Darkness shrouds Drake’s face. His touch is so light as he trails his fingertips through my hair. I want to lean into his palm, the hands that, until moments before, I thought were safe.
“Why?”
Why did you break into my house? Why did you invade my life?
“That’s not the question that you want to ask, Cha Cha,” he berates me softly. Even though he uses a gentle tone, there’s no denoting that I’m in trouble.
I choke up again. “I?—”
“You can ask me,” Drake murmurs. “It’s okay, princess.”
“Didyouwritetheletters?” I blurt it all out at once, my question unintelligible and rushed.
But it’s out there.
Drake’s touch stops. His hand retracts.
I wait.
“No,” he says softly.
I close my eyes. A sob escapes. “Why were you in my house?”
“Because I wanted to see how easy it was to break in. It was easy as hell, princess. We have a lot to talk about your security measures. Whatever the other bodyguards put in place, it’s not worth shit. And because it was far too easy to become obsessed with you.” he leans down and presses his lips to my temple. “I’m in the room across the hall. If you need me tonight, if you’re too scared to close your eyes, I’ll sit in the doorway. No closer. I promise,” he whispers against my temple.
Breath shudders from me. “I was safe with you,” I whimper.
“Was, princess?” He cups the back of my head tilting me back, exposing me. “We’re gonna go over every entrance point in your home tomorrow. Together. Then the dressing room situation, then the sasaeng, maybe your staff on your management team as well.”
“I thought we were hiking?” I shiver as he leans over me, caging me in though there are blankets between us and our bodies never touch.
“We can do that too. First?” He massages my nape as I nod. “I promise, princess. We can get through this.”
Some part of me believes him, because I want to. Some part of me is as addicted to this man who slid into my life by both effort and design.
And some part of me wants to trust him because I can, despite how dangerous I know he is. Because even though he’s known me for far longer than I have known him, I can't help but crave Drake.
And that’s a dangerous feeling that sinks deeper under my skin.
“Sleep with me?” I whisper, knowing it’s not what he offered at all, but it is what I need tonight.
I sense his smile, his victory before he speaks.
“Not tonight, princess. But I’m real close. I promise. For now, close your eyes.”
He settles on the floor beside the bed, the carpet muffling his movements. My eyes shutter, but the scent of him, something earthy and metallic, is a constant reminder that he’s there. I fight with the blankets again, pushing my hands free of the knot until I achieve success. Shoving them aside, I reach out blindly and clip his shoulder.
“Sorry,” I whisper, reaching for him again. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You didn’t.” His tone is reassuring, his grip as he laces our fingers together firm and warm. “Sleep, Cha Cha. I won't go anywhere.”
I stare at the ceiling I can't define in the darkness for a moment longer before my eyelids are too heavy and droop.
Then only darkness and warmth are my company, warding away night wraiths dressed in hoods and masks with faces so horrific that I wake up with my scream still stuck in my throat more than once.
And every time, I find Drake still leaning against my bed, his hand wrapped firmly in mine.
I never pull away, and neither does he.
