Shit.
He’d been all too happy to use my abilities when he needed a break in his case. But when I had an idea of my own, suddenly those same abilities were inconsequential. As were my opinions.
So much for my role as a consultant.
“Of course,” I said stiffly. My voice had gone totally cold. Arctic level chill. “I’m sorry for suggesting it. In the future, I won’t bother you withshitlike my thoughts or feelings or instincts.”
“Imogen—”
“I’ll let you go.”
“God damnit, will you just lis?—”
I jammed my finger against the receiver button, disconnecting the call. Then, I shoved off the covers, stalked across the room to Cade’s dresser, and pulled out one of his t-shirts. Followed shortly by a pair of my underwear, fished from the duffle on the floor, and a pair of gloves, swiped from the top of the nightstand.
No way in hell was I sleeping naked.
Not anymore.
I didn’t want to sleep there,period, but I had no way to get back to The Sea Witch and it was too late to bother anyone for a ride. So, I crawled back into bed, piled a metric ton of pillows in the middle of the mattress, and jerked the covers right up to my chin. Socks watched me do this from his post by my feet, his head canted to one side in curiosity.
“Your Dad can be a real jerk sometimes,” I informed him, still in the subzero grips of my anger.
The puppy let out a low whine in response, settling his head on his front paws.
Despite my bone-deep exhaustion, it took me a long, long time to find sleep.
* * *
Sometime in the middle of the night, I blinked awake as the mound of pillows rustled against the sheets. A second later, they disappeared completely, sailing off the bed and onto the floor. A broad chest hit my back, warm even through the fabric of my t-shirt.
“You still pissed?” Cade whispered, mouth at my ear.
I glared into the dark in total silence, my frame stiff with hurt and anger.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
I continued to glare into the dark.
His hands skimmed up my hips, then settled on my stomach. His touch was soft, not seductive. Still, it felt so good, I had to steel myself from melting against him.
His voice dropped until it was barely audible. “I’m sorry, beautiful. You were only trying to help and I shut you down instead of listening.”
My chin jerked.
“I know it’s no excuse for taking it out on you, but you caught me at a shit moment, after a long string of other shit moments, which started the second I left this bed this morning. You want to be pissed at me for that, be pissed.” His sigh gusted over my neck. “I’m still going to hold you close. Even if you’re mad as a hornet, being here with you is still the brightest spot of a pretty fucking dark day. The only bright spot, frankly. So, I’m soaking it in, as much as I can get. And I’m taking it with me tomorrow when I go back out into that darkness.”
Damn it to hell.
How could I be mad at him when he said things like that?
I couldn’t.
It was physically impossible.
He pressed a kiss to my nape. Then, he pulled me even closer, until his whole body was wrapped around mine like a cocoon of strong limbs.
I didn’t say anything. But, after a few seconds, I allowed my body to soften against his as the anger bled out of my system.