Chapter 22

Nicole I couldn't understand why a man needed to spend more than half an hour in the shower. Even as a woman, I didn't take that long. With a sigh, I ignored Damien's extended bathroom ritual and turned off the bedside lamp, pulling the covers over myself as darkness enveloped the room. Minutes later, I heard footsteps approaching the bed before the mattress dipped under his weight. Our unsynchronized breathing echoed loudly in the darkness. It had been so long since we'd shared a bed properly—back when this whole arrangement began, he used to hold me close as we slept. Now, I found myself tossing and turning, unable to find comfort in the unfamiliar presence beside me. Damien hadn't moved an inch since lying down, but I could feel the tension radiating from his side of the bed. "If you can't sleep," his deep voice rumbled through the darkness, husky and impatient, "we could do something else." Before I could process his words, his strong hands pulled me against the heat of his body. M