Gray looked at me, an eyebrow raised, amusement in his eyes. “Cats are so weird.”
The expression faded away as I smiled up at him and that thing between us grew heavy again. Even in the low light of the fire, his pupils dilated even farther. He turned to go but stopped when I called his name.
I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was what I wanted, and what I wanted was him.
Which was stupid.
“Sleep well,” I said instead, pulling the blanket up to my chin.
He hesitated for a moment and my heart began to pound as he took a step in my direction. He cursed, then muttered something else under his breath and headed toward the door. Just before he closed it, he said, “Sweet dreams.”
***
The room was cold, the fire having died down to embers, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. In a blink, it all came rushing back to me. The blizzard. The accident. Him.
I closed my eyes, turning my face into the pillow that smelled like Gray and inhaled deeply. I wondered how long I would be staying here, sleeping in his bed, eating his food, soaking in his tub. I wondered if the attraction that was evident between us last night would still be alive in the light of day. More importantly, I wondered if we’d act on it.
The thought didn’t scare me.
Which was what scared me more than anything.
I knew basically zero about the man. Hell, he could be married or engaged or in a significant relationship. And if he wasn’t, why did he live all the way up here by himself? Was he hiding from someone? Was he a criminal on the lamb? Was he right now planning on peeling off my skin and wearing it as a corset? Would he kill me quickly or torture me first, pulling off one nail at a time?
The thing was… I didn’t think any of that bad stuff could be true. I’d be able to tell if he were an ax murderer, wouldn’t I?
Surely, I wasn’t so emotionally messed up that the first man I felt an attraction for was a serial killer. Of course, my track record wasn’t so great. The first time I went to a bar by myself, that hadn’t ended so well. But I was supposed to meet my mother. She wasn’t there.
I’m going to make you feel good.
I shivered and turned onto my side, gazing at the glowing embers, wishing my Super Z teleportation abilities would cause wood to appear on the coals. It was still very dark outside the tall windows, and so quiet. The silence was like a living thing around me. I wanted nothing more than to stay under the warm covers and go back to sleep, but my bladder had ideas of its own.
Careful of my still throbbing head, I groaned as I sat up and swung my legs out of the bed, shivering as my bare feet touched the cool floor. There was a movement, but it was just Maggie lifting her head, the kitten still curled into a tiny ball at her side.
I scratched behind her ears and she leaned into my hand. I’d always wanted animals but since we never knew where we’d be living, I was never allowed. One of Mom’s boyfriends had a Newfoundland I adored. Deke adored me too and would sleep with me, rarely leaving my side. I had been brokenhearted when Mom and the guy — I couldn’t even remember his name — broke up and he gave us twenty-four hours to get out. That was when I learned to not get too attached. To be nice but keep a safe distance. To not give up too much of my heart.
Maggie licked my hand, and a tiny piece of said heart broke off and floated down into Maggie Land. “Such a good girl,” I cooed and gave her chin and neck a good rub.
At my words, the kitten woke, jerking awake in an instant. Hissing and spitting, the little thing sliced a paw in the air even though I hadn’t touched him. Maggie just seemed to roll her eyes, and I laughed. “He’ll come around, I bet. A couple more servings of milk and he’ll be ours forever.”
Forever? What was I saying?
It was like this cabin was some kind of portal to a land I was unfamiliar with, a land where I did and said and thought things I normally didn’t. Frowning, I picked up the lantern Gray left by my bed. With a flick, the soft light drove the night away, and I stood, giving myself time to catch my balance before staggering like an old woman to the bathroom.
I peed and washed my hands, frowning at the dark purple bruises that had now appeared on my face. By the morning, my right eye would boast a spectacular shiner, I suspected. At least it would match the nasty looking bruise on my forehead.
Goddess.
I snorted. That was what Gray called me earlier, but I was more like a dime-store hooker now.
Shivering hard, I grabbed the lantern and made my way from the bathroom and startled when I opened the door. It was Gray. He was tossing some additional wood on the fire, and he barely looked my way as I stepped into the room.
Instead of jeans, he was wearing a pair of sweat pants that rode low on his hips, and a white t-shirt that did nothing to hide the muscles underneath. His toes were bare, and seeing them caused something deep and low to twist in my belly.
Great. Now I was a slut with a foot fetish. I was definitely blaming my head injury on that one.
My mouth was dry, but I managed to say, “Thank you. I was going to do that myself.”
“No problem. The other fire was down so I figured yours was too. When I heard you get up, I thought I’d take the opportunity to make sure you were warm.”
Turning off the lantern, I set it down and tightened the belt of the robe, less because it needed it and more for something to do with my hands.
When the fire was blazing again, I stepped closer to it. The instant warmth caused me to shudder. Or maybe it was because our shoulders were only inches apart.
“How are you feeling?”
My fingers explored my shiner. “Better. Steadier, I think. I’ll resemble Mrs. Frankenstein for a few days, but like you said earlier, I was lucky so I can’t complain.”
“You’re beauti—” The compliment died in the space between us. He cleared his throat and scratched at his beard. “Need anything before I go?”
You. Your lips on mine. Your hands in my hair.
“I think I’ll get something to drink, maybe take a few Tylenol, if that’s okay.”
He headed toward the bedroom door like there was a lion about to take a chunk out of his ass. “No problem. Anything you want, just ask.”
I followed more slowly, heard Maggie jump from the bed. Turning back, I saw the kitten look over the edge. Going back for him, I managed to escape his claws and gather him to my chest.
“Do you need to pee too?”
I smiled when he gave me a tiny purr as I scratched behind his ears and under his chin. He was learning to handle being touched, and even enjoying it. As I headed to the kitchen, I wondered if there was a metaphor in that.
Gray had lit several more lanterns so the kitchen was glowing in the soft light. “Do you have a box?”