Gray packed his phone away and went back into the bedroom. Suzy’s eyes were bare slits as she struggled to hold them open. She plainly wanted to watch her game, but sleep was doing its best to claim her. He walked over to the bedside and smoothed the hair off her brow. “Baby, why don’t you let me turn this off so you can get some sleep?”
With a tired smile, she touched his arm and said, “Mmm, ok. I’m so sleepy.”
Gray reached for the remote and clicked the television off. He’d thought he would sleep on the couch, so he’d be close enough to help Suzy if she needed him during the night. As he was walking away from the bed, Suzy’s whispered, “Gray, please stay with me.”
He walked back to the bedside and said, “Baby, I am. I’m going to be right over there on the couch.”
“No, Gray, sleep in the bed with me. “ With one last tired smile, she teased, “I promise not to feel you up during the night.”
He knew this was going to be equal parts torture and bliss, but he was helpless to stop the anticipation of sleeping next to Suzy all night. He walked around and climbed in the other side of the bed. He wished he could pull her onto her side and snuggle, but settled instead for lying close to her and enfolding her hand in his.
Suzy woke him one time during the night for a bathroom trip, and soon they were both back in bed soundly sleeping.
~~~
The sun gleaming through the windows woke Suzy early the next morning. Her first realization upon waking was all the aches and pains in her body; the second was the male arm draped possessively over her stomach. She turned her head and studied Gray as he slept beside of her. Just looking at him took her breath away. If a man could be called beautiful, he most certainly was. Even the shadow of stubble on his face just made him more handsome. His kiss last night had completely blown her away. Her reaction to him was something she’d never come close to feeling with Jeff. Gray had started a slow-burn inside her the moment his lips met hers. If not for her damn injuries, there is no way she’d have stopped. She ached from frustration afterwards just as he had.
Things seemed to be getting more intense with Gray. Part of her welcomed it, as if they had both known it was always destined to happen. The other part of her was still fighting the desire to run. Had she learned nothing from Jeff? Hadn’t she told herself when he broke her heart and ground it under his heel like dirt that she’d never be put in that position again? Now, here she was lying in the bed with Gray, and Jeff was barely a distant memory. In another month, she’d probably be saying, ‘Jeff who?’ Gray seemed to care about her, hell he seemed to love her. Jeff, although considerate, had never acted as if she were the center of his world the way Gray seemed to. Jeff had often claimed to be too busy to go out to dinner or shopping, while Gray, even though he was a rich, powerful man, had dropped everything in his life to take care of her. Jeff would have never done that.
She had feelings for Gray; she’d known that for some time. Actually, she’d been denying that for some time. It wasn’t just because he was handsome, although his hard, trim body was enough to make her toes curl; it was the man. He teased her, he pampered her, he cared for her, and he seemed to know what she needed when she needed it. With a sigh, Suzy continued to study Gray. Yep, you still only have one hope left girl, you better hope the main course is nowhere near as good as the appetizer. If it is, you’re finished, game over.
~~~
Gray slowly opened his eyes and allowed yesterday’s events to surface. His arm was asleep and as he flexed it to get the circulation going, he felt the warm body underneath it. He became aware of two things at once: first he was sleeping beside Suzy and second, his morning wood was doing its best to drain every last drop of blood from his body and pool it there. Maybe he could sneak out of bed and get control of his body before Suzy woke up to see yet another tent in his pants. One more crack from her about making fire with a big stick would probably be his complete undoing.
Just as he was preparing to slide silently from the bed, a small hand settled across his arm, rubbing slowly. Gray sucked in a breath and fired raced through his body. He decided that modesty wasn’t going to get him anywhere. Rolling over on his back, he reached over and stopped Suzy’s hand as it started up his arm. “I wouldn’t start anything you can’t finish, sweetheart, because as you can see, I’m already a loaded gun this morning, and you’re my trigger.”
As Suzy followed the direction of his gaze, she could feel her face flush. Wow, if the size of that tent was any indication, her last hope that he was less than perfect was over. Gray was impressive in every area of his life apparently. Come on, how much pain could hot, sweaty sex with a broken ankle cause? No pain, no gain, right?
Gray slid a hand to her thigh, gently caressing it as he asked, “You look better today, how are you feeling this morning?”
When he touched her like that, she was unable to feel anything but pleasure and desire. “Bet…Better, as long as I don’t move too much.”
With an indulgent smile, Gray said, “If you’re a good girl, I’ll help you shower today. Beth is bringing by some things, including a shower seat, so we can get you bathed. Not that you need it or anything,” he smirked. “I’ll also call the hospital and find out when your hard cast will be put on. The doctor said you would have more mobility when you got the cast and the walking boot. Nick is coming over today as well to go over a few things from the office. I guess I should get dressed. Are you ready for your ride to the bathroom?”
With a dramatic groan, Suzy said, “Oh yes, please. I’ll never take going to the bathroom for granted again.”
Gray slid out of bed and was thankful for baggy lounge pants. They didn’t provide complete cover, but it kept things R-rated at least. He walked over and picked Suzy up, enjoying the feel of her warm body in his arms. He resisted the urge to kiss her until he’d at least brushed his teeth. He deposited her near the toilet with her assurance that she could take it from there. He left the door slightly ajar so that he could hear her if needed. Within a few moments, he heard the water in the sink running. Opening the bathroom door, he scowled at her. “How might I ask, did you make it all the way to the sink?”
Obviously pleased with herself, Suzy said, “I hopped.”
With an exasperated sigh, he said, “Suzanna, are you trying to kill yourself? You knew I was right outside the door. Didn’t it hurt to jar yourself like that?”