My eyes shoot open and a large, warm body wiggles next to me. I sit up and a hand tugs at my thigh.
“Finally ready to make our way to bed?”
I smile, rolling my fingers over his. “Yeah. I don’t even remember falling asleep. Are you slipping something in my drink too?”
He laughs. “Yeah, you doze off just by me rubbing your belly. I don’t think drugging you is necessary.”
I snort. “That’s true. My sister always hated how easy it was for me to fall asleep.”
“I’m glad it is for one of us.” He stretches out beside me. “I’m only surprised you woke up before the sun came out.”
“This couch is causing a crick in my neck.”
“That all? Not worried about your ex still, are you?”
“No . . .”
“What about that neighborhood robber?”
I shake my head, tossing the blanket off my legs. “I don’t think he’s a threat to anyone anymore.”
“No?” His voice jumps. “And why not? You think the cops got him?”
“Something like that . . .” I tread lightly, setting one foot on the ground.
“Okay,” is all he says, and the next thing I know I’m being lifted in the air as he carries me bridal-style to the room.
I laugh, burying my face in the alcove of his neck. “Are you carrying me because you don’t think I’m awake enough to walk without hurting myself?”
“No.” He stops moving, shuffling me in his arms. “I’m doing it because I wasn’t ready to stop touching all of you.”
“Is that why craft night ended so early?” I muse and he laughs, his feet moving forward again.
“Yup. And because that was also starting to put you to sleep.”
I laugh again, my stomach shaking, and I nod. “It wasn’t the craft but the busy day. I really liked making and painting ornaments with you.”
“I really liked it too. I really like you.” He kisses my head gently.
“And I guess you’re okay too,” I tease, and he drops me on the bed, crawling up after me. When he gets a hold of me, he tickles me, and I use a pillow to try to defend myself, failing badly while nearly choking on more laughter. No, this man doesn’t scare me at all, and he could be covered in someone else’s blood right now and still wouldn’t. Maybe it’s because I’m in too deep and allowing the love growing between us to blind me, or maybe it’s simply because for once someone is aiming their bad behavior toward someone other than me while I get the best sides of them.
Thirty
Rafael
Someone’s here. Minutes after Henry fell back to sleep, Huey started going ballistic and then ran into the room, darting right under the bed. I sit up in bed and stiffen as glass shatters. The wind picks up outside and the cold air sweeps in down the hallway. Are they inside or are they waiting to make sure the coast is clear? Is it Travis or is it the person who thoughtthey were sending me a message by trashing my house? Was I followed here?
Staying where I am, I look down at the peacefully sleeping man beside me and pull the blankets back up. Shutting my eyes shut, I try to calm my breathing, begging for sleep to take me. Rustling sounds come from the living room and I turn on my side, rocking my body. Come on. My body is weighing heavy with exhaustion, and yet I can’t relax enough to get it to the state I need it to be in.
Can I do what I do when I’m sleeping while I’m awake? Can I defend myself and Henry when the time comes for me to, or will I turn into a coward. And if I am able to hurt them this way, will it make me hate myself more? How could I justify my actions then?
Something crashes down the hall and Henry stays sleeping. I press a kiss to his hair and bundle him up in the blankets. He makes a sweet humming sound, and I know if the time comes for me to stop someone from harming him, whether awake or not, I’ll have no problem doing what I must in order to keep him safe. He wiggles under the covers, his face tensing briefly before relaxing. As soon as he’s back to snoring, my gaze goes back to the dark hallway, and I step onto the ground.
With quiet, careful steps, I slowly walk out of the room and shut the door behind me. My heart jumps in my throat when I see the reflection of someone in the glass cabinet, and I press my back to the door, watching as they pocket my phone. They’re wearing a covering on their face and are dressed in black from head to toe.
Another person joins then seconds later, looking around as I continue to hide in the dark, waiting until they’re away from the cabinet to move closer to the kitchen.
“They’re in the room,” the guy in blue shoes says. They look familiar but I can’t pinpoint where I’ve seen them.
