I’ve always slept well on planes. Something about the gentle vibrations always lulls me quickly to sleep. But my entire body is rigid with restraint now. That alcohol was a bad idea. Agreeing to sleep in the bed with her was a bad idea.

I hear her shift beside me, trying to get comfortable. This bed isn’t quite the size of a standard double, so we aren’t very far from one another. And knowing Elle, she’ll probably drift even closer to me in her sleep.

Perhaps I should sleep on top of the sheets. Yes—that would make things easier. Not to mention the fact that I’m suddenly feeling unbearably warm.

But no matter what I tell myself, I can’t seem to move. Instead, all my senses are focused on the form of Elle beside me—I can still smell the soapy freshness of her skin, hear every movement she makes beside me, even feel the heat of her. I’m half hard already, and I dare not move a muscle for fear I’ll lose all control over my body.

Think about non-sexual things. Think about Matthias. Think about your father and brother. Think about the great big mess you’re creating for yourself back home…

“Leo?” Elle’s voice floats softly out of the darkness.

I stiffen. “Yes?”

“You were shaking your leg. It was making the whole bed shake.”

Was I? Oh, God.

“My apologies,” I say. “I was just trying to get comfortable.” I roll from my back over to my side, facing away from her. I should get up. Go to one of the chairs. Even sleeping on the floor would be better than this. Or, better yet—I should go take a nice, long, ice-cold shower. That would cool me down, and by the time I got back, Elle would be fast asleep.

But again, I can’t seem to bring myself to move.

I squeeze my eyes shut and wait. After a moment, Elle stops wiggling around. A moment later, her breathing slows and grows steadier. Soon, it’s clear she’s fast asleep.

And I don’t move. I’m wide awake, my body tense and poised to strike—and all this without her even having to touch me. Our encounter after dinner wasn’t nearly enough. I spent three months without her, and my entire body aches for that experience again…and again and again. I want to bury myself so deep in her that she can’t imagine herself with any other man ever again.

But I can’t touch her. Someone, please just shoot me now.

I try to refocus my thoughts. To think about how I’m going to manage things tomorrow. There will be things to manage, that much is clear. For all my reassurances to Elle that my family will behave, that they’ll treat her with the proper respect, I still have my reservations. I want them to meet her—need them to meet her—but I doubt the introductions will be entirely smooth. I need a plan. I need…

Her. I need her. My cock is throbbing now, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Though, wait—perhaps that isn’t quite true. I can get up and go relieve these tensions in the washroom. Ease the needs of my body just enough to let me fall asleep.

This time, I somehow find the ability to move my legs. I’m in the process of kicking the bedclothes aside when I feel a light touch against my back.

I immediately go rigid.

Elle murmurs something in her sleep, and her fingers press against my back. I can’t move. Can’t breathe. I need to get out of this bed before I do something I regret, but my entire being is fixated on her.

She murmurs again, and this time she actually rolls toward me. Her entire body presses against mine, and I can feel the heat of her breath through the thin material of my shirt.

And then I lose all control.

I roll over, grabbing her in my arms and yanking her hard against my chest. I bury my face in her hair, breathing deeply as I wrap myself around her.

I don’t mean to wake her, honestly I don’t. I only want to be as close to her as possible, entwined with her completely. But I feel her stir in my arms, waking little by little. I can’t bear to let her go.

It takes her a moment to realize where she is.

“Leo?” she says sleepily.

My face is still in her hair. “I shouldn’t have gotten into this bed with you.”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry, Elle,” I say, pulling my face back slightly. “I’m not strong enough.”

And before she can say another word, I kiss her.

* * *