Page 79 of Dangerous Attraction

Squeezing my eyes closed, I take a few shallow breaths before daring to peer over my shoulder.

Due to the dark swamping the room, it's hard to make out exactly where he is, but I can see the shine of his eyes and feel the heat of his breath tickling my shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

I nod, then realize he probably can't see me.

"Yeah. I'm good." Cringing at how shaky my voice is, I sigh. "I need to ask for something. It's going to sound really strange, but it's something I need from you, otherwise I won't be able to comfortably go to sleep."

He moves again, and a moment later, the lamp on his bedside unit turns on, bathing the room in a warm glow.

My eyes travel from his face to the phone resting on his nightstand, then back to him.

"What do you need?"

I stare at him, eyes burning, and before I speak, I drop my gaze to the blanket pooling around his hips.

"I need you to move your phone," I tell him, staring intently at the small fluffy tufts of the blanket. "Somewhere away from you. Somewhere where you'd have to get up and get out of bed to grab it."

He's silent for a minute before he sits up straighter.

"Okay," he says, then reaches for his phone, holding it out to me.

My eyes travel up the length of his body until they meet his and I frown.

He grabs my hand, flips it upside down, then places it in my palm.

"Put it wherever you need to," he says, curling my fingers around it. "You can go and lock it in the safe hidden in my wardrobe if you want to."

Huffing a laugh, I take the phone and turn around, opening the drawer of the nightstand and placing it inside.

"Can I ask why you'd struggle to sleep if I had my phone within reach?" he asks.

Turning back to face him, my eyes dart around the room, and I shrug.

"It's complicated."

He studies me for a moment, then tucks his knuckles beneath my chin, drawing my attention back to him.

"Is it to do with your dad?"

Rolling my lips, I shake my head.

Brows drawing deeper, he strokes his thumb along my jaw.

"Another man?"

Shutting my eyes, I nod.

Tremors run through my body as memories assault my mind.

The only person—besides the police—I've ever told the whole story to is Emery, and it was hard enough telling her. I've had time to come to terms with what happened, and I think I can give him a vague understanding of the situation without getting too upset.

Although I'm not sure I'm ready to dive into it all with Reeve, I do feel like I owe him some sort of an explanation.

Not only did he race off to defend me, but he's also protected me and shown me that he cares.

He's invited me into his space and made me feel welcome.