He slipped the cup from her grasp, dropped a blanket over her, and soon she drifted to sleep with Grosset at her side.

WHEN SARAFINA WOKE IN THE MORNING, THEO WAS still in the chair near her. He looked uncomfortable—slumped down with one arm thrown over the armrest. His head had lolled back and his dark hair trailed over the side of the chair. He still managed to look luscious, though. The hem of his black T-shirt had ridden up, exposing his washboard stomach and the enticing button fly of his jeans.

She swallowed experimentally and when pain didn’t shoot through her body, she sat up a little. The seat of her power was flushed and full once more, like a battery recharged. She closed her eyes, dragging in air through her nose and letting it out slowly. Ah, much better.

“Okay?” That was Theo’s gravelly morning voice. It sent goose bumps all over her body.

She looked over at him and smiled. “Worlds better.” Her stomach growled. “I feel so good I could eat a stack of pancakes, but since we don’t have those, I’ll go make coffee.”

He moved a little and winced, instantly making her feel guilty. He’d slept in the chair because of her. “I’m going to shower,” he mumbled, pushing a hand through his hair.

Later, while she sipped coffee at the kitchen table, Theo walked in . . . with just a white towel around his waist. Again.

Sarafina almost dropped her mug.

Apparently, he had no idea how good he looked like that. If he knew the thoughts that went through her mind every time he traipsed around the apartment that way, he’d put on some clothes.

Theo walked to the coffeemaker and poured himself a cup. She watched his rippling back muscles where she could see them through his damp dark hair. The man was a menace to any woman within a thirty-foot range, and he had absolutely no clue.

She directed her gaze down to her coffee cup. “Shouldn’t we be notifying Thomas about what happened last night?”

He turned, cup in hand. “Already done. I called him as soon as I knew you’d be okay last night, once you’d fallen asleep.”

She nodded. “What did he say?”

“Nothing I didn’t know already. He said stay on you. We’re mated, you and I. Inseparable from here on out.”

Great. She had catnip just out of her reach 24/7 now.

“Mated, huh. Wow, and here I never really wanted to get married.” She set the coffee cup down. “Can I pee by myself?”

“Please do.”

“How about shower?”

“Yeah. We’re not getting ridiculous about it.”

She set her empty cup down and pushed up from the table. “My turn.” Her knees went weak, and he was there in a second, steadying her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”