Nobody But You(29)

Chapter 10



Sophie opened her eyes and realized she was wrapped up in a pair of strong, warm arms, which were curled possessively around her. Pulling back an inch, she found Jacob watching her from those fathomless dark eyes.

“Welcome back,” he said.

Oh God, she’d dozed off in his big, deliciously comfy bed. She would blame the damn boat, the stupid lake, too many sleepless nights in a row, but she could tell her denials would fall on deaf ears because, given the smug look on his face, he knew the truth. It was the orgasms.

“Tell me I wasn’t snoring,” she said.

“Nope.” He paused. “Drooling, yes. Snoring, no.”

“I did not drool!”

He just smiled.

“You should know,” she said, “I’m only here for your shower.”

His lips twitched. “Sure.”

She jabbed a finger into his chest. “I mean it. I slept with you because you have hot water. Sure, the sexy times were okay, but don’t mistake this for something…mushy, because I won’t put up with that.”

He tipped his head back and laughed.

She stared at him. “You’re supposed to be insulted.”

“And you’re supposed to be honest. Stop trying to scare me off.”

She huffed out a sigh. “It’s my thing.”

“Your thing?”

“Yes, and I’m good at it.” She frowned. “Why didn’t you believe me?”

“The sexy times were just okay…?” he repeated, heavy on the disbelief.

She blushed. “That could’ve been true.”

He laughed again. “Babe, you came, like, twenty-five times.”

“Fine.” She struggled with something to insult him with, but the guy even woke up looking hot. “You farted in your sleep,” she said.

“Try again.”

“Fine, you did something else. You…talked,” she said, rather brilliantly, she thought. “You totally talked in your sleep.”

It was subtle, his reaction, especially since not an inch of him moved, but he definitely…retreated?

“Hey, I’m kidding,” she said. “You didn’t talk.” She paused. “But if you had, what is it you think you’d have said?”

He closed his eyes.

“Okay. So I’m assuming it wouldn’t have been ‘I know where the bodies are buried,’” she tried to joke.

His eyes opened, and she realized her mistake instantly. This was a soldier, a Wounded Warrior even if his wounds were on the inside. He probably knew where lots of bodies were buried and her joke had been in poor taste. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “That was thoughtless.”

He didn’t speak for a moment, just let out a slow, deep breath like he was gathering his thoughts. “I think I probably do sometimes talk in my sleep,” he said. “Or dream badly. It’s like that for a while after a rough tour.”

“I can imagine.” Unable to help herself, she sifted her fingers through his short hair and shook her head. “Actually, I can’t imagine what it must be like to come home after all you’ve been through and try to fit into regular civilian life.”

“I didn’t expect to come home.”

He met her gaze when hers flew to his face.

“I didn’t,” he said. “I thought I’d be a career soldier.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Brett’s death.”

The pain, sharp and dark, was buried deep in his words, pain he was clearly fighting to hide, and it slid right through her, taking her a moment to find her voice. “Were you hurt in the explosion? Is that why you’re on leave?”

His profile was tight, the corners of his mouth hard. “Just a few scratches and a concussion, no big deal,” he said. “Another buddy was hurt far worse. Chris Marshall. He broke every bone in his left leg and lost his arm.” He lifted a shoulder. “I can’t complain. But I’m not crazy about the idea of going back.”

Neither was she. “What will you do when you’ve finished out your tour?”

“Something quiet,” he said.

She gave him a little nudge. “Like maybe live in a cabin on a mountain lake?”

His eyes warmed as he let his gaze roam over her face. “Something like that, yeah.”

She got lost in his eyes a moment and then reminded herself that she had to get out of here and to work before she did something she regretted—like lick him from head to toe. “I gotta go.”

“How much time do you have?”

She eyeballed his clock. It was nine. “I don’t have to be at work until ten thirty today.”

“Good to know.” He pulled her beneath him and settled himself between her legs, his hands roaming, warming her up and revving her up, too, until she arched into him, already halfway to heaven. “You mind?” he murmured, mouth at her breast.

She slid her fingers back into his hair to hold his head to her. “Only if you stop…”

A while later, she was drifting again, mind blank with all the pleasure, when, from Jacob’s dresser, the alarm on her phone went off. With a groan, she closed her eyes.