Something in my face must haveconveyed some part of what I felt because his expression softened some. “Bed,baby,” he said, softer this time.
I nodded.
I climbed in, careful to avoid my leftside and watched him as he undressed and climbed in beside me. He didn’t reachout for me, but instead he lay on his back with his arm thrown behind his head.He studied the ceiling and I tried to find sleep.
When I was just about to drift off, I had the sensation of falling. It hadhappened to me at the hospital as well. I cried out and jerked fully awake.
“Babe?” his deep voice asked throughsleep beside me.
His quiet voice through the darknesswas enough to send the tears spilling over as my body shook with the effort tokeep them back. “I’m so sorry,” I choked out. “I just…I don’t want anything tohappen to you,” I said hoarsely as I heard him sigh in resignation and pull mecarefully to his body. “I’ve lost everything, Cole. I can do it again. What Ican’t do is stand by and know I’m the cause for any harm that comes to you orto your family,” I whispered.
“Baby,” he said tenderly, his largehand stroking my back trying to soothe me while turning on the light with theother.
“We’ve known each other for like aminute,” I exclaimed. “And already look what kind of shit I’ve brought down onyou and on Kat,” I demanded.
“Best minute of my life,” he saidquietly.
“What?” I asked confused.
“Keep up, babe,” he said as hechuckled. Clearly his mood had lightened. “I’m saying it doesn’t matter howlong we’ve known each other – doesn’t even factor. But however long it’sbeen, it has been the best of my life so far,” he told me, kissing my head.“But this was a fucking hair brained idea, and if you pull this shit again I’llchain you to the bed and I won’t make it fun,” he threatened.
I huffed and pulled away slightly toglare at him.
He sighed and pulled me back to him,not allowing space between us. “I get the sense that I can’t talk you out offeeling responsible. Not yet anyway. What I can try to get through your thickskull is that even if all thiswasyour fault I’d still be right here, right now. You don’t get this, but itdoesn’t matter. What matters is that any shit that may come up from your pastpales in comparison to the gift of getting to be with you, baby,” he saidsoftly. “I’d take it all a thousand times over and not bat an eye. Now clearly,it’s a different type of relationship, but I’ve known you a month and you’vebeen making Kat’s life better for over eight years, so I’d imagine she feelsthe exact same way I do.”
I sucked in my breath at his beautifuland surprisingly tender words.
“Another thing to understand,” he said,his tone taking a harder edge, “you leave, I find you. You don’t get to runaway Scarlet, not from me.”
We regarded each other in silence fora few beats. “Thick skull?” I asked with a raised brow.
“Out of everything I just said that’swhat she picks up on,” he muttered to himself.
“I heard what you said,” I saidquietly, meeting his brilliant blue eyes.
“Then that would mean you’ll promiseme that you’re not going to pull this shit again. Not even when shit gets realwith that mother fucker,” he bit out. “You don’t protect me, I protect you andI can’t do that properly if I’m chasing your ass across state lines,” hemuttered.
“Gets real?” I asked with a gulp.
“You’re on a need to know basis withthat,” he answered. “But you and I both know that this shit will not fuckingstand.”
I nodded, resisting the urge to pleadwith him not to get hurt in the process. I knew he wouldn’t like that.
“Promise me,” he insisted.
I thought about it for a moment,taking in everything he’d said. “I promise,” I replied firmly.
“Well thank Christ for that favor,” hereplied sarcastically, and I jabbed him in the ribs.
We were quiet for a few moments as Ilay my head against his chest. “Kat was right,” I muttered begrudgingly.
“About what?”
“Said you’d find me by dinner,” Isighed in resignation.
He threw back his head and laughed outloud. “I like her, I really do.”
Then he turned serious. “Baby, whatwas the plan here anyway? You only have the clothes on your back.”
