Free Waiting for a Prince by K. C. Wells Page B

find words. “Let’s leave the talking for
    the morning, all right?” He spoke quietly. Sam bobbed his head once more and sipped his
    coffee. Mark got up and went into his bathroom to fetch a clean sheet from the airing cupboard
    above the boiler. Then he went into his bedroom and opened the wardrobe to pull out a spare
    pillow. When he got back to the living room, Sam’s eyes were closed, his breathing even, his
    mug balanced precariously on his lap. Mark put down the bedding and gently disengaged Sam’s
    hands from around the mug, before setting it on the table. He placed the pillow at one end of
    the sofa and eased Sam into a horizontal position, his head resting on the pillow. Mark tugged
    off Sam’s trainers and socks, and then spread out the sheet over him.
    “Thanks.” The whispered word pierced the quietness of the room.
    Mark smiled. He looked down at Sam’s face, his forehead creased. “Get some sleep.”
    Sam stirred, small noises escaping from his lips. “I’ll be across the hall if you need me.”
    Straightening, he went into the kitchen and filled a glass with cold water. He placed it within reach on the coffee table and clicked off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness.
    Mark slipped off his robe and slid naked under the cool cotton sheet. He lay on his back
    and stared up at the ceiling. His thoughts were fixed on the man sleeping in the room across
    from him. He didn’t understand what was so important that Sam would go to such lengths to
    find him, especially after the way he’d reacted in the pub. Hopefully, all would become clear in the morning. Mark closed his eyes and tried to ignore the ache across his eyes.
    It was a long while before sleep took him.
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Chapter Six
    Mark cautiously opened his eyes and blinked in the sunlight which poured through his
    bright yellow curtains. He glanced at the clock beside him and did a double take: it was already nine. Fuck . He rarely slept this late. He yawned and stretched his body under the sheet—and froze when he came into contact with a warm, solid body which definitely hadn’t been there
    when he’d fallen asleep. He jerked away, rolling onto his back, and stared in disbelief.
    Sam lay beside him in the bed, his head nestled in the pillows, eyes closed. Mark caught
    his breath. Sam’s upper body was bare. Mark lifted the sheet carefully and peered beneath it.
    Fuck—Sam was nude. Mark’s brain went into overdrive. What the hell was Sam doing in his
    bed, and how long had he been there? Mark sat up, all sleep driven from him.
    “Morning.”
    He jerked in surprise. Sam gazed up at him, his expression watchful. He blinked
    sleepily.
    Mark pulled the sheet up around him, dimly aware of the absurdity of this action. The
    man had seen him naked on the beach twice , for goodness’ sake. “What are you doing in my bed, Sam?” He kept his tone even.
    Sam’s eyes opened wide. “The way you’re reacting, anyone would think you’d never
    had a guy in bed with you before.”
    Mark stared at him meaningfully. “That might be because I’ve never had a guy in bed
    with me before.” Inside he cringed. What did that say about his sex life? Then it hit him. “Oh
    my God. Did I…did I ask you to come to bed with me?” The state he’d been in, anything was possible. He remembered getting into bed, but after that? There was no recollection of inviting Sam. And just because he didn’t remember saying anything resembling that, didn’t mean it
    hadn’t happened.
    Sam hastened to reassure him. “God, no! I… I woke up a couple of hours ago and I… I
    didn’t want to be alone.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry if I did something wrong. I just assumed…”
    Mark stretched out his hand across the sheet and grasped Sam’s hand. “Really, it’s okay.
    It was just a bit of a shock, waking up to find I had a bed partner.” A bit of a shock was
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    It was just a bit of a shock, waking up to find I had a bed partner.” A bit of