~~Chapter 9

I woke when Dillon sat on the edge of the bed to pull on his boots. His shoulders were massive and his muscles curved and flexed like a marble sculpture come to life. Three flat, circular scars formed a perfect triangle on his lower back, just a fraction of an inch to the right of his spine. They reminded me of a constellation of stars, the name of which I could not remember. I reached out and stroked them with my fingers.

"What time is it?" I whispered.

"I don't know. My pocket watch got shot," he said, shrugging into his shirt.

I rose to my knees and leaned against his back, kissing his neck and nipping his earlobe. He elbowed me away with a frown and a grin. I lay back on the pillows. I pushed him in the ribs with my foot. He looked back at me with his head cocked.

"You snore like a man sleeping off a drunk," said Dillon.

"I never."

"All night."

"I don't recall sleeping that much, actually."

He fussed with the quilt, tucking it under my chin.

"Are you blushing? After…that?" I asked with a laugh.

"No."

"I'm the one who should be embarrassed."

"Lucky that storm was loud."

My smile faded. "But you did not – I wanted to please you."

"I got what I needed."

He stood and put on his coat. He came back and sat on the edge of the bed again. He laid his hand on my cheek and stroked his thumb over my lips. His face was very serious.

"I better get out of here," he said.

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"Not those kind." He gave me a lingering kiss that might have gone further if the wind did not rattle the shutters once, as a reminder. Dillon pressed his lips to my ear. "I'll see you in a few hours," he said.

He stood and buttoned his coat. He paused at the door, listening. He glanced back at me then slipped out, closing the door softly.

There's an old wives' superstition that says you can gage a man's esteem of you by whether he puts his hat on before or after he steps out the door. It is a ridiculous notion. I could not help but feel a thrill of happiness that Dillon's hat was in his hand when he closed the door behind him.

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