***
“Doing okay. Didn’t eat much.”
Although Jasper’s voice was quiet, I still heard it. It was hard not to when my head was laying right there.
Keeping my breathing even, and my body as slack as possible, I tried to listen closer to who was here, and what was being said.
“How long has he been asleep?” Dawn asked. She sounded closer now that I knew she was there.
“An hour or so.” A hand ran up and down the side of my arm, keeping me content.
I’d never wake up if I could stay right here forever.
“Then I’ll have enough time to get some soup going. I’ll make extra for Mrs. Lee.”
Jasper’s response was a simple hum against the top of my head. Then, I could havesworn that he pressed a soft kiss there, too. But I had to imagine that.
“Darn it, Koda. You weren’t meant to be so dangerous for my heart.” I was pretty darn sure I wasn’t meant to hear that part. “How can a simple, tortured boy like you be what my heart beats for?”
Like I’d have an answer to that, I scoffed inward.
“And I’m just rambling to someone who isn’t even aware of what they’re doing to me. And now I’m talking to myself. Great.”
I couldn’t stop the small giggle that came out. It was small enough I could cover it with a cough, but I highly doubted he believed that.
“Hey, little – uh. Koda. Honey.”
I rubbed my face against his neck, soaking up the few extra seconds I had in his hold.
“Sorry for waking you.”
I just breathed.
“Asher texted, checking in to make sure you were okay.”
“Hmm.” I was okay, I think. Just sleepy mostly. And probably hungry.
“Your phone’s been blowing up, by the way. I’m assuming it could be Noah, since everyone else you’d text is in this house.”
Pulling back enough to itch my nose, I got a whiff of myself. How could Jasper put up with my stink?
Although I knew I should get up, I didn’t. I fell back against Jasper’s chest.
“How are you feeling?”
“Sleepy.” If I was lucky, I’d get just enough energy to make it to my bed upstairs, but the idea of getting clean was already draining.
“I think some food will help wake you up a little.”
Maybe. But that meant I had to move.
He lapsed into silence once more, so much so I thought maybe I had fallen back asleep. I at least dozed off, aware but not of everything going on around me.
I was safe. I was warm. And I never wanted to move.
In Jasper’s hold, I felt put together in a way I hadn’t in a very long time.
“I think we need to have a talk about some stuff when you are more awake, and able to think clearer.”
