Tempted & Taken (Men of Haven #4)(33)


But for a good night’s sleep he’d take it at face value and worry about the rest in the morning. He peeled back the sheets and stretched out beside her. Her scent was everywhere, mingled with his own and the rich aftermath of sex. He closed his eyes and the blessed languidness that eluded him most nights crept in fog-thick around him. His heart slowed and his breath evened out, matching Darya’s beside him. So close to sleep. “Darya?”

“Mmm?”

The darkness rolled closer. Heavier. “You were right. No regrets.”

“No regrets,” she whispered back.

And then, blessed sleep.





Chapter Twelve

Off and on, Darya’s computer cursor blinked back at her, a blank screen all she had to show for the last hour she’d sat behind her desk. Not surprising considering how long it had taken her just to read through the first lesson in the second module, and she still wasn’t sure any of the information she’d studied made sense.

8:14 a.m. beamed from the corner of her monitor, as steady and accusing as the cold nuns who’d handled her education growing up. She huffed out a frustrated breath, flipped back to the lesson in her browser session and snagged her lukewarm coffee for another sip. Focusing on a task had never been this hard before. Even when she’d first landed in the US, she’d been able to zero in on whatever she needed to without distraction so long as her environment felt safe. Then again, she’d never had Knox asleep in her bed, or his delicious scent blanketing every inch of her. As diversions went, he was apparently her Kryptonite.

God, the things he’d done to her. Said to her. She closed her eyes and squeezed her thighs together, the needy pulse she’d fought all morning building strength at the memory of last night. She’d tangled with powerful men before, but never one who took control in the bedroom as Knox had. Complete confidence, total focus and a wicked mouth.

Perfect.

Hand shaking, she set her mug aside and loosened her robe enough to let some much needed air-conditioned air sneak beneath the neckline. No doubt about it, risking Knox as a mentor had been worth it. She could teach herself if she had to, but experiences like that were once in a lifetime. Though, something told her if she kept her distance and maintained a professional demeanor she just might get a repeat. Or two. And God, did she want a repeat.

Through her open bedroom door, a sinfully sexy inhalation sounded followed by the swoosh of skin against sheets.

Goose bumps fanned out across her flesh and her nipples pebbled in anticipation. Not exactly the best start at presenting a disaffected front. She nabbed her mouse and scrolled deeper into the lesson, the words little more than a black-and-white blur.

The mattress let out a soft groan and footsteps whispered across the carpet. Movement registered in her periphery, but she kept her gaze trained on the screen and paired it with what she hoped came across as rapt concentration.

As soon as the bathroom door snicked shut, she let out a shaky breath. This wasn’t a big deal. At least it shouldn’t be. They’d had sex. Albeit, great sex, but she couldn’t make any more of it than that. He’d been as blunt as possible from the start and she’d readily agreed to his terms, but never in her life had she felt like so much rode on how things progressed in the next few moments. As if one right or wrong step could tip life’s scales from showing her everything she’d ever dreamed of, or plunging her into a fathomless abyss.

She bit her lip and scrolled back to the top of her lesson. Probably not a good idea to get caught toward the end with nothing to show for her work but a blank page and zero comprehension. He couldn’t possibly know she’d been up since five. Or that she’d spent the first thirty minutes before she quietly slipped out of bed soaking in his unguarded features while he slept.

No, better to let him think she was barely ahead of him and just diving in for the day.

The toilet flushed and the water faucet kicked in shortly after.

A fine sweat broke out along the back of her neck and her heart took off at a leisurely jog. Maybe a half a pot of coffee hadn’t been such a great idea. Or thinking about all the other things she hoped she’d get a chance to challenge him into trying the next time around.

With a tiny squeak from the hinges, the bathroom door swept open.

Don’t look.

Focus on the screen.

Be calm.

Knox padded into view, hesitating on his path to the kitchen only long enough to check her computer screen. “You been at it long?”

Way too long. Though considering none of it took the first three times, she wasn’t going to beat herself up too much for a tiny fib. “Just starting.” Keeping a casual demeanor, she lifted her mug, twisted in her chair enough to give him her undivided attention and barely stifled a moan.

He wasn’t completely naked, but with just his black briefs on and standing in profile for her hungry gaze, it was the next best thing. With the same comfort he had the last time he’d been here, he popped open the cupboard and reached for a mug.

Between the lamplight and her lust the night before, she’d not had a chance to fully appreciate his tattoos, but in the bright light of morning they were something to behold. The shoulder closest to her was completely covered in an intricate mosaic of Nordic-styled dragons, intricate knots and richly detailed armor. The picture stretched to just below his bicep and swept down most of his abs at an angle until it faded out near his belly button.

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