Out of Time 01 - Out of Time by Monique Martin

Author:Monique Martin [Martin, Monique]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-09-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Elizabeth awoke to the feel of warm skin, hard muscle and a distinctly male scent. Simon. He’d been so tender, so unsure. She could remember the moment the shutters of his eyes opened. How hard it must have been for him to lay bare everything he’d kept so carefully hidden. The way he’d looked at her, waiting for the rejection, and the surprise when she touched him.

She could feel his arm around her, strong and loving, and nuzzled her cheek into the crook of his shoulder. The lump on her forehead reminded her of last night’s other activities, but any pain was lost in the feeling of being in his arms. The thin sheet was pooled around his waist, and her hand rested against the bare skin of his chest. A soft sprinkling of hair tickled her palm, and she slid her hand across the muscles to the dark coppery skin of his nipple.

Simon cleared his throat. “Good morning.”

Elizabeth smiled at the formality in his voice. Even with a naked woman in his arms, he was still Professor Cross. She knew Simon was in there somewhere, he just needed a little coaxing. Her fingers drifted down his ribs to his abdomen. He sighed, almost sadly, and she pushed herself up onto one elbow. He was watching her carefully, bemused but apprehensive.

“Good morning yourself,” she said and dropped a kiss onto his chest.

His hand touched her shoulder tentatively and his eyes fell away from hers. “How do you feel?”

Nervous as hell. “Wonderful.”

He smiled, but still his eyes didn’t meet hers. She gently eased his face back to hers and kissed him reassuringly. When she pulled away, his expression was still troubled. He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, and his eyes fell on the bruise on her forehead. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. When he looked at her again, his brow creased and she could see it was difficult for him not to look away again. “About last night...”

Her body tensed and he quickly shook his head. “Not that.”

“If you’re worried about birth control, I’ve got that covered.”

“Dear Lord. I hadn’t even thought of that,” he said, clearly appalled at his lack of foresight.

“We did have a lot on our minds.”

He relaxed a little and nodded. “I just wanted to...” he said and then shook his head again. “Thank you.”

Elizabeth laughed in relief. “If I remember correctly, I should be thanking you.”

Simon chuckled and she could feel the rumbling in his chest beneath her. “I’m fairly certain I don’t deserve you.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that.”

A trace of a smile lifted his lips. “And if your judgment’s impaired?”

“I guess you’ll just have to trust me.”

He paused and nodded slightly. A nearly imperceptible movement acknowledged something so profound. His long fingers brushed the hair away from her face and trailed down her cheek.

She leaned into his touch and settled herself more comfortably. “And how do you feel?”

He smiled for a moment, but then something else won out and he looked up at the ceiling, letting out a long breath.

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