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She rose again fro area, and stared at Cae sectional couch

The short curve of the cushioned furniture was eainst his as she drew another of the thin throws fros parted enough to trap her feet farther within the warmth of them, then the television winked out

Silence stretched between them, but it was a warm silence, one that felt coe of relief rocking her

"Good night, Caht, baby"

She turned on her side, tucked her back closer to the couch, and closed her eyes Within , too-cold bed

Cam knew thefor the sense of s unease to fill him He hadn’t slept with a woman since he was in his teens, since he was forced to stay in those old bitches’ beds until the sun rose He had rarely slept, certainly, other than once, he had barely dozed His skin had craith the feel of their naked bodies plastered against his back, their hands groping at hiet up and find another place to sleep, a place alone, Cam found, instead, an uncertain peace Jaci’s feet were tucked against his lower legs, fragile, soft, and warm He could see her face from where he lay, her expression serene now, as it hadn’t been when he’d checked on her the night before

She was comfortable and warht of that, and at the fragile enjoy closer to him

They had been cold when she first lay down and curled herself on the curved section of the couch The chill had quickly turned to warraceful little toes had curled as though in contentain

And now, rather than wondering how long he’d have to lie there before he could leave her without hurting her, he found drowsiness drifting over hiht before, and he’d feared tonight would be no better Now he smothered a yawn, let his eyes close, and found hi to sleep with a speed and contentment that he hadn’t known since he was a child

Jacioff, and he sht He could get very used to it

20

"I think it’s singularly unfair that you’re being given freedo for months just for a drink at the bar," Courtney pouted several days later, as she trailed Jaci through the club

Jaci snapped another picture with the digital ca to look over her shoulder at her friend

Courtney’s eyes were filled with ah her expression was less than pleased

"No doubt you cause as much trouble in here as you do anywhere else," Jaci accused her "Where’s the fascination in it?" She let the ca by its strap below her breasts, as she made a few notes on the electronic notepad she carried with her

"Tell me you see the possibilities, Jaci" Courtney’s voice was scandalized "It is an adventure"

"It’s a place full of men," Jaci said as she lifted the ca "The exercise rooloo area has a bar and a billiards table Give me a break It’s so male-oriented, you nearly choke on the testosterone"

She could feel Courtney behind her, aled expression on her friend’s face

"And they do not want us here" There was a pout in Courtney’s voice "They are determined to close us out of their little conversations and their conniving It’s totally unfair"

"Hested "See what they think about estrogen overload"

Unlike Courtney, Jaci had no interest in the club or the athered there She didn’t want to know their identities, and she sure as hell didn’t want to be a part of their conversations

"You’re being h Jaci heard the amusement in her voice "Doesn’t it make you curious about them? Sometimes, I think if I could be invisible, then I could move about them, perhaps find the answers I seek in what makes these men so different from others The few I know that are me what has created these men, what makes theh the only member that fascinated her was Cam