“Live it up why don’t you?” Keegan was already beneath the covers and had erected a barricade of pillows down the middle of the bed.
“Judge me all you want, but you don’t have a clue.” I slid my feet into furry bunny slippers and left the room.
Chapter Eight
Keegan
I caught sight of Tessa’s skimpy underwear and picked them up. The scent of vanilla drifted upward—did everything of
