Her chest was still rising and falling rapidly with each heaving breath. Derek did his damnedest not to focus on the way her firm breasts were pressing against the silk cami she was wearing.
As if she could somehow sense his struggle, Charlie pulled the sheet closer to her body. Embarrassed, she bowed her head, becoming suddenly fascinated by an invisible piece of lint.
“You want to tell me what it was about?”
She shook her head, her blonde hair covering her face. “Pretty sure you can guess.”
Yeah. He could. “What can I do?”
Charlie looked up at him, then. Her eyes were full of trepidation. “Would you...” She licked her lips nervously and looked away again. “Never mind. It’s silly.”
“Tell me what you want, darlin’.”
She looked back at him again. “I-I was just going to ask if you’d mind...staying in here for a while. Maybe just until I fall asleep?”
His heart broke a little more. “Of course, I will.”
“You don’t have to,” she offered, though her eyes pleaded with him to stay.
Derek stood. With a knee on the mattress, he knelt down before slowly wrapping a hand around the back of her neck. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he let them linger there for only a second before lowering his gaze back to hers.
“I’m here for as long as you need.”
Not waiting for a response, he pushed off the mattress and made his way to the recliner in the corner of the room. Once he was comfortable, he smiled and said, “Get some rest.”
Leaning his head back, Derek closed his eyes to put her more at ease. The rustling of sheets filled the quiet room, and he knew she was getting herself settled back in.
Several minutes of silence passed, and he was on the verge of dozing off when he heard her sweet, timid voice again.
“Derek?”
He opened his eyes and turned his head in her direction. “Yeah?”
On her side, facing away from him she offered a soft, “Thank you.”
He swallowed hard, hating the fear still trembling through her voice. “You’re welcome.”
From her delicate shoulder, down the curve of her waist, and back up along her subtle hip, he let his eyes run the length of her soft silhouette.
What he wouldn’t give to climb into that bed with her. To hold her close and make her see he would stand between her and any danger that may follow.
Instead, he stayed where he was, watching over her through the darkness of his bedroom. Only when her breathing became more even and he knew she’d finally found peace did Derek close his eyes again.
****
