“I can sleep on the couch or in the guest room.”
He shook his head. “You’ll sleep right here.” He walked over to his massive king-sized bed. He turned down the covers before glancing back at her. “Come on. Getting some rest will make you feel better.”
She eyed him hesitantly. “I really can’t take your bed. That would be imposing.”
“I don’t mind. I promise.”
“Only if you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Tentatively, she started walking over to him, her eyes never leaving his. She eased down onto the mattress before sliding beneath the sheets. When she appeared comfortable, he covered her up. As he started to go, she reached out to grab his arm. “No, please don’t go. Don’t leave me alone.”
His brows shot up in surprise. “You want me to stay with you?”
“Yes, please.”
“In this bed…with you?” When she nodded, he exhaled a ragged breath. “Megan, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t overthink it; just stay with me.”
Although his brain was raging war at him to make the sane and responsible decision, he replied, “Give me a few minutes.”
“Okay,” she replied softly.
Turning, he strode into the bathroom. He didn’t bother glancing in the mirror because he was pretty sure he wouldn’t like what he saw. Instead, he stripped off his suit and tie. Although he probably should have thrown on more clothes, he left his boxers on and grabbed a white shirt off the hamper. After pulling it over his head, he went back out into the bedroom.
Megan lay on her side in the bed, her face turned toward the bathroom. Her eyes were closed, but they popped open the moment he entered the bedroom. Without a word to her, he walked around the other side of the bed and climbed inside. Lying on his back, he propped one arm over his head. His other hand rested on his chest. He twisted his fingers into the fabric of his shirt over his heart. Somehow he wanted to still the erratic beating.
Just when he thought he might be comfortable, Megan turned over to face him. “You’re so far away,” she whispered.
“I thought it was for the best.”
The corners of her mouth momentarily turned down in a pout. Then she inched closer to him. He sucked in a breath and tried not to hiss when he felt her head nuzzle against his chest. Before he could stop her, she had thrown an arm around him. Thankfully, she didn’t try anything else. And within a few minutes, her labored breathing signaled she had fallen asleep. Pesh stared up at the ceiling and willed himself to be able to go to sleep as easily.
Surprisingly, as Megan’s soft snores echoed against his side, his eyes grew heavy. For the first time in two years, he fell asleep with someone in his arms.
Chapter Six
Sunlight streamed across Megan’s face, causing her to squint her eyes tighter closed against the bright invasion. She was warm and comfortable, and she didn’t want to wake up. But the tranquility of her morning was shattered when a soft snore came from behind her. It was far too deep to be one of Mason’s.
Panic prickled its way up her skin. Where am I? Her eyes frantically scanned the room. Overcome by both masculine décor and smells, she realized she was in a man’s bedroom, or more importantly a man’s bed. She hadn’t woken up this dazed and confused since she got hammered for the first time. She couldn’t even remember what day it was. This was bad. Very, very bad. She had to get out of there and get home to Mason. What kind of mother was she to wake up in a strange man’s bed?
As she tried to roll over, she found herself entrapped by a strong arm wrapped around her waist. Her gaze flicked down to the tan, muscled arm. Who the hell did that belong to? A whimper escaped her lips. Oh God, had she actually slept with a man she had no memory of? Never in her life had she made such a mistake as that. Nausea overcame her, and she knew she needed to get out of bed and into the bathroom.
She shoved herself so hard away from the person that she ended up elbowing him in the ribs. He groaned. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she quickly apologized.
“It’s okay, Megan,” he murmured drowsily.
That voice. It took only a second for her to register who she was in bed with. And with that realization, everything from the night before came crashing down on her. She had accidentally gotten drunk off her ass, Pesh had taken her to his house to sober up, and then…oh God, she had come on to him like a brazen floozy. She buried her head in her hands and moaned.
“Hey, how do you feel this morning?” he asked.
“Like I’ve been run over by a truck.”
“Want me to fix you a good hangover cure?”
She peeked at him through her fingers. “You actually know a hangover cure?”
He smiled. “You think someone like me has never been drunk?” When she bobbed her head, he laughed. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there have been many, many times I’ve woken up just as you are now.”
“That’s hard to imagine.” She gazed down at the scrubs and T-shirt she was in. Although she doubted it, she couldn’t help but ask. “Did we…”
“No, we didn’t.”
She arched her brows in surprise. “If we didn’t sleep together, then why did you…I mean, why are you in bed with me?”
“Because you begged me to stay.”
She gasped in horror. Wasn’t it enough that she had thrown herself so wantonly at him, but now she’d begged him to stay with her? “I did?”
He nodded. “You said you didn’t want to be alone.”
Vaguely she remembered pleading with him to lie close to her. What a nightmare. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” When she started to protest, he held up a hand. “I have to admit it was nice being in bed with someone again—feeling their warmth, the softness of their body as they lay beside you.” He swallowed hard. “I’ve missed that more than I knew.”
Overcome with the emotions threatening to overtake her, Megan didn’t know what to say. All she knew is she needed to get out of there. “I need to get home…or to Emma’s. I can’t let my parents think I stayed out all night with a man I just met.”
“I understand. I wouldn’t dream of compromising your reputation.”
She stared at him for a moment. Sometimes the way he spoke made it seem like he was from a different world or time period. “I, uh, I need to use the bathroom.”