Twisted Arrangement 4 by Mora Early Page B

It’s too short.” This was his room and that was his bed. If she was going to sleep in it, she was damn well going to sleep in it with him. Desire began to bubble in his blood, but Josh tamped it viciously down. He was not some randy high schooler whose cock was in charge.
     
    Emma glared at him over the blankets. When she finally spoke to him, her voice was low with anger. “Fine. The bed is big enough. You stay over there. But I swear to Christ, Josh, you lay even a fingertip on me and you’ll find out just how much of a criminal I can be.”
     
    “What kind of man do you take me for?” Well, that was a stupid question. Josh could have cut out his own tongue. She snorted.
     
    “The kind who blackmails women and then treats them they’re morally inferior.”
     
    Josh grimaced as he sat down to pull off his shoes. “I suppose I had that coming.” She crossed her arms over the covers, color high in her cheeks.
     
    “Among other things.”
     
    He didn’t respond. Maybe she was right. Ben seemed to think so. Somehow, and Josh wasn’t quite sure when, he’d become the villain. That really hadn’t been his intent when he set out; he wasn’t lying about that. He’d thought he could just use the fortuitous situation to see that everyone got what they wanted. And yes, maybe he still had some lingering resentment about being tricked, but he didn’t want to hurt Emma. He just didn’t trust her. How could anyone, herself included, blame him for that?
     
    Normally, he slept in the nude. But he knew Emma wouldn’t appreciate that, and he was already walking a thin line here. He tugged a pair of soft, grey cotton sleep pants on, switched off the overheard light, and climbed into bed.
     
    The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated a small area around them with a pool of warm yellow light. Emma scooted further away as he slid beneath the covers. Josh flopped onto his back, the day’s exertions piling onto his head and chest. He tugged the blanket up to his armpits, turned off the lamp, and situated himself on his pillow.
     
    “Goodnight, Emma.”
     
    She didn’t reply.
     
    Josh lay in the absolute silence, staring up into the darkness as his eyes began to adjust. He swore he could hear the clock in his office next door ticking, it was so quiet. He was acutely aware of Emma lying beside him. She was still fuming, he thought.
     
    Her breath rasped softly in and out, too even and not deep enough for her to be asleep. Even though she was at least a foot away from him, Josh swore he could feel the heat from her skin all along his left arm.
     
    Ridiculous, of course. He was just hyperaware because of their fight. Not that they were actually fighting. Josh sighed.
     
    “Are you awake?”
     
    Her heard the rustle of her legs shifting. “Yes.”
     
    He rolled to his side facing her, propping his head on his hand. His eyes had adjusted enough to make out the vague shape of her in the darkness. Her hair was black against the white of the pillow, the pale fabric of her pajama top like a beacon for his gaze. Her breasts rose and fell with each soft breath.
     
    “I’m sorry.” He rubbed at his chest, looking in the general vicinity of her face, even though he couldn’t see her eyes. “I was an ass. You’ve been holding up your end of the bargain and all I’ve been doing is making it difficult.”
     
    She didn’t respond, though her breath sighed softly out. Her silence made him uneasy. Josh shifted on the cool sheets, a cold hand wrapping around his heart. Had he completely botched this whole arrangement beyond repair?
     
    “Ben thinks I’m trying to get revenge on you for stealing from me. Is that what you think?”
     
    Her hands curled over the edge of the blanket, her nails scratching the fabric softly. She stared up at the ceiling. “The thought had occurred to me,” she finally said. Her tone was hesitant, wary.
     
    “Well, I’m not. I don’t want revenge. I wasn’t lying when I said I