But sleeping when there was a half-naked vampire just steps away was not going to be easy.

Especially when that vampire was giving off waves of desire. She’d asked him about his eyes hoping he’d confess to it, but he hadn’t and she’d realized a second later that he was trying very hard to control himself.

So she’d let it be. Because she was trying very hard to do the same thing.

She was glad the sight of her naked legs had distracted him when she’d come out of the bathroom. That had saved her the embarrassment of being caught staring at him. No doubt her mouth had been open and eyes wide. She knew she’d blushed.

Sebastian without his shirt was…wow. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen a man’s chest before. She did go to the community pool during the summers. And there was television and social media and the covers of romance Books, which she devoured in between the literary stuff librarians were expected to keep up with. But being in the same room with a half-naked man? Who had also kissed her? To the point that she’d thought parts of her would catch on fire?

That was a very different thing.

And now she was in his bed. It smelled of him, dark and spicy and sort of woodsy. Like the pages of a much-loved, leather-bound book.

He’d been in this bed. Right where she was now. Probably wearing this exact shirt.

She swallowed as an uncontrollable shiver ran through her.

Her lips parted and the urge to call him to her was so strong she pressed a hand over her mouth. No, no, no. Getting involved with him in a purely physical way would never end well. She wasn’t that kind of woman anyway.

She sighed and wished Duncan were here. At least then she could snuggle his furry little butt. If he’d stay still. When he slept, he went out pretty hard. And since they’d been in Nocturne Falls, he’d taken to spending part of the night with her and part of the night with Jenna. He was probably curled up on her pillow making biscuits in her hair right now.

Tessa’s eyes blinked open. She hadn’t cleared bringing Duncan here, but he was her cat. And kittens needed a lot of attention. It wouldn’t be fair to leave him at Jenna’s when she was gone so long on her shifts for the sheriff’s office.

She already knew Sebastian wouldn’t like it. Look at his house. It was immaculate. But after what she was doing for him, he was just going to have to suck it up and deal with it. She wasn’t going to spend an entire week away from her baby.

Not even for that ridiculously handsome man. There was only so much sacrifice she was willing to make.

Maybe she’d bring Duncan and then tell Sebastian about him after he was firmly ensconced in Chez Ellingham. The whole ask for forgiveness rather than permission thing. It wasn’t her way. Her way was usually planning and by-the-book and all forms in triplicate. But what if he said no? They couldn’t have that argument in front of Evangeline.

She huffed out a breath. Evangeline. The woman was under this same roof. Probably snooping around right now.

“Sebastian?” She said his name quietly, not wanting to wake him if he’d already fallen asleep.

The quickness of his reply indicated he had not. “Yes?”

There was an eagerness in his voice that surprised her. Had he been expecting her to ask him something? If so, what? She’d think about that later. “Aren’t you worried that you-know-who might be riffling through your things while you’re asleep?”

“She might be, but anything of importance is behind locked doors. My desk drawers and filing cabinets are locked as well.”

Tessa rolled over to lay on her back. “Couldn’t she pick those locks?”

“I suppose she could, if she’s learned to do that. But Greaves is probably keeping an eye on her. And even if she gets into my office, she’d have to pick the locks on my desk drawers as well.”

She smiled. “You’re a smart man to have that double security even in your home.”

He laughed softly. “You say smart, my brothers say overly cautious.”

“But you’re protecting them, too—and the town. I approve.”

“Thank you.”

They both went quiet again. Sebastian spoke a minute later. “Are you comfortable?”

“Yes. Are you?”

“Yes. This couch is surprisingly adequate as a bed. Considering what it cost, it should be.”

Note to self, do not let Duncan claw the bedroom furniture. “Good. I’d feel bad if you were miserable.”

“And if I was?”

She smiled up at the ceiling. His words seemed very flirty. “We’d have to figure something else out for you.”

“Something else?”

“A different place for you to sleep.” Like next to her in this very large bed.

Because that would lead to sleeping. Sure.

He chuckled softly. “I’m not sure how well I would sleep in that situation either.”

Her eyes widened. It was like he was in her head. Vampires couldn’t read minds, right? She’d never heard of that being a thing. The best she could do for a response was laugh nervously, but it came out a strangled noise that made her sound like she was choking on something. She quickly cleared her throat and changed the subject. “We should go out to dinner again tomorrow night.”

“What about Evangeline?”

“You agreed she could live here for a week. I can’t imagine that includes accompanying us on all the things that couples do. Like dinner, movies, walks in the park…”