She burrowed more tightly against him, and he didn’t let her go.Just continued to hold her, vowing his protection.
As the crying slowly diminished, she leaned back to look into his eyes.“Can I punch him again tomorrow?”
“You can punch him again right now.”
“But I’m in my nightgown.”
“We don’t need to go outside.We can do it right here.Go get your sketchbook.”
She hesitated for a moment.With a nod, she donned her wrapper, and retrieved the book.
Trent closed the door and lit some lamps.“Tear out whichever one you want to use.”
It didn’t really matter.Every page was his face.She tore out the next one and handed it to him.He picked up a throw pillow and placed it against his chest, holding Norman’s face on the front of it.
“I don’t want to hit you.”
“Keep your eyes on the picture.That’s who you’re hitting.”
“But what if I hurt you?”
“You won’t.”He looked down.“Is that the correct position for your feet?”
She felt silly standing there in her nightclothes and bare feet, but she pushed through her reticence.She spaced her feet just as he’d shown her and curled her fingers into fists.
“Slowly for the first few, so you can remember your form.”
Her heart thudded as she stared into Norman’s face.Anger bubbled in her and she used it to draw strength.Slowly, she pushed her fist to meet the paper.Once, twice, and the third one she threw with all her might.“I hate you!”she yelled at the picture.“How could you do that to me?”Each punch damaged him a little more as she slammed her fist into the paper.“You’re a monster!”With the last one, it ripped clean through, and the bottom half fluttered to the floor.If only it were that easy to destroy him in her mind.
Trent set the pillow aside and she stepped into his embrace, once more.“Good work.”
She laughed through her tears at his praise, but he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.“I wasn’t teasing you.I’m proud of you, Samantha.I’m impressed by your strength and your resilience.You’re stronger than me.”
“Well then, if you hurt your ankle, you have nothing to worry about.I’ll just carry you around like it’s nothing.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
She nodded.“I know.But I’m not strong enough.I’m terrified to go back to sleep because I know he’ll be there waiting for me.”
“I won’t leave you, then.I’ll be right there in that chair while you sleep.”
“No, Trent.My nightmares are not going to deprive you of your sleep too.I’ve already impeded it too much tonight.”
“And what kind of man would I be if I just left you to face it on your own?Hmm?”
Her mind and heart were in a full argument.She desperately wanted him to stay, but he needed sleep.“You may stay, but only if you’ll lie down next to me and sleep.”
“What do you think your brother would say about that?”
“My brother isn’t here.Besides, you’re obviously not going to ravish me.”
His brow furrowed at the mere word.“It still doesn’t seem right.”
She shrugged.“You’re not staying in that chair on my account.I will not take away the small amount of sleep you allow yourself, so you may either sleep in my bed or in your own.Those are your options.”
He sighed and shook his head.“You drive a hard bargain, Miss Allister.”He turned and walked toward the door.Sadness settled over her, but it was for the best.
But he didn’t open it.“Tell me when you’re settled.”He wasn’t leaving.He was just giving her privacy, which was ridiculous after everything.He’d just seen her in her nightgown.He’d seen her completely naked, for heaven’s sake.But even still, this was his way of showing her respect, and she was grateful for it.
