CHAPTER TEN
Someone screamed. He struggled against the bonds of sleep, wresting free of the veil that held him down. Sitting up in bed, he cocked his head, listening. Emme’d had nightmares the last two nights, but she’d woken herself each time. She’d been strong when telling Westin about everything that had happened, but he hated that she was reliving it in her sleep. If her’s were anything like his own nightmares, they would be bad.
There it was again. Slightly muffled, followed by an anguished sob coming from across the suite. He pushed back the covers and grabbed the t-shirt from the end of the bed, pulling it over his head. He jogged across the suite and he stood just outside her door. She’d left it cracked and he listened. Another cry and he eased through the door.
She lay on one side of the huge bed, tangled in sheets. She whimpered and rolled toward the middle of the bed.
Damn, she wasn’t waking on her own. He sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to touch her and startle her awake.
“Shhhh shhhh shhhh. It’s okay Emme. You’re safe.”
Her eyes snapped opened and she jerked away from him. “Jordan?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I heard you scream.”
“Oh.” She closed her eye and covered her face with her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Emme, you don’t need to be sorry. Nightmares are normal. I expected them before now, to be honest.”
She sniffled into her pillow.
Shit. What was he supposed to do? “Do you want me to leave?”
She shook her head, still buried in the pillow.
He reached out to touch her, but stopped. “I don’t— I don’t know what to do, Emme.”
“Will you hold me?” Her voice was soft. Unsure.
Shit, it broke his heart.
Lying next to her, he slid an arm under her pillow and gathered her close, trying to be gentle. At his touch, she launched herself at him, burrowing into the crook of his neck. Sobs wracked her body.
Fuck. I think I’d rather be shot at.All he could do was rub her back and make shushing sounds while she cried her eyes out. It worked. Either that or exhaustion took over, but she finally settled into sleep.
His body noticed how well she fit against him. His mind told him to quit being an asshole.
The first thing Emme noticed was the steady heartbeat under her ear. The second was the pool of drool under her cheek. So gross. And embarrassing.
She lifted her head. Maybe it would dry before he woke up. Her plan was thwarted when his arms tightened around her. Tilting her head back, she found him looking at her in the predawn light.
“Morning.” His voice was gruff and still thick with sleep.
“Morning. I drooled on you.”
His smile was almost blinding. He closed his eyes and dropped his head back. “Not the worst thing I’ve ever been covered in.”
Pulling the edge of the sheet up, she wiped at her cheek. “Sorry.”
His arm tightened around her briefly. “Gotta stop apologizing, babe. None of this is worth saying sorry for.”
“Thank you, then.”
He looked back at her. “For what?”
