Capítulo 23: Curious

I can't help but stifle a laugh as I watch Zane sprawled out across my bed, dead asleep in my pink silk short pajama bottoms. He'd shown up exhausted, with no change of clothes, so I'd handed him the only thing I could spare—and somehow, he managed to make it look absurdly endearing. The pale pink of the silk, clinging just right, contrasted against his muscular form is almost ridiculous. I shake my head, finding myself thoroughly entertained by the sight of him so uncharacteristically… cute.

While he's lost to the world in sleep, I gather his suit and send it off with hotel service for cleaning. When I return, I sit down on the edge of the bed and let my gaze wander over him in a way I'd never dare if he were awake. His blonde hair is tousled across the pillow, framing his face in a way that accentuates just how handsome he really is. This close, I can see every detail, from the faint line of his jaw to his dark lashes resting against his cheekbones.

My eyes drift lower, and my breath catches just a bit. His chest is toned, his muscles defined. How does he even have time to work out with the hours he keeps at work? He looks like someone who should be in a gym ad, not an office. My eyes travel further down, tracing the curve of his torso, to where the pajama bottoms rest precariously low on his hips. And the silk—by the stars, it leaves so little to the imagination.

I find myself staring, my cheeks heating at the thoughts crossing my mind. A memory of Jake, my ex-husband, flits through my thoughts uninvited. He was nothing like this—not in size, not in… well, anything. Zane is something else entirely. A curiosity rises up in me, wild and shameless, as I wonder what he'd look like fully awake, fully aware of my gaze. What would it feel like if he—

I cut the thought short, groaning softly at myself. Since when did I become so… raunchy? Sighing, I slip into bed beside him, my cheeks still burning. I turn my back to him and shut my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep, but all I can feel is the warmth radiating from his body beside me.

I wake up a little disoriented, only to realize I'm wrapped in Zane's arms. One heavy arm is slung across my waist, and the heat of his body presses against my back. He's breathing steadily, each exhale brushing against the back of my neck. It's stifling, really, and every instinct tells me to shrug him off.

But something stops me. He looks so peaceful, so completely relaxed, and I can tell he needs the rest. I settle back against him, maybe even lean into his embrace just a bit, telling myself it's just to avoid disturbing him.