Sleep With Me (Be With Me) (10 page)

Right?

Determined, he left again, buying himself a quick dinner and then heading to the bar to scope out some local action. But nothing really caught his eye, and after a few beers he found himself back in his room, sitting at the table with another drink in hand as he contemplated the laptop again.

“Fuck,” he murmured, kicking off his shoes and moving to the bed. She left. It was over. She probably wasn’t even thinking of him. Tipping the bottle back, he finished it off and tossed it into the garbage before turning out the light. Sliding under the covers he closed his eyes.

And saw Kat in nothing but his shirt, beckoning with one finger and a smile.

***

“David hasn’t written back?” Candace laced her fingers together on her desk, her expression sympathetic, but firm.

Katherine shook her head. “No. And I don’t want to bother him either. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’m a professional organizer that put him off, or if he just decided he didn’t want to talk anymore, but it doesn’t matter. It’s been two weeks. So I need...something. Please. I just need one night’s sleep.”

“We tried drugs already, Katherine - none of them helped except tranquilizers, and you can’t take those for the rest of your life. I don’t have anything else to give you. For some reason, David’s scent helps you sleep. There’s research out there that shows some people actually do get addicted to the hormones another person puts out around them. Unfortunately if he doesn’t want to be around you, and you won’t ask him for another shirt while we have a lab try to manufacture something synthetic to replace him, I’m really not sure what our options are.”

“Okay.” Katherine sighed, rubbing her head with one hand. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired, and I’m having trouble at work--”

“I know. I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do. Did you try the afternoon workouts?”

“I tried running, weight lifting and swimming. And I think it helps, but it’s hard to keep it up when I’m so tired, you know? Catch-22 kind of thing.”

Candace nodded. “Okay. Let me think about it for a day or so, and I’ll figure something out, no matter what. There has to be some chemical that just isn’t balanced in your body that’s causing this, otherwise David’s scent wouldn’t work either. Can you hang in there through the weekend?”

“I don’t have much choice, do I?” Katherine rose from her seat. “By the way, how’s your houseguest doing? Is he gone yet?”

A hot flush rose in Candace’s cheeks, and Katherine grinned. “I guess not. Good for you. I’d say have a good weekend, but I suspect that’s not going to be a problem.
Candy
.”

Her friend laughed. “Get out of here. Try to get some sleep. I’ll call just as soon as I can.”

Katherine winked, and then turned to go. She was nearly out the door when Candace called after her.

“Oh wait - Kat? What’s the name of David’s company? One of my clients is going down there next month, and wants to book a tour. I figured I’d send some business his way.”

Katherine hesitated a moment before answering. “It’s just called Deep Sea Tours. They have a web site.” Then she walked out the door, an ache in the center of her chest that she didn’t dare stop to analyze.

Chapter 8

David closed his laptop with a sigh. Hard as he’d tried, two weeks hadn’t been enough to get Kat off his mind, and now he wasn’t sure what to think. Dr. Candace Wilson seemed to think that the only way Katherine could get a good night’s sleep was with David’s scent, and she’d implied that while a shirt would do, his entire self would be better.

She’d even gone so far to imply that if Kat was doing poorly without him, he was probably in bad shape without her too. Apparently there was some chemical reaction between some people where they actually got addicted to each other. A scary thought, but it did make sense in a twisted sort of way.

He glanced over at the empties littering his nightstand. The doc would probably have a field day with that.

He picked up his cell phone and dialed Amy’s number.

“What would you say if I quit?”

She laughed. “About time. Hey David?”

“Yeah?”

“Have a nice flight.”

He disconnected the call and reached for a beer, contemplating the label for a long moment. Setting it back down, he got up and started to pack.

***

Corkscrew in hand, Katherine contemplated the bottle of wine on the counter. The clock on the microwave said it was nearly one in the morning, and as if on cue, she yawned.

She’d used alcohol to knock herself out a few times, but it took a whole bottle and the hangover generally wasn’t worth it. Tomorrow was Sunday though, and considering that the only other option seemed to be tossing and turning until the sun came up, a hangover actually didn’t sound too bad. At least she’d be rested. Sort of.

Resigned, she reached for the bottle and poised the tip of the corkscrew over the cork.

The doorbell rang. She dropped the corkscrew.

She didn’t know anyone who would drop by at this hour without an emergency, and she was half-way to the door before it occurred to her that it could be a stranger with less than savory plans. Aside from her lack of weaponry, she was only dressed in David’s shirt, which could be a bit awkward too, even for someone she knew.

Her brain was too fuzzy from lack of sleep to make sense of any of it, and she’d just decided to ignore it and go back to the kitchen when someone knocked at the door instead.

“Kat? Are you home? Let me in - I know you’re up.”

She frowned and took a few steps toward the door. “David? Is that you?”

“It’s me. Open the door.”

She unlocked the door and swung it open, still not really comprehending it was him. “Wow. What are you doing here?”

He scooted past her through the doorway, dropping a large duffle on the floor quickly followed by his shoes and coat. His eyes locked onto hers, and he closed the door, glancing away only briefly to lock it again and then he was back.

“You’re...here,” she remarked, unable to decide what to say next. He grinned and took her hands, leaning in to place a sweet, gentle kiss against her lips. Pulling back, he spread her arms wide, looking her over with approval.

“I was right,” he said with a nod. “That shirt definitely looks better on you.”

“I...” Katherine floundered. What do you say to a man who just flew all the way from a gorgeous tropical island just to see you?

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” He drew her close, wrapping his arms around her as she snuggled against his chest. “Just tell me where the bedroom is.”

She pulled out of his embrace, frowning up at him. “You came all this way just for sex?”

He chuckled and then bent over to scoop her off her feet.

“No, I came all this way so we both could get some sleep. The sex is just a bonus. A very nice bonus.”

“Mmm...sleep,” she murmured against his neck. “Bedroom is down the hall, last door on the left.”

As he carried her down the hall, his words sank in. After he set her down on the bed, she examined his face more closely.

“You said we. You’re having trouble sleeping too?”

He nodded, quickly getting rid of his clothes. “Yeah. But don’t tell your shrink-friend that. I wouldn’t want to give her the satisfaction of being right. Not yet, anyways.”

He reached down and grasped the hem of her shirt, pulling it off her head. It should have made her self-conscious she supposed, but it was if they’d been together forever when he joined her in bed, tucked her in close to his body and pulled the covers up over them both.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, running her fingers down his chest. “I thought--”

“Shhh...” He held a finger to her lips, and then replaced it with a kiss. “Sleep first. Then we’ll talk, okay?”

She smiled, pressing her lips to the hard plane of his chest and then closed her eyes.

***

Warm, soft kisses moving slowly down her spine made Katherine moan with pleasure some time later. Was she dreaming? She didn’t want to open her eyes and find out. Strong hands caressed her ribs, her hips, her thighs, just before teeth nipped gently at one side of her rear.

She yelped, not in pain but in surprise, rewarded with a deep chuckle from under the covers as she rolled to her back.

Images flashed through her mind - David coming through the door, carrying her to bed, surrounding her with his body as well as his scent.

He was really here. Under her covers, and from the feel of things, about to make her feel even better than a decent night’s sleep already had.

Hot lips scorched a path up one thigh as his hands gently pried her legs apart. He touched his tongue to her core and she arched up, the sensation catching her off guard and sending tingles of pleasure racing through her body. Just the right pressure in all the right spots had her panting and whimpering, completely at his mercy and loving every second of it.

She was on the brink, her body wound tight when he crawled up and swirled his tongue around one pert nipple, then the other. One long thrust and he filled her, sparking her release with his total possession of her body.

Her mind went blank, the world a fog as she floated on a cloud of ecstasy. It felt like a long time before she could even open her eyes, locking into David’s intense stare the moment she could focus.

“You are so beautiful,” he said, drawing his hips back slightly and sliding forward again. “I don’t know why or how, or even if it’s love or not, but I can’t live without you, Kat. You’re part of me.”

He kept up his slow, lazy strokes, driving her crazy as she lifted a hand to caress the side of his face. “I can’t live without you either. I think we’re stuck with each other. If that doesn’t define love, I don’t know what does.”

He nodded, leaning in for a kiss. Then another, and another as he stroked her harder, faster. That delicious pressure radiated out from her core and she urged him on, holding her own pleasure off until his arms began to shake and he thrust one more hard, glorious time. Arching into him again she squeezed him with her inner muscles and let go, welcoming the flow of energy that seemed to envelope them both.

She felt empty when he finally rolled away, but he pulled her along, her front to his back, his arm over her torso and one leg over both of hers. She felt safe, cocooned in his embrace.

Loved.

“David?”

“Yes Kat?” He kissed her shoulder.

“How long can you stay?” She held her breath.

“Forever.”

The word rumbled through her like a freight train, shaking her to the core like nothing ever had before. His grip on her tightened, and she snuggled as close against him as she could. This. This is what she’d been missing all along.

“Sleep with me?”

“Always.”

###

About the Author

A full-time webmistress by day, Jamie DeBree writes steamy, action-packed romantic suspense late into the night. Her goal is to create the perfect blend of sensual attraction, emotional tension and fast-paced adventure, similar to the television crime dramas she's hopelessly addicted to.

Born in Billings Montana, she resides there with her husband and two over-sized lap dogs. She reads in a wide variety of genres including romance, erotica, action/adventure, thriller, horror and literary fiction.

For information on upcoming books, visit JamieDeBree.com.

Also by the Author

Tempest

Desert Heat

The Biker’s Wench

The Minister’s Maid

Indelibly Inked

Heart Knocks

Rock Me, Stalk Me
Deadly Chai

SLEEP WITH ME

by

Jamie DeBree

Sleep With Me

Copyright 2013 by Jamie M. DeBree

Edited by Carol R. Ward

Published by
Brazen Snake Books

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination, and used fictitiously.