Cornwall 02 - Simple Gifts (MM) by L.B. Gregg

Author:L.B. Gregg [Gregg, L.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

HE SLIPPED DOWN THE hall with a soldier’s grace, on feet so light that had I not already been wide awake, shivering in my nest of blankets, waiting for the dead furnace to kick back on, I’d have missed him.

“Go away.” Frosty air nipped my nose and I burrowed deeper under the covers. My feet were blocks of ice.

“You have sharp ears.” A purple shape filled the doorway.

“The better to hear you with.”

“Maybe you should have enlisted instead of me.” Robb stumbled over something, probably my shoes, and grumbled, “Power’s out. Aren’t you

cold? I’m freezing.”

“This happens all the time. Heat’ll be back by morning.”

“That’s not an answer. Are you cold?”

No sense in lying. “Of course I am. There’s no heat.”

He hovered by the side of the bed and a tiny light flared. Shadow played across his face and I recognized his look.

“Shine that flashlight in my eyes one more time and you’re a dead man.”

“You’re six hours post-concussion and you agreed,” Mr. Calm said. “Irritability is a sign of a worsening condition.” He had to be making that crap up. The light hurt, but no more than normal, and he was quick. “Good news. Your eyes are still blue.”

I blinked the spots away. Robb joking? Suspicion clouded my mind.

“Do you have a woodstove or something? A generator? A candle?” A blanket draped his shoulders, cape-like, and, ready for action, he rubbed his hands together.

“No, I have a cat — but you let him out. I usually hunker down, with the cat, and wait. I’ve had worse.”

“Yeah? Where? I’ve had worse, too.”

“Oh, here and there. I had this foster place once and we went all winter with no heat — ”

The mattress dipped.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Robb perched on the bed and my blood pressure spiked. For someone so slim, he sure took a lot of space. He made himself comfortable while I suffered palpitations.

Why was I bothered that he sat so close? Easy. I didn’t trust myself alone with him. The years had flipped by and I still wanted him.

I couldn’t stop my heart from racing as he settled against the headboard. “We want to avoid hypothermia. I didn’t agree to stay the night so we could both die in our sleep.”

“We’re not going to die.” My voice cracked. “You look hearty enough. I have stitches. I’m not going into shock or anything.” At least I hadn’t been until he made himself at home on my bed. He’d yet to touch me — not that I expected him to — and my whole body quaked. My crotch definitely warmed in his presence.

The bed moved as he stretched full length beside me.

“Now what are you doing?”

“Relax. We’re conserving heat. Is there a problem?”

“You’re the problem. You’re using the threat of hypothermia as an excuse to climb into my bed.”

“Are you overestimating your charm, Jase?” I know he smiled. “I’m cold. The power’s been off for hours and my coat is locked in the bar. Slide over.” He sounded confident

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