Inch by inch, I eased the door closed, satisfied that the click could be barely heard. It was some time past midnight and while it was still early for most of the lodge, I knew I had a roommate to account for. See, I could be a gentleman if I wanted to be.

I turned and looked at the bedroom door, already shut. I was lucky and glad that the bathroom had two entrances instead of just the one in the bedroom. Heaven forbid I had to piss off the side of the balcony for the next few nights.

Idly I wondered how she was doing, her quick exit from the bar hours earlier had been a sight to see and I felt guilty for not going after her. To see if she was okay. That would've been the sensible thing to do. To make up for our first raucous encounter. But for some reason I had a feeling my presence would've only made matters worse between us.

When she came down to the bar, I'd noticed her immediately. She didn't need a tight fighting evening gown to make an entrance; she did all that without even trying. And I wasn't the only one who cast longing glances at her, other men studied her, their eyes lingering on that sweet, innocent, and fuckable body as she crossed to the room.

Her long brown hair tipped with honey streaks danced above her shoulders as she moved, and though she was dressed casually, her clothing still managed to show off a luscious figure. The one that I couldn't help imagine again and again in my head. Naked… and wet. She was far more gorgeous than I had initially thought and for a moment, I'd been struck. And hard as a rock.

But then came the coughing fit, and the snow bunny I’d found down there to pass the time with had laughed at her expense when my roommate had choked on her drink. I’d been pissed and started to make my excuses to the woman who’d gladly fuck me till dawn. Needless to say, I hadn’t taken her up on her invitation to spend the night in her room. I couldn’t fucking stand anyone that enjoyed someone else’s embarrassment. It was tacky and offensive. Mmm, maybe I was more of a gentleman than I thought.

Walking over to the bedroom door, I balled my fist up to knock and say goodnight. But halted before my knuckles hit the barrier between us. She probably was asleep and probably had a pile of furniture blocking the door anyway. Barricaded herself in. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had.

But she would not be happy if I woke her up. That I already knew from her fiery temper I’d witnessed that afternoon.

“Shit,” I swore, stalking back to the sofa, not really understanding my sudden mood change. There was something about the woman with no name that both infuriated me and intrigued me. I fumbled in the dark with only the light of the fireplace to guide me and attempted to pull out the sofa bed. Thank god there was one or I would be sleeping on the floor.

After successfully pulling the damn thing out, I stripped down to my boxers and threw my clothes on the chair, using the bar sink to brush my teeth instead of the bathroom. I didn’t know why I was being so careful not to wake her.

We didn’t even know each other.

I padded back over to the sofa bed and grabbed the blanket I had found a moment earlier, and threw it over the small bed. I wondered if that was her doing, a peace offering perhaps. The room was warm enough without it, but I knew that by morning, it was probably going to be cold as balls outside and I didn't know if the fire automatically shut off, so the gesture was a welcome one. With a sigh, I dropped onto the sofa bed.

There was a squeak then an almighty pop. Wooden slats cracked like brittle firewood and suddenly I crashed to the floor. The middle of the bed gave out under my weight. “What the hell,” I muttered as I struggled to get out of the hole, my ass trapped and my arms and legs flailing.

The bedroom door flew open and she came out, a boot in her hand. “What are you doing? I’m trying to sleep!”

“I’m fucking stuck,” I grumbled, pushing on the mattress to dislodge my ass from the bed. “The damn thing fell through.”

Surprisingly a giggle escaped her. Oh, this she found funny. At least she had a sense of humour.

But still I shot her a look. “What’s with the boot? Planning on stomping me to death?”

“I thought, oh lord,” she giggled louder, suppressing her grin with her hand. “I thought someone had broken into the room. I forgot you were—”

“Obviously not,” I answered. “Don’t suppose you mind giving me a hand here?”

"Actually, seeing you struggle is probably the best thing I've seen all night."

I laughed. “You clearly don’t get out much then.”

“Might be best to leave you there then like an upturned turtle.”

“You wouldn’t dare… come on you’re not that cruel are you? Are you?”

Finally she stepped forward with a mischievous smile and offered her hand. I took it and used her counterweight to get out of the hole. We ended face to face, our bodies achingly close. “You would think a place like this would have a better sofa bed,” I said softly, admiring the view before me. She took her hand back and moved away, but closer to the damaged sofa.

“I doubt anyone ever uses them, probably just for show,” she said as I inspected the damage. “What did you do? Use it as a trampoline?”

She had a point; the entire thing was trashed and needed to be replaced.

"You would think that, but no. What on earth are we going to do now?" I asked with a sigh, shoving a hand through my hair as I looked at her. She bit her lip and looked away, her features visible in the soft firelight glow.

“I-I guess we will have to share.”

Surprised, I looked at her. “What?”

She sighed and looked at me. “I mean you can’t sleep on the floor and the bed is big enough for both of us without, well, touching each other. You can sleep in there.”

“I, thanks,” I said, not sure what else to say. “I really appreciate it. But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Let me phone downstairs and see if they can bring up a cot or something?”

She waved my suggestion away, and let out a little laugh. “It’s late… We can sort it out in the morning. I mean we are both adults, right?”

Right. We were. I stuck out my hand. “Nick Lowry.”

She placed her hand in mine, the warmth infusing into my skin. “Angel Rose.”

I dropped her hand and cleared my throat this time. “We finally meet. Angel, thanks. I know this isn’t what either of us envisaged when we won.”

"It's the story of my life," she sighed, averting her gaze once again. "But erm can you, um, can you wear a shirt to bed though?"

That was when I remembered I was in my boxers. Conversely, she was covered from head to toe in flannel pyjamas though it didn’t halt the stiffening that was happening. I nodded.

“Shame, I was planning on going commando.”

“You will not!” she gasped, her cheeks glowing red like the fire.

“Okay, keep your panties on. I can cover up.” I hated sleeping in anything, but she was willing to allow me to share the bed. I would put on my ski gear if I had to.

She turned and disappeared back into the bedroom and I wasted no time throwing on a t-shirt, hoping that she wouldn’t change her mind.

Angel was already in the bed, the covers up to her chin when I entered. I nearly laughed as I saw the mound of pillows positioned in the centre of the bed like a make-shift brick wall. She wasn’t lying about me staying on my side of the bed.

But I didn't want to piss her off, so I walked to the other side and slid under the crisp sheets in the dark without disturbing her protective pillow fort. The bed was crazy comfortable, and I let out a sigh of happiness as I stretched my arms behind my head. This was a hell of a lot nicer than that sofa was going to be.

“God this is comfy.”

Angel murmured her agreement, then coughed as if she were building up the courage to say something more. A moment later she said, “Can I ask you a question?”

Her voice was soft in the darkness and my curiosity was instantly piqued at what she would want to ask. “Sure, go on. If it’s to ask if I snore, then no. I don’t.”

“Good, but no that wasn’t what I was going to ask. Would you, I mean, if I had asked you to leave, would you go?”

I chuckled. “Of course not. This is my room too. Besides, I don’t think you really want me to go.”

The mattress moved and I felt her turning.

"I—how did you come to that conclusion?" she said, her voice breathy. Flustered. I bet the crotch of her flannel pyjamas were already soaked.

“You wouldn’t have invited me into your bed otherwise… You want me in your bed, Angel. That I know for certain.”

“Pretty sure of yourself aren’t you?”

“You just hate that I’m right.”

She huffed and shifted her body, and I knew that was the end of our conversation for the night.

I laced my arms behind my head and got comfy. Angel. Her name certainly didn’t fit her personality. Well, an amateur would probably think so. Maybe on the surface she came across all doe-eyed and innocent, but beneath that shy little exterior there was a little firecracker wanting, and waiting to break free. And I vowed to see the fireworks before the five nights were up. I’d have Angel begging to ride me like the devil I was… right here in this bed.