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His stormy blue eyes held mine, firm and unwavering and just a tiny bit unsure. His hesitation was written clearly across his face, the lines of concern etched around his eyes and the slight furrow in his brow. I could see the conflict there—the need to comfort me warring with whatever reservations were keeping him away from me.
Was I not enough?
The vivid memory of my nightmare flickered before my eyes, causing me to shiver involuntarily.
Cold fingers trailed down my back, the darkness enveloping me, whispers filling the air, echoing with threats and shadows darting just out of sight.
I needed the safety that came from his touch, the assurance that I wasn’t alone in that dark, haunted place in my mind.
“Maxim, please,” I whispered, my voice breaking slightly. The vulnerability in my plea seemed to break through whatever was holding him back.
Slowly, almost tentatively, he climbed into the bed beside me. His movements were careful, deliberate as he pulled me into his arms. The moment his embrace closed around me, a sigh escaped my lips, my body relaxing instinctually into his warmth.
His arms were strong and secure around me, and as he pulled me closer, I nestled my head against his chest. I could hear the steady beat of his heart, a soothing rhythm that grounded me in the here and now. The warmth from his body seeped into mine, banishing the cold remnants of my terrible dream.
It felt so good, so right to be held like this. The fears that had seemed so overwhelming just moments before began to melt away under the protective circle of his arms. I felt cherished and utterly cared for.
It was different than anything I’d ever felt before.
“Thank you,” I murmured, my words muffled against his shirt. Maxim’s hand stroked my hair gently. His constant tender touch made me feel even more secure.
I wanted more of it.
“You’re safe here, with me,” he said softly, his voice a deep rumble that resonated with promise and I believed it.
I really did.
He felt like a fortress, a solid, immovable wall that could withstand anything, even the most horrendous storm. I curled into his warmth, pressing my body against his even more closely.
“Try to get some sleep now,” he urged.
My core swelled with heat. I tried to ignore it as best I could, but it was difficult, so I focused on the steady rise and fall of his chest. It was hypnotic, lulling me into a strange sense of calm despite the rhythmic pulse of the tiny bundle of nerves between my legs.
What was my body doing? I’d never been with a man before. I was still a virgin. For fuck’s sake, I had never even been past first base. I didn’t want this to turn into something else.
Right?
I wasn’t sure.
His hand continued to stroke my hair, petting me until I closed my eyes, just focusing on his constant touch.
“Promise you’ll just lay here next to me? Promise you won’t leave?” I asked.
Sometimes I liked to play the part of a girl that was more experienced, like I did with Gregor, but right now I wasn’t trying to be coy.
The truth was I was just an innocent girl who didn’t really know what she was doing.
“I promise, Riley-girl. I’ll stay and keep the nightmares away,” he said softly, and I couldn’t help the feelings and emotions swelling inside my heart. Warmth spread through me, easing the tight knot of anxiety that had built up in my chest.
Lying there, safely encased in his strong arms, I felt a security I had never known before in my life. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear was forever soothing. Each breath he took seemed to chase the lingering shadows of my fear further away.
I shifted slightly, burrowing deeper into the comfort of his arms. The soft fabric of his shirt was smooth against my cheek, and the subtle scent that was uniquely him—a mix of aftershave and something rugged—filled my senses. It was comforting, grounding, and for the first time in a long while, I felt utterly safe.
As Maxim’s steady breathing mingled with mine, the tension in my body slowly unwound, my muscles relaxing one by one as his presence reassured me that no harm would come to me as long as he was there next to me.
Gradually, my eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment, a deep, peaceful sleep beckoning and drawing me in. I resisted at first, clinging to the wakefulness that kept me aware of his closeness and everything about him, but as his hand gently stroked my hair, soothing and repetitive, the last remnants of my anxiety melted away, and I finally allowed myself to drift off to sleep.
When I woke up again, it was still dark outside. My breath stuck in my lungs as I realized that Maxim’s arms were still around me.
