You’re falling for this woman.
The thought should have been terrifying but it wasn’t. He wanted more with her, wanted to see how far they could take things.
He definitely wanted her in his bed on a regular basis. They hadn’t had enough time. Suddenly, he was obsessing over all the things theyhadn’tdone during her week at Vice. They hadn’t gone out for dinner. They hadn’t shared a breakfast. She hadn’t told him all about her childhood, her hopes and fears. He wanted to know what drove her, what inspired her.
Most of all, he wanted to be her inspiration.
Once again, she groaned and mumbled something. Under the sheets, her feet thrashed.
“Shh.” He moved his lips down to her nose and capturing her flailing legs between his. “I’ve got you, baby. It’s okay.”
Her chest heaved, even as she slept. “Broken.”
It wasn’t the first time that word that slipped from her subconscious.
Nothing works inside me. I’m broken.
He’d brushed the comment off before, thinking it was the result of too many drinks. Clearly, it hit harder than any Golden Oblivion.
“Dana?”
“Hollow. So hollow.”
Her cry broke his heart. Alex reached behind him and turned on the bedside table light to its dimmest setting.
Her face…it was changed by anguish. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Her mouth was contorted. She reached for her hair and pulled.
“Dana.” He gently removed her curls from her hand. “Dana, wake up, sweetheart. You’re having a bad dream.”
When her eyes opened, they were filled with dark wonder. It wasn’t the only emotion flitting there.
He saw shame.
“Alex?”
“I’m here.” He gave her a soft kiss. “I’m right here.”
She began to cry.
Her tears. They sliced into him like knives. “Please don’t cry. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She rolled over. “I should go.”
“What are you doing?”
She sat up and began looking for her clothes. “I shouldn’t have stayed.” Seeing her bra at the bottom of his closet, her gown on the floor, her shoulders sagged. “Shit. I’d give anything for a pair of sweat pants and some granny panties.”
“Hey. Come here.” He pulled her back onto the bed and under the covers, even though she resisted. “Why are you doing this? I want you to stay.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yeah, so you keep saying. Thing is, Dana, you’re the first woman I’ve brought to my bed in over a year and I let you tie me to it. That was a first, even for me. So, believe me when I say I want you to stay.”
She fell onto the pillow, facing him. Every trace of his warrior woman was gone.
“Tell me what’s going on. Why are you…broken?”
“I…how did you…?”
