He kisses my nose. “I’d do anything for you.”
* * *
Kane murmurs in his sleep,stirring me from rest. His head thrashes from side to side, but his grip around me holds me tight, his fingers digging into the flesh on my arm. Under my ear, his heart beats like he’s running for his life.
My hand smooths over his chest. “Shh, everything’s okay.”
“Vi?” He calls my name, worry etched on his brow.
I run my fingers over the lines on his forehead. “I’m here. Everything’s okay. Shh.”
A sheen of sweat coats his features. His grip loosens a little on my arm, and his head settles on the pillow. I pull my head up to kiss his lips, which relaxes him further.
I peel his arm from me, then slip out of the bed, needing the loo. Belle barks from the kitchen downstairs. I grab my clothes hanging on the back of the bathroom door and pull on my work trousers and t-shirt.
Not wanting to wake Kane, I tiptoe downstairs. “Hey girl. What is it?” She stops her barking and gives me a whine as I stroke her fur. Her water bowl is almost empty, so I walk to the sink to fill it up.
My heart jitters. An icy shiver runs the length of my spine followed by a hunter spider crawling my skin. Jack’s piercing stare penetrates the window. His breath materialising in the dark night. He could be Jack Frost himself.
Belle barks again, snapping me from the frozen spell, and I’m able to move my feet. I walk to the door, unlocking it with fumbling hands. Anger courses through me at his presence here, and worry at the same time.
When I open the door, he’s there with the same icy glare.
Belle scratches at the door to get to him with a growl.
“No. Belle.” I pull on her collar. “Sit.” With my finger pointing towards the floor, she sits at my side like the well-trained dog she is, but continues to bare her teeth at Jack.
I glare at him. “What the fuck are you doing here, Jack?”
“What the fuck are you doing here, Letty?” He grits out, each word materialising in the crisp air.
“You need to go. If he finds you here, he’ll go mad.” My body trembles, both from cold and fear. Jack and his family have been kind to me. I wouldn’t want them to get hurt, and at the same time, I don’t want Kane to do anything he would regret, either. It’s clear he suffers from PTSD after what he told me last night. His actions are out of his control, and this family knows how to provoke him.
Jack snarls. “I’d like to see him fucking try.”
“Please go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I’ve no doubt Kane would win in a fight. But I’m not willing to test that theory.
“You’re staying?” He studies me for a moment, then laughs. “You’re fucking him, aren’t you?”
“Keep your voice down. Just go, please.”
“I’ll go. You’ve made your bed. You can fucking lie in it for all I care.” He stalks off into the darkness. I lock the door and hear a car engine come to life in the distance.
My rapid heartbeat slows as I stroke Belle, telling her she’s a good dog. Padding back upstairs, Kane’s in a deep sleep. I take off my clothes and slip on one of his old t-shirts, then slide back under the duvet with him.
He jerks as the mattress dips.
“It’s just me, Kane. It’s Violet.”
He rolls to the side, reaching for me, his body lathered in sweat. I hold his hand, and he pulls me close. Heat rolls off him in waves, but the closeness of him comforts me, despite the knots forming in my stomach. A hundred questions rage in my head. How did Jack know I was here? Was he sent to look for me? Does Gareth know?
* * *
Between Jack showingup in the middle of the night and Kane’s nightmares, I’ve had little sleep. The dawn awakes, giving the bedroom a warm glow. I rest on my elbow, wiping the damp hair from Kane’s forehead, smoothing out the weary lines etched on his brow.
His lips curl in the corner, tempting me for a kiss. I lean over and press my lips to his. He jolts up, head butting me. I flop on the bed, palming my forehead with a wince.
“Fuck. Violet. Are you all right?” He hovers over me, his hand covering mine on my forehead.
