Page 55 of Her Chosen Protector

“Don’t do it!”

“Please, Baby, wake up now.”

Soft, warm hands stroked his hair. A soft body nestled up against him. He kept his eyes closed, wanting to assess the situation before letting anyone know that he was awake. But he knew it was Eden in a heartbeat. Her touch and smell could never be mistaken for anyone else.

“Asher, it’s a bad dream, please wake up.” Her body was pressed against his, her arms wrapped around his neck. She whispered into his ear, coaxing him back from an old nightmare. One of his own making.

He reached up to pull her arms away, but she wasn’t having it.

“No. I’m not letting you go.”

“I’m fine, Eden.” His voice was hoarse. He hated that.

“Bullshit.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Warm and soothing didn’t last long.”

She sighed and settled closer. “If I thought warm and soothing would get my way, then I’d be all over it. It wasn’t working. So just lie there and accept comfort.”

Asher tried to sort out his feelings. He still felt sick at heart after watching Xavier’s last moments on Earth. How many times had he relived that in his dreams? Then to wake up to an angel in his arms offering him the type of solace he’d never gotten before. He was having a tough time reconciling things.

“Ash?”

“I’m here now,” he assured her.

He couldn’t see Eden because he’d stuck the glow stick under his vest, so they’d sleep better.

Stupid. Shit, he wasn’t any better than a toddler who needed a nightlight, so he didn’t have nightmares.

Her arms tightened around his neck again. She slid her cheek against his jaw. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not good. So, stop.”

He closed his eyes, trying to shut out the dark, like that made any sense.

“Talk to me, Ash.”

“I can’t.”

“You just did,” she teased gently. “Now say more words. Tell me about Xavier.”

He blew out a shuddering breath. Eden was potent. She could comfort and stick a knife into you at the same time. Then he felt her fingers stroking his jaw.

“I can’t,” he said again.

“Whatever it is, it’s killing you. We don’t know what the next hours are going to bring. We’re in this moment out of time, hidden from the world. Now will be the only minute you will ever be able to say your truth.”

Every single word pummeled his heart.

She brushed the softest kiss against the side of his mouth. “I’m not even here, you’re just speaking to your God.”

Who made that sound? The one that sounded like a sob? Was that him? He took in a deep breath.

“Eden?”

“Hmmm?”

“The only reason I would talk, is because it is you.”

She didn’t respond with words. Just another butterfly-soft kiss that started at his lips and trailed down his jaw to his neck. Then she rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m here.”