Fuck.
Instantly, I’m kicking off my shoes and hopping off the counter. I don’t even bother with anything else. I just pull back the curtain and step into the shower fully clothed. The second she sees me standing there, with water soaking my shirt and jeans, she crumbles.
“I’ve got you, Pres,” I say softly, holding her as I gently stroke her wet hair. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She pulls back, eyes searching. “Promise?”
Somehow, I know we’re not talking about just right now. My throat works, and I nod. “Promise.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
PRESLEY
It’s dark in my room when I wake, but I can tell from the bright beams of light peeking through the curtains that it’s well past morning.
My eyes linger. I used to love those curtains.
They were a total splurge and one of the first things I bought that made my bedroom feel grown-up. Now they just remind me of the grainy porno I unwillingly starred in.
The one that’s going to go viral if I don’t somehow come up with a huge amount of cash in the next day and a half.
My pulse quickens, and my stomach clenches with memories of those moments with Jace. I’ve never felt so scared. So angry. So violated.
God, I don’t want to think about that right now.
I shift in bed and turn to face a sleeping Hollis.
The last time we were in a bed together, it was our wedding night. I woke up disoriented, confused, and okay, yes, maybe a little turned on.
This time, there is no confusion when I look at him.
No indecision. No regret.
He is exactly where he’s supposed to be.
This man was an absolute saint last night. While others might have tried to take advantage of my vulnerability, he never did. He stripped my bed, washed my hair, and held me until I fell asleep.
When I needed it, he put me first.
I reach out and brush one of those auburn curls back. A scattering of freckles dusts his tanned cheeks. There’s a faint scar on his chin that he got in a fight long before I met him.
He’s lying on his stomach with his arms tucked under the pillow. The white T-shirt he changed into after we got out of the shower is a sharp contrast to the dark green sheets he put on my bed.
A few minutes pass, and eventually his eyes flutter open. This time, there’s no awkwardness when he sees me. This time, he just smiles. It’s a little sleepy and kinda boyish, but it’s all for me.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hi.”
He props his head on his hand. “Do you know that you snore?”
My mouth drops open. “I do not!”
He chuckles. “No, you don’t. But you do steal the covers.” He glances down, and sure enough, the extra blankets he added last night have all shifted to my side, leaving him with a single sheet.
“Sorry?”
“It’s fine.” He flashes a grin. “I’m a hot sleeper.”
