Page 13

Didn’t help things much.

I could feel her shift behind her door.

Flopping over in that giant bed.

Movements that were restless, not close to asleep.

Something was wrong.

Her distress radiated out like a storm I couldn’t find shelter from.

I needed to keep my ass right there on the couch, but I’d sworn to protect Elena, and I fucking figured this counted.

I tossed the blanket aside and pushed onto my bare feet, though I kept them stilted as I crept across the floor.

Hoping I was mistaken and she was fast asleep.

Holding my breath, I pressed my ear to the door.

That energy roiled.

Thicker, darker here.

There was nothing I could do.

I softly rapped my knuckle on the door.

Hesitation billowed back before she finally called, “Come in.”

I clicked open the door, and I got hit with that mind-bending scent.

Apples and cinnamon coating my tongue and filling my lungs.

Bare moonlight filtered in through the thin drapes on her window, and I could see her outline atop the massive bed.

Both small and lush.

She shifted onto her side and pushed up onto her elbow.

“Hey,” I rumbled, not knowing what the fuck I thought I was doing.

She bit down on her plump bottom lip, eyes skating over me like she was just as relieved to see me as I was her.

Locks of long, dark hair draped down to brush over her pillow.

“Hey.”

“I…” I scraped a hand down my face.

Shit.

How was I supposed to handle this? Not when the way I wanted to wasn’t close to being prudent.

Climbing onto her bed and taking her into my arms.

“You having trouble falling asleep?” I finally settled on.

She huffed out a strained breath. “Yeah.”