June, Reimagined (42)

“And why not?”

In a flash, Lennox had June by the hips again, pulling her close. “Because I warned them that if anyone touched you, I’d rip his head off with my bare hands.” He released her. June could barely steady herself in her shock. “Night-night, Peanut.”





SEVENTEEN


June couldn’t sleep. She lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. It was seven in the morning. She had done what she said she would do, staying until the end of the party, then Amelia had dropped her at Lennox’s house in the still dark of morning. Eva and David had disappeared sometime around six. Angus was nowhere to be seen after five.

June wondered where Lennox was. His bed was empty. Her last sight of him was when he left the hall hours ago. A lot could happen in a few hours, June knew well, and her mind ran rampant with possibilities. As tired as she was, she knew she wouldn’t fall asleep until he was home.

June rolled onto her side and squeezed her eyes closed, willing herself into slumber. The back door creaked. She knew the sound well, from all the afternoons she had entered through the same door to pick up Max for a run. June held still, her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.

Lennox didn’t go up to his room. June sensed every step he took toward her. Soon she felt him near, standing in the doorway of the living room. She steadied her breath, even as Lennox knelt beside the couch.

“Peanut, are you awake?” he whispered. June pretended to be groggy as she peeled her eyes open. “You can’t stay here anymore.”

June propped herself up on her elbows, worried. “What?” Her voice was raspy and tired.

“I can’t let you stay on the couch one more hour. It isn’t right.” Without asking for approval, Lennox took June in his arms and carried her up to his room. She didn’t fight, too preoccupied with being pressed against him.

He laid her on the bed and tucked her in. She hadn’t realized just how stiff the couch was making her feel. She curled into a ball and smelled him on the sheets. “What about you?”

“I’ll take the couch.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Barely half of you fits on that thing.”

“Then I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“Am I so repulsive you’d rather sleep on the hardwood floor?” June rolled over onto her other side. “Whatever. Night-night, Lennox.”

This time she really was going to sleep. She had spent too much energy thinking about him. June cursed Eva for putting ridiculous sex ideas in her brain. This evening she would go back to the inn and resume the distance between herself and Lennox. It was better that way. Less . . . infuriating.

But then Lennox climbed into the bed. June opened her eyes at the weight of his body next to hers. Even in a large bed, he felt overwhelming.

“I didn’t say you’re repulsive.” He was shirtless, fatigue in his eyes.

“I believe ‘stubborn’ was the word.”

“Aye.” He yawned. “The most stubborn lass I know.”

“Don’t worry,” June said. “I’ll stay on my side of the bed.”

“If that’s what you want, Peanut.”

They were facing each other, their bodies inches apart. June could feel the sheets rise and fall with his breath. Lennox lay with his head propped on his bent arm; the tally-mark tattoo on his forearm was visible even in the dimly lit room. June wanted to touch it, to touch him. Anything to be closer to the man. She tried to close her eyes, but staring at him felt so much better. “It’s late, we should sleep.”

“It’s not late, Peanut,” Lennox said. “It’s early.”

“Why do you always have to correct me?”

He yawned. “Why do you always have to push my buttons?”

“Well, this evening I’ll be gone, and you’ll be free of me.”

Lennox tucked June’s hair behind her ear, his eyes half-closed, the weight of sleep seconds away. June’s pulse quickened, but Lennox was fading fast into sleep.

She inched closer to him, to the heat of his body. What was she thinking? This was a terrible idea. Crossing this line could only be disastrous. Lennox stoked too much passion in her. Too much fire. When Lennox was near, she ached for him so badly it scared her. She felt out of control, always flying off the handle, speaking before thinking, anger constantly fighting with lust. Lennox had a hold on June like no one else in her life, and deep down, June knew they would implode and destroy themselves at each other’s hands. And yet the idea of letting him go . . .

Eva was right. Enough with avoidance. June needed to make a choice. Her foot touched Lennox’s leg under the covers.

He opened one eye. “I thought you said you would stay on your side of the bed, Peanut.”

“Right,” she whispered and pulled her foot away. This was a bad idea. Madness even. No one walked into fire. That would be crazy, and that was exactly what June was doing. She rolled away, biting her lip at her stupidity.

“I meant what I said, Peanut. You’re better off staying away from me.”

June rolled back to face him. “Is that supposed to be a warning or something?” She began to scramble out of the bed. “Fine. I’ll leave.”

But Lennox grabbed her and pulled her back onto the bed. In a breath, he was on top of her, June pinned beneath the weight of his body. Her breath hitched; her throat suddenly was dry.