One Cut Deeper by Joely Sue Burkhart

Author:Joely Sue Burkhart
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-05-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

I didn’t feel him leave, but I did stir when he came back to bed. His hair was damp and I smelled his shampoo, a botanical that made me think of jungles. I pillowed my head on his chest and drifted back to sleep.

When I woke again, it was hours later. The sun was up and the room was bright. He must have forgotten to shut the blinds. I twisted my hand up so I could see my watch. Nearly eleven in the morning. I must have been out of it.

The part of me that made me submissive thought I should stay in bed until the master rose. He might want me and it was my duty to be present and ready. I don’t think I’d ever woken up before him. After all the stress last night, I’d love to simply lie in his arms and listen to him breathe.

But I’d love it more if I could finally surprise him with a cheesecake, and it’d take at least an hour to bake.

Watching his face, I sat up and carefully moved to the opposite side of the bed. He didn’t budge. His breathing was deep and heavy. Weird. He wore a T-shirt. Had he ever worn anything to bed before? He must have been too tired to strip out of his clothes last night.

He still hadn’t moved after my shower as I slipped through the room. I took a minute to twist the stick on the blinds to darken the room. Maybe he’d sleep until I could get the cake baked and stashed away so it’d be a real surprise. Sheba jumped down soundlessly and followed me into the main living area.

The broken sliding glass door was nailed shut with plywood and all the glass and blood was cleaned up. Geez, no wonder he was so tired. That must have taken forever. I took Sheba out the front door. The slap of frigid air stole my breath. Off to the north, the sky was heavy and gray. I guess that storm was rolling in today. Good thing I’d already gone to the grocery store for a few days’ worth of basics. Plus he kept a pretty nice pantry stocked. Maybe I’d finally get my wish to be snowed in with him a few days. We’d lounge in front of the fireplace and sip wine and make love while snow piled up outside.

Sounded like heaven.

I fed Sheba, whipped up the cheesecake and got it in the oven, and started a huge batch of chili for dinner. If it was going to snow, we had to have chili and cornbread. Chuck roast trimmed and pieced, onions chopped, chili simmering on the stove.

And Charlie still wasn’t up.

I pulled the cheesecake out to cool. My stomach growled, but I couldn’t stomach chili for brunch. So I fried enough bacon for two, scrambled some eggs and toasted English muffins.

Not a sound from the bedroom.

It was almost scary. He’d never slept this long.

I left the bacon and eggs on the stove to warm and tiptoed down the hallway.

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