He knew part of it was how much her life had changed in the last week, but he’d also caught the heated look in her eyes when she studied him.That pleased him tremendously because his fingers were itching to touch her in all the ways he wanted to.
The attraction that hit him the moment he’d first seen her had grown into a deeper emotion, and his affection toward her rose every day.But he had his concerns when he noticed the bruises under her eyes were growing darker instead of lighter, a sign she wasn’t sleeping well, and he didn’t know what to do about it.
His thoughts scattered when the front door slowly slid open.He cocked his head and watched as Angel started to slip outside, and if he wasn’t mistaken, she was carrying the blanket she’d had when she came to live with him.
“What are you doing, Sweetheart?”he murmured.
She gasped and twirled to face him.He saw her eyes narrow as she tried to find him in the shadows.
“Thomas?”
“Yes, baby.It’s me.”He waited for her to say something, but she stood frozen in place.“Where do you think you’re going?”
Angel looked down at the ground and stayed silent.
He held out a hand.“Come here.”
She bit her lip and then started toward him.He reached for her when she stopped a foot from him.
“Come and sit beside me.”
She reluctantly sat, then stiffened when he pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Angel, look at me, please.”
She lifted her face.
“First off, I need to know if you trust me?”
She nodded.“Yes.I trust you more than anyone in my life.”
That pleased him.“Good, because you know I’d never hurt you, right?”
She nodded again.
“I know we haven’t known each other long, and your life has changed so much in a short amount of time, but I need you to know you can tell me anything.”
Her eyes widened.“Okay.”
“Where were you going, baby?”
“I ...I want to go out to see Ranger.”
“It’s eleven o’clock at night.I don’t like you out by yourself.Why did you need to see him so late?”
“Because I can’t sleep, and I thought I might try sleeping with him as I did before.”
“Are you still not sleeping in the bed?”
“I’ve tried, but for some reason, it makes me feel lonely, and I’m not used to sleeping on something so soft and comfortable.”
He studied her expression for a moment.“Would you like to sleep with me and see how that goes?”
Her mouth dropped open.“Really?”
Thomas smiled.“Yes, really.”
She thought about it for a moment before looking back at him.“I’d like to try it.I feel safe with you.”
