Page 47 of Mine before Dawn
“I just want t’drag ye into bed and never leave it again,” he muttered against her hair before resting his chin on her bent head. “Christ, I’m tired.”
They stayed there like that before she finally looked at him.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes. His striking face had become leaner over the week apart, hollows sharper beneath bluntcheekbones. New lines bracketed the corners of his eyes and mouth like strain had left its mark on him.
He looked exhausted.
Worn to the bone, like he had not slept properly in days.
And suddenly Asha realised with a strange ache in her heart that perhaps she had not been the only one suffering after all.
Chapter 14
Asha shifted on his lap finally, wiping at her face with the heel of her hand.
“I should heat the rice,” she muttered thickly. “It’ll go cold.”
James tightened his arms around her immediately.
“Not yet. Let me hold you a bit longer. This feels nice.”
She gave in easily because that's what she wanted as well.
His body became oddly tense all of a sudden.
He looked almost nervous, which was absurd considering this was a man built like he could wrestle bears for sport.
“Let me say what I need t’say first,” he muttered. “Cos I’m no good with words an’ if I stop now, I’ll make a mess of it.”
Despite herself, Asha gave a watery sniff of laughter. James looked relieved for a second on hearing it. Then his expression turned serious again.
“You said we are different.”
Asha remembered that.
James marched on stubbornly.
“Aye, I’m pasty white and you’re…” His eyes travelled slowly over her face. “Golden brown. I smell like a wet sock and you smell like flowers.”
Heat crept faintly into her cheeks.
“I’ve got grey eyes. You’ve got brown.”
He paused thoughtfully.
“I’ve got a cock while you—”
“James!”
He grinned instantly. Then, the humour faded from his face.
Slowly, carefully, he took one of her hands.
His fingers looked enormous wrapped around hers.
James unbuttoned the top few buttons of his work shirt awkwardly one-handed before guiding her palm flat against his chest.
Directly over his heart.
