“She did.” Erin frowned. “Verbal abuse is just as bad as physical abuse. There’s no excuse for it.”
Having her in his corner felt so fucking amazing. “Thanks.”
She nodded. “And though Meg was awful, I don’t think living in Angela and Charles’ household would have been any better.”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t have been all alone.” And that, there, was the crux of it. Smith was so damn tired of being alone.
Erin didn’t look at him as if he were pathetic for admitting that. Instead, she sighed. “Yeah. That has to be the worst. Being sad and afraid and having no one to turn to.” She looked at him, straight in the eye. “I’m so proud of you, and it makes me feel a little bad about my own problems.”
“What? Why?” He swung his feet over the chaise and sat up straight, watching her try to express herself. Her eyes started to grow shiny, and he didn’t like it.
“You had no one to help you grow into the kind, loving man you are today.”
His cheeks felt hot. “Nah. Don’t make me—”
“You hush,” she said and wiped her eyes. “When I was at the lowest point in my life, you were there. You helped me. Youheldme. And you never once took advantage or did anything but look out for me. No one showed you how to be a good man, Smith. You did that all on your own.” She sniffed. “I have silly problems. A broken heart. Broken hearts heal. But what was done to you could have broken your forever.” She leaned close and cupped his cheeks. “You’re so much more than you see yourself. I see you.” She put his hand over her heart. “See how it races? Because you’re near. Because you’re so amazing, and you can’t see it.”
His eyes burned. No one had ever said that kind of stuff to him before. Sure, he could bring a woman to orgasm. Yes, he had large muscles and a decent enough face. But Erin was really looking at him and seeing something that made her truly happy. Proud, she’d said.
He blinked to keep mortifying tears at bay.
“Can I ask a favor from you?” She wiped her eyes.
“Ask anything.”
“Can I sleep over tonight?” Before he could deny her, knowing she had to be making the request of out pity, she added, “You said a lot about how you feel. And it made me realize something. We’re only alone if we allow it.”
He dropped his hand from her chest, not able to handle feeling her racing heart any more. Smith felt for this woman, something strange and beautiful and terrifying. And every time she said something meaningful and deep, she made it worse.
“I don’t want to be alone tonight. I want to sleep next to you and know that you’re there to keep me safe.” She flushed. “That’s not very independent minded, is it?”
“Stay.” He cleared his throat, aware a gravel truck seemed to have parked there. “Just to sleep, I swear. I’d like that.”
Her bright eyes crinkled, and her lips curled up in a smile. One that never failed to shock his pulse and warm him deep inside.
“I’d love to. And I’ll read the rest of that tomorrow.” She pointed to Angela’s journal.
“No. That’s for me to read. You helped me, so much. But it’s time for me to stop avoiding the truth.”
“Are you sure?” She looked up at him with concern.
So loving and tender, always trying to help someone else. Was it any wonder he’d fallen for her? “I’m sure.” He led her into the bedroom. While they took turns getting ready for bed, he turned down the comforter.
He wore his underwear, and Erin wore one of his favorite shirts, dwarfed by the Avengers.
“You really do like comics, don’t you?” she teased and plucked the thin cotton from her body.
It settled over her pert breasts again. Too emotionally and physically drained from the night’s revelations, he patted the bed. She joined him, and when she turned on her side and snuggled closer, he breathed in her scent and kissed the top of her head, in love and uncertain about where to go from there.
“Good night, Erin.”
She kissed his chest, above his heart, and he swore the shriveled organ cracked its outer shell and started beating just for her. “Good night…Riley.”
He blinked more tears, not sure who he felt simultaneously sad and happy for. The man who had finally found a treasure to care for, or the boy who had missed so much in his life?
Erin snuggled deeper. “Nah. Good night, Smith. That’s much better.” He swore she murmured something that sounded like “sweetheart” before she drifted off.
He just held her and drifted into a contented sleep better than he’d had in years.
