Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Even if she didn’t know it yet.
6
PEYTON
Iblinked awake, acutely aware of the weight pressed against my back. I’d never slept with a man before, but I didn’t freak out because it could only be one person—Reid.
His warmth surrounded me, his woodsy scent filling my nostrils and providing me with a comfort I hadn’t expected. Which was probably why I slept so long.
After taking a nap yesterday morning and then passing out after lunch and sleeping through the night, I figured I’d be up before the sun. Yet somehow, I still felt groggy and heavy-limbed. After being knocked unconscious, it was as though my body decided now was the perfect time to rest in a way I hadn’t in too long.
I had a feeling it wasn’t just the exhaustion catching up with me. That it was because of Reid, too. Maybe being close to him was enough to flip a switch in my brain and let me shut down safely for a while.
Shifting slightly, I tried not to wake him and felt a tug in my shoulder. It was sore and tight, but not as bad as I expected. The pain was manageable—probably in large part because Reid woke me up in the middle of the night to take pain meds and drink more water.
I let my eyes adjust, a small smile tugging at my lips as I scanned the room. The room was exactly what I’d expect for a guy like Reid—spartan but solid. And incredibly masculine…much like the man himself.
It was a good thing I’d been so tired when he brought me in here yesterday, because there wasn’t much furniture besides the bed—just a desk and chair, a small sofa, a bedside table, and a dresser. The lack of clutter left me with only the flat-screen television on the wall for distraction.
And Reid, while he was with me.
I rolled just enough to look over my shoulder, wincing at the sharp pain that lanced through it. Reid was on his side, one arm bent behind his head, the other resting loosely over my waist. The covers had slipped down to his hips, leaving his broad chest bare.
My eyes widened as I took in the black ink on his tanned skin. I’d gotten a small hint of his tattoos yesterday, but now they were fully on display for me.
I was fascinated by the designs inked on his shoulders and pecs, but it was the lettering running down his right side that practically begged my fingers to trace it. Blocky and unfamiliar, the characters went from beneath his ribs all the way down into the waistband of his sweats.
I had no idea what it said, but to my surprise, I had the urge to run my tongue over each letter.
Squeezing my eyes shut for a second, I wondered what the heck was wrong with me. Reid had literally pulled me from a collapsed building yesterday and probably hadn’t slept more than a few hours since…and here I was, fantasizing about licking my way down to his happy trail.
I swallowed hard and buried the urge deep. This was my first time feeling this kind of magnetic pull toward a guy, but the timing couldn’t be worse.
While I was peeking at his face again, his lashes flickered, then lifted. His dark eyes were instantly alert and locked straight onto mine as though he’d known I was watching him. My breath hitched at the intensity in his gaze, the low rumble of his voice breaking through the quiet. “Morning, baby.”
I liked it when he used the endearment yesterday, but my reaction paled in comparison to hearing it from him first thing in the morning when his deep voice was still raspy. I felt the impact of that word in places I probably shouldn’t, especially considering I was recovering from nearly being buried alive. But that didn’t stop the butterflies from swirling in my belly.
“Morning,” I murmured back, suddenly shy despite the fact that we’d just spent the night curled up together.
His mouth curved slightly, as though he knew exactly what kind of thoughts were racing through my mind. “How’re you feelin’?”
“Honestly?” I shifted closer to him and took stock of my body again. “Surprisingly good. I mean, my shoulder’s still sore as heck, but nothing like yesterday. And my head’s relatively clear now that I’m fully awake, which is a nice surprise.”
“Glad to hear it.” He stretched, the motion making every muscle in his chest ripple as he propped himself up on one elbow. “You must’ve needed the rest. You were out cold when I came back last night. Didn’t even twitch when I climbed into bed.”
Heat crawled up my neck and into my cheeks. “You, um…slept next to me?”
That half smile turned into something closer to a smirk, though it still held softness. “Hoped you’d sleep better if I was close. Guess I was right.”