Chapter 20
TWENTY
SILAS
I crept into my room like a wraith haunting the night. A dark shadow emanating from within and wisping out in front of me.
Guilt and gluttony vied for dominance.
A tugging at my insides as I slipped into the energy that filled the walls, pressing into her presence that glowed and radiated from where she slept in my bed.
Yeah, I knew full well I could have approached this differently.
I could have set her up with Trevan. It would have made more sense.
All of us knew it.
Bringing her here, taking her under my roof and into my bed, wasn’t doing anything but inviting trouble. Welcoming it with open arms.
No question about it as I gazed at her through the lapping darkness of the room.
Like autumn had descended and was sprawled out on the left side of my bed.
Calm for the first time since she’d come here.
A cascade of brunette locks streaked with golds and reds strewn over my pillow.
Only a simmer of that explosive energy emitted from her soft, sensuous flesh.
One side of her face was barely visible where she was curled on her side, that delicious body barely covered by the thin sheet that was only pulled up low on her waist.
Woman wearing a lacy camisole. A riot sent to rock my mind and to decimate my senses.
She was a test.
She had to be.
One that seemed futile and impossible to pass as I kicked off my boots and peeled myself out of my jeans and tee.
I needed to plant my ass on the couch. Or better yet, at one of the empty rooms at the clubhouse.
But no.
I crawled in beside her like a thief intending on stealing what he could never afford.
Heat radiated from her soft skin, and I swore I could feel her spirit crawling the walls of the room.
I forced myself to keep to my side. Eyes on the ceiling.
Should have known they were going to drift.
I shifted my head so I was staring at her through the shadows.
Stared at the distinct lines of her face. Watched her eyes flutter beneath her lids.
I reached out and traced my fingertips down her cheek. Voice the scrape of a murmur. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. I won’t fail you like I failed everyone else.”