She left the sentence unfinished. Arto wasn’t sure what to think. The unsettling feeling that had pervaded him since Larissa had her vision grew increasingly more disturbing with each hour, leaving him on edge.
“No. But this is what we do. We watch. Patrol for danger.”
She arched her brows. “Am I in danger?”
He didn’t want to scare her, not when there were no indications to be. “There are no signs of it, but I want to ensure you’re safe.”
She grunted. “That makes two of us.” She motioned to the empty space beside her. “Have a seat.”
“Just for a minute.” He sat down. “I should get back out there.”
She slanted her gaze. “Aren’t you technically watching out for me even more closely in here?”
“Yes, but…” He pressed his lips together.
“But what?”
When he exhaled, his shoulders sagged. “I won’t be able to see anything approach.
She let out a nervous laugh. “That’s not reassuring me that nothing is out there, Arto. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Aside from her being his mate? One that he secretly longed for almost from the moment he met her. “We haven’t found any indications of unusual activity.”
She ran her hand through her mussed-up hair. “I really screwed up today, eh?”
“What? No, of course not. I gave you the book.”
She smiled, but it was strained. “I promised Larissa I wouldn’t go down this road of self-blame and regret.”
“Good.” He nodded. “There’s no need to do so. You did nothing wrong.”
She bit her lower lip. “It doesn’t feel that way.”
She shouldn’t feel any shame when he was at fault. To distract her from self-blame, he prodded. “Tell me about your dream.”
“It was—the usual,” she began. “You know, with a demon. But this time was different.”
“How so?”
She glanced away, and her cheeks turned pink. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
Aye, did she have a sexual dream about a demon? He clenched his jaw. One had seduced her in the past, using its unnatural power to influence her.
“It’s okay, I understand.” Yet, the idea incinerated him. Although he wanted to stay longer, he had to return to his watch outside. “I should get back out there.”
When he went to stand, she touched his arm. “Wait.”
He turned to her. “What is it?”
“Could you just—hold me for a minute?” She appeared so vulnerable as she looked up at him from anxious blue eyes that he longed to hold her against him for the rest of time.
“Of course.” He leaned back against the sofa and lifted his arm, welcoming her to lean against him.
She did so, her legs curled up on the cushions, and his heart thumped. What he would do to be here at all times, ensuring she was safe, protecting her. As she snuggled against him, she took deep breaths.
He inhaled the fragrant vanilla scent of her shampoo as she rested against him. He smoothed his hand over her hair in an attempt to soothe her and alleviate her fears. This wasn’t the first time they’d curled up close together here on her couch. In the past, they’d done so as they watched a movie—but in a platonic way, as friends, or that’s what she’d called it. Longing consumed him, one much deeper than friendship, but to respect her wishes, he kept his hands and feelings to himself. But now as he held her, sensing her fear, his protective instincts skyrocketed.
He should move but couldn’t bring himself to leave Janie just yet. Within a few minutes, her low, rhythmic breathing indicated she’d fallen asleep. Oh damn. Now what? He didn’t want to rouse her so soon after that nightmare, and if it happened again, he wanted to be there for her. But he had his duty. He was supposed to be out there protecting her, not cozying up with her while she slept. He’d already screwed up enough today by bringing out that book on demonology.
