Chapter 37

A small room, but well furnished. Pale wood, sleek metal pulls. A long, wide chest of drawers under the huge window that was almost a wall facing the bed, more dressers on the other side.

She pulled the covers back from one side of the low, flat, IKEA-style bed, patted the pillow. “Your side.” She walked around to the other side, where the covers were rumpled. “Mine.” She peeled off her housecoat, and though he knew she was fully dressed, he couldn’t stop his eyes from watching her every motion. When her long-sleeved t-shirt appeared along with her pajama clad bottoms, he was as aroused, despite his intent, as if she’d stripped down to naked.

She slipped into the bed. “You gonna sleep standing up? Because, if that’s a thing, then okay. But it doesn’t look very comfortable.”

“You always speak what’s on your mind?”

“Mostly. Am at the moment.” She gestured at him. “Into bed.”

Dutifully, he crawled into bed. “You’re missing your thigh-high boots and your whip.”

“Not so much.” She turned toward him, then her hand closed gently around his shoulder, and she nudged lightly. “On your side.”

He laughed again. “Come again?”

“Your side. On it.”

It seemed there was no reason to fight this woman. Slight or not, she was a force of nature. And one he was getting more comfortable with, every moment. “Yes, ma’am.”

The wave of pleasure, soothing, tangled with arousal. And more. Simply that of home hit him when she snuggled her body into him and spooned him. Her arm went around him and she sighed. “Thanks, Boss. I can sleep now.”

He almost replied, but he was too awash in feelings he’d denied himself far too long.

How could you express in words this feeling? This heavenly, wrapped up in another human being feeling?

You couldn’t.

When he felt the foot of the bed move lightly, he realized Prince had joined them. The dog oomphed, let out a huge sigh, then settled his body against Nathan’s feet. Nathan reached out with his toes—ahh. A big, furry lump.

It seemed he’d been accepted by her dog. Fully.

And the last thought he had as he drifted into a peaceful sleep was all we need is Ryker here. Ryker, and everything will be perfect.