So much for her heightened emotions and her fear of what she might say in the heat of the moment. The thought of having him inside her was fast chasing out other considerations.
“Honey, I’ve wished for it harder than you know. But I want it to be right, not rushed.” He kissed her, a chaste peck on the lips that had her aching for more.
Kayla couldn’t stop the jaw-cracking yawn that hit her at that moment. Zach gave her an I told you so look. Then he reached past her to where her wine was sitting on the sill and handed it to her. She took a sip and turned around slowly to take in the walls again.
“Come on, beautiful. You look like you’re about to fall down,” Zach said. “Let’s sit on the couch for a few minutes.”
She followed him to the living room and sank onto the couch beside him. It wasn’t a great piece of furniture, but it was comfortable enough. “Is this yours or did it come with the house?”
“It’s the landlord’s. Most of the furniture is, with the exception of the stuff in my bedroom. And the bed in the master. That was Dirty’s but he left it when he moved in with Chloe.”
Kayla yawned again, feeling drowsy and secure as she snuggled in beside Zach. “It’s a comfortable bed. And a lonely one…” She jerked as the words left her lips. Had she really just said them aloud?
“I know, honey. I’m lonely too.”
A hot feeling rushed over her. She didn’t want to be alone. Not tonight. Not when she would probably wake up a million times in fear that someone was coming into the room to steal Ana away. “Then sleep with me, Zach. Just sleep. I’ll keep all my clothes on and everything—”
God, what was she saying? Begging him to sleep with her? Sounding desperate and pitiful at the same time?
But she’d said it and it was out there now, hovering between them.
He sighed and skimmed his fingers down her cheek. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
Heat flooded her cheeks. “It’s okay. I understand.” She sipped her wine to cover her disappointment.
He put his fingers beneath her chin and turned her to face him. “Is it important to you?”
She started to tell him no, it was fine, forget it. Instead, she nodded.
He dropped his chin. Sighed. “Okay, honey. I’ll sleep beside you tonight.”
Chapter Fourteen
Neo had to ask himself if he’d suffered a moment of temporary insanity when he’d agreed to sleep with Kayla all night. Especially once they were in bed and lying quietly in the dark. He could hear her breathing and he knew she wasn’t asleep. He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, and his dick was harder than stone.
Her small hand groped for his, and he closed his fingers around hers.
“It wasn’t fair to ask you to sleep here,” she said softly. “I’ll understand if you want to go.”
“I said I’d stay. I just need a moment to get things under control.”
A moment? Hell, what he needed was to bury himself inside her and take them both over the edge into that wild heat they’d explored before. Barring that, he needed a few minutes alone in the shower so he could jerk off and release some of the pressure.
He wasn’t getting either of those things, though.
Kayla turned onto her side and put a hand on his chest. She didn’t move it and she didn’t snuggle up to him.
Thank God for small favors.
“I’m sorry, Zach. I seem to cause you nothing but trouble.”
He put his hand over hers and held it. He liked touching her, even such a simple touch as this. “I’ll live, Kayla.”
She didn’t say anything in response. Soon after, he heard her breaths lengthen and he knew she’d fallen asleep. Considering how exhausted she’d seemed earlier, he wasn’t surprised. He thought about slipping away now that she’d passed out, but even though he convinced himself he was going to do it, he never moved. He listened to her breathe, listened for Ana’s breathing, and felt himself relax. It took a while, because his body had a primal need to mate with hers, but it wasn’t the first time he’d been horny with no relief and it likely wouldn’t be the last. That was life.
Camel had asked him earlier what was really going on between him and Kayla. He’d told his teammate the truth: he didn’t really know, but it was intense and emotional and he’d put his life on the line to keep her and Ana safe. Camel had frowned for a second, but then he’d nodded and said, “Okay, brother.”
Neo didn’t remember falling asleep, but when he snapped awake sometime later, it was still dark. Kayla was beside him, softly snoring. She’d curled up to him, and he’d turned onto his side to bring her closer. They were tangled together like the roots of a tree.
A sound came from Ana’s crib, and he jolted into greater awareness, listening hard. Sure enough, she was starting to fuss. It was a small sound, but he suspected it would grow louder quickly if not attended to. He disentangled himself from Kayla without waking her and padded to the crib. Ana’s eyes were wide open and she was snuffling.
He picked her up and checked her diaper. Wet.
“Za,” she said sleepily.
Neo turned to look at the bed. Kayla hadn’t stirred. “Shh, Ana,” he whispered. “I think I can do this. You’ll help me, right?”
“Za.”
Zach reached for the diaper bag and walked out of the bedroom. He found the changing pad and placed it on the couch, then put Ana down and went to work getting her a fresh diaper. He wasn’t a pro or anything, but he’d changed his nephews a few times when he’d been visiting his sister and could tell she really needed the help.
It took him a couple of tries,
