Finding the Blood Assassin [Lords of the Expanse 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) by Honor James Page A

he ordered, knowing if he kept sitting there he’d either overthink or he’d talk himself around it or he’d start to mope or he’d fall asleep.
    She rose to stand before him, her feet on each side of his waist, and very carefully she stepped back from him. “I’m sorry no one has told you that you make them feel safe before, but you do me, Raven. You make me happy.” She shrugged and added quickly, “Even when you make me angry enough to spit nails, you make me happy.”
    Getting to his feet, he shook his head at her. “I do not spit nails,” he said, using her terminology. “I have never spat nails,” he added as he stepped from the bath and helped her out. Gathering towels, he wrapped one around her before he put one around his waist and then began to dry her body. It was automatic and he gave no thought to the gesture or the fact that he was the one doing it.
    “I didn’t say you, silly goose. I meant me. It’s a euphemism.” Her arms rose as she let him dry her body until she stopped him, placing her hands over his. Jamison lifted their joined hands to cup his face and said. “I love you, Raven. I’m mostly just trying to tease you and give you a hard time. You make me happy.” Leaning in, she pressed a kiss to his lips. “Just be you and I’m happy.”
    “I don’t think you’d much like me,” he said softly as he leaned his forehead to hers. “But I’ll try,” he added when he saw the protest in her eyes. Rubbing her back gently, he pressed a kiss to her nose. “Come on, Jamison, I need to sleep,” he murmured softly as he stepped back and pressed a hand to her lower back.
    She moved with him into their bedroom, and after another quick rub of the towel to her hair, she finger combed it out with a wrinkle of her nose. Climbing into the bed, she held up the blankets for him. “Come on, Raven, I won’t sleep well unless I’m snuggled up next to you, so don’t try to argue with me.”
    He hadn’t planned on it, but a rebellious section of his brain said he should just because. Shaking his head at himself, he rubbed the towel over his hair, which he really needed to get cut soon, and then with a flick of his wrist he tossed it aside and slid into the bed with her. Lying on his back was out, so he actually had to roll on his side so the marks that were still healing didn’t pull or get caught on the bedding.
    She rolled to her back and held out her arms. “Come on, I want to be able to hold you. Please, Ra, just let me give you this small measure of contentment?” She looked at him expectantly, and he found that in that moment, he couldn’t refuse her.
    Rolling so he was on his stomach, he moved closer and settled his head to her upper chest, his chin brushing one of her breasts. He didn’t argue, he was too damned tired, all the sleepless nights before and during the mission having caught up to him. Throwing a leg over hers and letting his arm slide around her to hold her close, he shut his eyes, and not more than a breath later he was asleep, her name a small murmur on his lips.
    She smiled as her hands began to lightly stroke through his hair. “I love you, Raven Kato. I hope you see that one day.” With a soft sigh she closed her eyes and let the heat of him lying against her snuggled in tightly lull her to sleep.

Chapter 10
     
    Waking the next morning, Raven had no idea why he felt so relaxed and so warm, and who the hell was under him? He never slept with a female, the sleeping part anyway, and never in his bed, which was where he was. Then, as he breathed in slowly, he knew just who it was and remembered curling into her the night before to hold her as they both rested. It was a novel feeling, her warmth, her flesh against his, her hand tangled in his hair as his rested cradling her breast. He could get used to this, he realized, and then cursed the thought because if he did get used to something it would just be taken away, that’s how his life worked. Sighing softly, he