As she starts to leave, my grip tightens on the ceramic handle until it nearly shatters. “Wait.” Pausing in the doorway, she glances over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow while I scramble for an excuse to keep her with me a little longer, the time in the corner of my monitor catching my eye. “We’ve established my terrible habits, but what are you doing up this late?”
“Struggling to sleep,” she admits with a shrug.
I give her my full attention. “Not comfortable? We can get you some new pillows, or adjust the thermostat-”
“Oh my gods,relax.I swear, the more you guys treat me like I’m made of glass, the more tempting it sounds to throw myself down the stairs to prove you wrong. I’m used to going to bed hungry in the backseat of a shitty sedan, Raiden, so trust me, I’m perfectly happy with the upgrade.”
Resting her head against the doorway, she releases a heavy breath. “Sorry. You guys have been nothing short of perfect, and have bent over backwards to prove that all of my fears were unfounded. I’m not used to things going well, and I think that’s why I’ve been having trouble sleeping, as dumb as that sounds. Things that seem too good to be true usually are, and I’m subconsciously waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
I tip my head in acknowledgement, understanding where she’s coming from, but unfortunately, that’s something only time can remedy. “Afraid I’ll have to disappoint you on this one. We aren’t going to treat you worse to make you feel better.”
She snorts. “You’re a better man than Kodi. Pretty sure he’d have made some joke about offering to throw me around a little.”
“I beg to differ, he’s one of the best men I’ve had the honor of knowing. I’d never joke about something like that, though. I’m a man of my word.”
Second guessing if she heard me right, she doesn’t reply, simply blinks. Raising an eyebrow in challenge, I take a sip of my coffee, holding her stare over the rim. Eyes of molten gold, her gaze slowly heats, flicking down to my lips and back as I set the mug aside. It takes everything I have not to throw caution to the wind and kiss her breathless, to see if she tastes as intoxicating as her scent suggests, but I’ve yet to even take her on a proper date.
“There are still a few things I need to finish before I’m ready to call it a night, so if you aren’t in a rush to get back to bed, I’d welcome some company.”
After a brief internal debate, she nods. “I’d like that. Mind if I borrow one of your books?”
Gesturing to the wall behind me, I give her free rein. “Help yourself, but keep your expectations in check. My collection is back at the main house; this is Kodiak’s. Fifty-fifty shot anything you grab will be smut masquerading as poetry.”
“You can contemplate the meaning of life between getting railed, you know.” She plucks a book off of the shelf and drops into the loveseat against the east wall before I can formulate a response.
As she settles in with her book, I gradually return to work, and we fall into a comfortable silence. By the time I’m ready to call it for the night and tear my attention away from the computer, I find her fast asleep on the small couch, her book spread open on her chest.
Quietly rising from my chair, I gently place it on the end table beside her, leaving long enough to fetch a blanket. With the utmost care not to wake her, I cover her up, gently tucking the corner under her shoulder. For longer than I care to admit, I simply marvel at how peaceful she looks when she’s asleep. No stress over where her next meal is going to come from, or if it’ll be her last. No fears of being hunted down and locked away.
Returning to my desk, I down the rest of my coffee and continue my search, longing for the day I can see that same blissfully free look on her face when she’s awake.
Chapter 21
Amara
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