Penmort Castle (Ghosts and Reincarnation #1)(18)
Author: Kristen Ashley

He left her in the bathroom; she closed the door behind him and changed.

The search for a casual but classy outfit in which to cook dinner for Cash Fraser, International Spy Catcher, was nothing compared to the search for what to wear to his bed.

She didn’t want to give him any ideas by wearing anything alluring but she also didn’t want to step out of her role of Cool Paid Escort to the Rich and Famous by wearing what she’d normally wear (a pair of comfy PJs).

She and Jenny had settled on a dusty-blue nightgown made of super-soft, stretchy cotton that hugged her upper body and fell to a line of charcoal-grey lace at the hem just above her knees. Thin, grey, satin straps held the nightgown to her shoulders but there was no other adornment. It was fitted and graceful without being overtly sexy.

She donned the nightgown, brushed her teeth, washed her face, applied moisturiser, pulled out her ponytail and, taking a deep, calming breath (which didn’t work in any way, shape or form), she walked out to the bedroom.

Cash had turned on the overhead light to the room when they entered but now only a soft light shone from the sleekly lined lamp on the bedside table that had a black shade and a glass base. He was standing by the bed, his BlackBerry in hand, his thumb pressing buttons, wearing nothing but a pair of dark grey, cotton, drawstring pyjama bottoms, the quality of the material demonstrated by a low sheen.

His chest and feet were bare.

Abby (and her rapidly beating heart) noticed immediately that Cash’s clothing was not costly camouflage.

Cash Fraser had a great body.

His chest was all smooth muscle leading down to the planes and contours of strong abdominals. His collarbone and the tops of his hip bones stood out in sexy relief. His biceps and lower arms had well-defined muscles, his veins slightly jutting.

She found herself thinking (at that moment descending into a kind of dazed madness) that a man with a body like that could climb mountains, fight wars, battle opponents hand-to-hand in bloody combat and, no matter the challenge, always come away the victor.

This alarmed her.

Greatly.

Even as it captivated her.

Even more greatly.

“Abby?” he called and her body jerked at his deep brogue saying her name.

Her eyes flew from him to the bed and she stared at it in desperation like it was going to form a mouth and start telling her a fascinating tale.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “Tired,” she muttered again, not trusting her own voice.

“Which side?” Cash asked and as she was studiously regarding the bed at the same time trying to ignore her thoughts and feelings, she didn’t know what he was talking about.

Her eyes shifted to him.

It was a mistake.

He was too gorgeous for his own good (and hers).

“Pardon?” she enquired.

“Which side of the bed?” he asked and she started yet again.

She slept on the left with Ben. She’d taken to sleeping in the middle without him.

“The middle,” she blurted.

Another mistake. This made him smile.

He had a great smile.

Oh dear Lord, she thought.

He twisted his torso and placed the BlackBerry on the bedside table then strolled to her.

He got up close and his chin tipped down to look at her.

“Relax, darling,” his burr was a soft rumble, “I don’t bite.”

In desperation Abby tried to be flip. “That’s a relief.”

“Though, I don’t mind if you do,” he continued and she could do nothing but swallow.

He saw her nervous reaction and it made him grin.

Then he walked passed her to the bathroom.

She scrambled to the bed, getting in on the left side. She pulled the covers high and curled into herself, making her body as diminutive as she possibly could.

She didn’t know if she could do this. In fact, she was pretty certain she couldn’t. In fact, she was extremely certain she was giving it all away by acting like a frightened virgin.

She couldn’t give it all away. She’d dug this hole for herself, now she had to live in it until the time when she could dig her way back out.

She forced herself to relax, uncurl and assume a sleeping position that normal people might use, on her side, hands tucked under her face, knees crooked.

Minutes later, he came out of the bathroom.

She didn’t watch as he turned out the light and got into bed.

But her body was tense as he turned to her. She felt his hand come to rest on her hip and his mouth went to her ear.

“Good night, Abby,” he said softly.

“Good night,” she replied chirpily.

She could swear she heard him chuckle.

Normally this might annoy her. At the time, she was too flipped out to let it register.

He kept his hand where it was but settled behind her. She could feel his body, though he kept his distance.

She waited.

He didn’t move and he didn’t try anything.

She waited more.

He stayed where he was and she felt his hand get heavier as his breathing got steadier. Moments later, his hand slid away as he fell to his back.

She waited more, hoping he’d start snoring which would give her a valid reason to find somewhere else to sleep.

He didn’t.

Eventually her body relaxed and shortly after she fell asleep.

Now this.

How she’d snuggled into him, she had no idea. But she had to move and fast.

Carefully she rolled to her back. Unfortunately, Cash rolled with her.

His body was pressed to her side much like hers was to him moments before (except, of course, the head to the shoulder bit), and she felt his hand come to rest on her belly.

His voice was husky when she heard him ask quietly, “Abby, are you awake?”

She decided immediately to feign sleep.

Cash was not deceived.

“Abby,” he called.

“Mm,” she mumbled, hoping he would think she was mostly asleep.

Cash was still not deceived.

His hand slid across her belly to curl around the top of her hip and she felt his face in her neck before he murmured, “Darling, I know you’re awake.”

There was, she had to admit, something about him calling her “darling” that she liked way too damned much.

However, when he said it into her neck while they were in bed, she liked it a whole lot better which made it worse.

A lot worse.

“Not entirely,” she muttered her lie.

She was completely awake and totally panicked.

She felt his body laugh even though she didn’t hear it. His face came out of her neck and his fingers put pressure on her hip to roll her to her side and into him.