“That’s easy,” I say with a smile.
CHAPTER 14
Kassie
I watchas Bennett picks up the box I just dropped onto the floor with an ease that I didn't have, and strolls to the door that leads to the garage.
Luckily, without anyone else here, there’s more than enough room for him to use my dad’s air compressor to quickly, and loudly, put air into the mattress.
“Well, thank god we still had power for that one!” I say when he returns.
“Exactly why I would rather get organised now, than when the power goes out, Kassie.”
I smile, and he returns it, then quietly, and methodically we work together to get the bed made. When it’s done, I go get pillows from our beds, while Bennett finds torches.
When I get back, he’s lighting the fire, and I sit on the bed we just made together watching him.
“I already turned off the heater, and closed all of the doors, including the one for the hallway.”
“Good,” he says, wiping his hands on his pants, and standing up. “Hopefully the heat from the fire is kicking in by the time we start losing the heat from the heater being on.”
The lights flicker, and I can't help letting out a nervous laugh.
“I guess we did it all just in time.”
“We’re going to be OK, Kass, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you.”
“To us,” I say, and he smiles.
“I bought some bottled water today, just in case.”
“Good, we can drink that, and we can use the sink to wash up with. Hands, and dishes.”
He walks into the kitchen, and I can suddenly feel a chill in the air that has nothing to do with the storm outside, but rather the one brewing inside.
And then, the lights go out, and we’re plunged into darkness, the only light coming from the glowing embers of the fire.
Suddenly, I'm cold to the bone, even though I'm staring at red hot flames, I can hear the wind blowing outside, and it’s making me shiver.
“Why don’t you get comfortable under the covers, Kassie? I’ll watch the fire so that it doesn’t go out.” Bennett’s voice is so close, I jump. “Sorry.” His breath brushes over the shell of my ear.
“For what?”
“Scaring you. I didn't mean to.”
I move to get under the covers, stripping out of the sweatpants, and top, down to my sleep shorts, and tank. I drop from the couch to the mattress, pull back the bedding, then look up to see Bennett watching me.
I hold out my hand, hoping that he’ll take it.
“Join me.” It’s both a question, and a request. “I don’t want to sleep alone.”
“Fuck!” he mutters, but just as I think he’s going to say no, he strips down to his boxer briefs, and t-shirt, then slides in next to me.
I roll over to face the fire, and I can feel the heat from his body behind me, but we’re not touching. Not quite.
Suddenly, I'm exhausted. It’s been a long day, and I close my eyes, comfortable knowing that I'm safe.
When I wake up later, it’s still dark, and for a few seconds I'm disoriented. Until I feel the warm body curled around mine, and I remember.
