Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
SULLY
My feet were finally dry and warm, and I stood, heading back down the hall.
I rummaged in the cupboard, finding an extra pillow and blanket.
My thoughts were full of our conversation.
Autumn was insecure about herself. I saw the way she looked at her figure and heard the sadness in her voice.
I wanted to tell her she was perfect. Her rounded hips and full breasts were a complete turn-on for me.
But I had only just met her, so I couldn’t say that.
And the way she reacted to my question about a husband or boyfriend. Something in that seemingly innocent query frightened her. Or the person I inquired about did.
I planned to find out who.
Why it was important, I had no idea, but it was.
I stopped in the bathroom and brushed my teeth, staring in the mirror. I was tired and looked it. I had planned a good night’s sleep in my comfortable bed, but I would be spending it on the sofa instead. I was glad I had bought a bigger one recently. The old one wouldn’t have held me at all.
I returned to the living room, finding Autumn still curled up in the chair. She looked sleepy and pretty, making me smile. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to crash. It’s been a hell of a week.”
“Of course.” She stood, holding out her arms for the blanket and pillow.
I shook my head. “I can make up the sofa. It’s fine. You head off to bed. I’ve turned the heat pump to a warmer temperature. You should be good.”
She frowned. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“No.”
“Yes. I’m smaller and will fit on it better. I slept there my first night, and I was fine.” She tugged on the blanket. “Really. This is your house. You need to sleep in your bed.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
She smiled, looking mischievous. Then she slipped past me, diving onto the sofa and draping the blanket around her. “There. I’m settled. Night.”
I tilted my head. “I don’t think so.” Before she could react, I bent and lifted her into my arms. She gasped in shock, clutching at my neck, the blanket falling away.
I chuckled and headed down the hall, liking how she felt.
A warm, perfect weight in my arms, smelling sweet, even as she frowned at me.
“Put me down.”
I carried her to the bed and sat her on the mattress. “Your bed,” I instructed her. She began to scramble up, and I shook my head. “Stay there, please. I would feel terrible letting my lovely friend sleep on the sofa.”
“I’m not your…friend.”
“Yes, you are. The moment we had coffee together and you shared your sweets, you became such. Now, stay.”
I paused at the door, looking back. She was on her knees, staring at me, her hair falling over her shoulders, her long shirt almost hanging off her shoulder. She was incredibly sexy. “Sleep well.”
And I left before I did something stupid.
Like kiss her goodnight. Or stay.
Because, for the love of God, I wanted to.
I settled on the sofa, surmising quickly it was not going to be a good night. Even with the longer piece I had chosen, it was too small for me to stretch out. I made myself as comfortable as possible, trying not to think of the plush, thick, and big bed down the hall.
Autumn would barely fill a corner of it. I could sneak in and stretch out easily.
Except that would be wrong.
I shut my eyes and willed myself to sleep, eventually falling into a restless slumber.
A noise brought me out of my light sleep, and I sat up, unsure what woke me. The air felt cooler than it had when I lay down, and I heard Autumn in the hallway. Concerned, I got up and found her looking in the closet. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Oh, a bit cold,” she said.
I put out my hand, touching her arm. “Jesus, you’re freezing.”
She shivered. “There’s no heat.”
I became aware of how cold the cottage was. The fire kept the living area warm, but back here, the temperature had dropped. “Dammit,” I growled. “I just had that heat pump installed.”
Then I reached over her head and grabbed a thick blanket. “I’ll look at it in the daylight, but right now, we need to get you warm.”
I took her hand, pulling her to the living room. I pushed her down on the sofa, covering her with the blanket. She felt like ice. I rubbed her arms and feet, then stood. “Stay there.”
I added more logs to the fireplace, making sure it was roaring, needing the heat to fill the room and beyond.
I went to the kitchen, flicking on the kettle.
I dropped a tea bag into the cup, waiting for the water to boil.
Drumming my fingers on the countertop, I fumed.
I had bought a top-of-the-line heat pump and had it installed in the spring since the old one kept dying.
Fat lot of good that had done me since this was the first real test of it and we had no heat.
The water boiled, and I poured it into the mug, adding a little sugar, then carrying it out to Autumn. I sat beside her, giving her the mug. “Drink this. It will help you warm up.”
“I’m much better now.”
I shook my head at her stubbornness. I could feel the cold of her skin through the blanket. “Drink.”
“Bossy much?” she muttered.
“Yes,” I replied. “Very bossy. Now, drink.” Satisfied she was doing as I told her, I pulled my own blanket over my legs. Even with the fire, I could feel the chill.
“I should add another fireplace in the bedroom,” I mused.
“Right now?” Autumn teased.
I chuckled. “Maybe in the morning.”
She shivered, and without thinking, I put my arm around her, pulling her close. She stiffened for a moment, then allowed herself to relax.
“Jesus, you’re still cold.”
“And you’re so warm,” she admitted.
I tucked her tighter, spreading my blanket over hers.
She sighed, resting her head on my shoulder.
I ran my hand up and down her arm, warming the skin.
Neither of us spoke, the quiet around us nice.
The fire crackled in the hearth, and outside, I could still hear the wind and snow.
But inside, it was peaceful. And I was shocked to realize how much I liked her snuggled in beside me.
The fragrance of her hair drifted up and filled my senses.
It was light and citrusy. She fit well under my arm, and I was pleased when her shivers slowed down.
I tilted my head, resting it on top of hers, her scent even stronger.
Her hair was soft, tickling my cheek and making me smile.
It felt intimate, sitting in the dark with her so close, our thighs pressed together, our torsos melded as one.
After a while, I felt her body sag, pressing into my side more and her mug tilting a little as her grip eased.
I took the mug, setting it on the table behind the sofa.
I glanced down at her, the firelight playing over her face, highlighting her hair.
Her breathing was deep and even as she slumbered.
I was unsure what to do. It was too cold to take her back to the bedroom.
Both of us sitting up would cause some painful neck and leg cramps in the morning.
Making a decision, I carefully shifted, lying back on the sofa and letting her lie on top of me.
I made sure we were covered, her getting some extra blanket.
I wrapped my arms around her, rolling a bit so she was tucked into the back of the sofa and safe.
She nestled against me with a sigh, her lips parting as she breathed softly.
Unable to help myself, I pressed a kiss to her forehead, freezing in place when I realized her eyes had fluttered open.
“Is that part of warming me up?” she whispered.
“Should I apologize?”
“No.”
Then she slipped her hand around my neck and pulled my face to hers.
Her mouth was soft, and her full lips pressing to mine felt like heaven.
I wrapped my arm around her back, holding her tight, and kissed her, delving into her mouth and tasting her.
Exploring. Licking. Teasing. She whimpered low in her throat, her shiver having nothing to do with being cold.
But it was enough to make me aware of what I was doing.
I pulled back, my breathing heavy, my cock stirring in my sweats, wanting me to continue.
To roll her and pin her underneath me and kiss her more. Until she was begging.
Our eyes met and held in the dim light. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, worrying the plump flesh. I pulled it away. “I’m going to want to kiss you more,” I murmured. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
Her eyes glowed in the firelight, and I kissed her again, this time showing some restraint. Then I pulled her head down to my chest. “Sleep, mo fhiadh beag. Otherwise, I’m not going to be able to control myself.”
“This can’t be comfortable for you,” she argued.
“I beg to differ. I like this. I should have turned the pump off myself.”
She laughed, the sound light and airy in the room. But she stopped arguing and relaxed. I felt myself getting drowsy again. The last thing I heard as I drifted to sleep was her quiet voice.
“I like it too.”
AUTUMN
I woke up to the strangest sensation. I was warm, being held securely—and safe.
I couldn’t recall feeling this safe in a long time.
I lifted my head, finding Sully’s face inches from mine.
We were locked tightly together on the sofa, one of his arms holding me close, the other hand fisted in my hair.
He was asleep, his face relaxed, unlike the grip he had on me.
I peered toward the window, unable to gauge the time.
It was still dim, snow falling and wind howling.
I studied Sully in the low light. He was incredibly handsome with his dark hair and eyes. His frame. The easy confidence as he moved and spoke. His voice was commanding and low. His very presence suggested power. Strength.
Yet it didn’t frighten me. And given what I had run away from, that surprised me.