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He walked closer. “What game is it?”

I told him everything about the game.

He picked up the controller that I’d left precariously balanced on the edge of the couch and started putzing around.

“You game?”

“Nothing else to do,” he admitted.

I’m sure the man could have any company that he wanted, yet he played video games instead of going out?

I let him play while I went and brushed my teeth.

I stayed in the pajamas, even though everything inside of me was urging me to find a sexier pair.

That would be too obvious, though.

So I stayed in my pajamas and joined him on the couch.

We talked for what felt like hours, but eventually the day caught up to me.

I found myself falling asleep despite telling myself not to.

Eleven

Hostage or not, sometimes it’s just nice to be held.

—Jessamy to Black

Black

I woke with a handful of woman in my arms.

I blinked in confusion, staring at the vaulted ceilings above me.

Those weren’t my ceilings.

Nor had I woken up with a woman in years.

Slept with them?

Sure.

Woken up with one?

Absolutely not.

I hadn’t given a woman that kind of control since my ex had stolen my life away from me.

But…I didn’t let this particular woman go.

Couldn’t.

I’d wanted this for longer than I cared to admit—her in my arms.

Sometimes, when I looked at her, I could tell that she was barely hanging on.

My every instinct screamed at me to bring her into my arms. To shield her from herself.