Page 46 of What Doesn't Kill You…

"I'm getting that." She turned around.

"If it's any consolation, I can wonder where a phrase came from at the same time as marveling over how soft your skin feels, or how toned your muscles are."

She looked back at him again. "Really?"

"Oh yeah," Max said, as he slid his hands beneath the neckline of her top to massage skin on skin. "In fact, I could get lost trying to think of words to describe the way your skin feels, or the color it has in the moonlight, or the way your body moves as though it’s gliding through water." His hand stroked her hair. "Don't even get me started on the silken texture of your hair. A man could wonder about how to describe it for the rest of his life."

Her breath hitched before she suddenly got to her feet. Without looking at Max she said, "Thanks. You're good at giving a shoulder rub. Much appreciated." She stepped over his leg and strode toward the living room. "It's late. Time to get ready for bed. I'll check the locks again."

As Max stood, he smiled ruefully. He just had to push his luck, and now he'd spooked her. He climbed into bed, and reminded himself things could have been worse, at least he was still conscious.

Max closed his eyes and listened to Violet as she got ready for bed. He hoped she was still wearing the pajamas she'd worn the night before. He suspected that the black silken pajamas had been chosen for practical reasons, maybe to blend with the night or to make it easier to fight and run, if she had to do either. He'd bet his life savings, if he had any left, that she hadn't brought them because she looked sexy as hell in them. She probably didn't even realize how good they made her look. The silk flowed over her curves, accentuating every inch of her body in tantalizing glimpses as she moved. And the texture made a man want to touch, to caress, to linger. Not to mention the color brought out the red highlights in her hair and made her porcelain skin seem even more touchable than usual.

There was a clank from the other side of the bed and Max opened his eyes to find Violet putting her phone, gun, and a bottle of water on the bedside table. Her face was set, as though she was daring him to question her.

He had more sense than that.

She pulled back the covers and climbed into bed beside him before switching off the lamp.

"Don't get any ideas," she said into the darkness. "This is just in case someone decides to check our room again tomorrow."

"I never thought it was anything else," Max lied.

"I'm only in this bed because of the mission," Violet clarified. "There's no other reason."

"I appreciate the sacrifices you're making for the sake of the op."

"Thank you. There will be no unwanted touching," Violet continued. "There's nobody here to impress with our romantic relationship, nobody who needs to be fooled, so we can knock it off for the night."

"Understood. My responsibilities are on hold until tomorrow."

"Exactly. Me sleeping here isn't a fake relationship thing, it's a security thing," she said. "And we agreed I'm still in charge of security."

"Wouldn't have it any other way. You're the expert."

"Yes. I am. For the sake of the mission, you won't distract me while I'm in this bed," she ordered. "I'm still your bodyguard and your safety is my priority."

"I will do my best not to distract you while I sleep," he promised.

"And no unnecessary touching," she reminded.

He turned his head toward her, barely making out her profile in the darkness. "Do you want to make a pillow wall between us?"

"Go to sleep, Max," she snapped.

And he did. With a wide grin on his face.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Max couldn't breathe. Weight pressed him down, stopping the air from getting into his lungs, where he desperately needed it. And it was hot. So incredibly hot. Was the place on fire? Was he trapped?

Was he dreaming?

He fought through the fog of sleep in order to make sense of his discomfort. One arm was over his head, the other spread out across the bed. So, his arms could move, just not the rest of him. Above him, light seeped through the edges of the blind covering the skylight. Morning. Maybe…

Feeling dull and drugged—drugged? Again? A deep wave of disappointment washed over him. He thought they were past that. Violet had promised.

Violet.