I shuffled in the blankets, squirming so he would have space because he’d planted me firmly in the middle. If he was going to be in here too, he needed room. But he let out a growly “Stay” and continued to back away.
He turned from me, rummaging through the small bureau, and grabbed his clothes. He took steady steps to the bathroom, looking at me longingly. He didn’t follow his order with a threat, like what I was used to. Not that I would leave right now. This was the first time I’d felt this warm in a long while.
Then he closed the door, but only enough so a crack was left open.
The shower turned on, and my tense body relaxed. My mind whirled around me as I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my palms. It was so late in the night, there was no point in sleeping because sunrise was around the corner.
Sunrise.
When was the last time I remembered what a sunrise looked like? I couldn’t remember how the golden light of the sun reacted to the green blades of the grass? I wanted to feel the tree leaves brushing my cheek like I had as a child. I smiled at that, it could very well become a reality. I could almost see myself touching the bark of the tree, reaching higher into the branches for the butterflies that might hide inside.
Free, I was almost free.
I wasn’t sure what I would do with myself once I left here. Whenever my freedom finally came, it would be difficult to start over, but I was determined to succeed. I didn’t have any educational background. I would have to start from the ground up. Maybe get a local waitress job in town.
I hoped the people who kept me as a web cam girl wouldn’t look for little ol’ me. I knew nothing of their operations, and only the masked man was still alive. Once he caught wind of what happened, he would be on his way to Mexico after being raided by a bunch of large, crazy bikers.
I was so deep in my thoughts, I didn’t see Grim step out of the bathroom. His body glistened in the low light, water trailing down his chest. There was something unusual in his eyes that captured me.
His soul looked so shattered. I couldn’t ask myself why I knew that, but it was. Maybe that was why he talked so little, too worried he would give himself away and show how broken he was.
Grim sat on the couch, his forearms resting on his knees. The sofa was unbelievably small for a man his size.
Grim’s shoulders alone were double the width of the bottom cushion.
“I can sleep there.” I pointed. “I’m smaller. You won’t be comfortable,” I tried to reason.
Grim gave me a nonverbal grunt and turned his body so he could watch me from where he slept.
Yeah, because I’m going to sleep now.
My gaze didn’t wander far from him, either. Even with the comfort of knowing he’d saved me, I still stayed on the cautious side. I didn’t want to sleep, worried he would come closer, and I wouldn’t know.
My body was very aware of where he was, however. His stares were not heated with the lust and desire I’d seen before. His gaze was soft, gentle. There was a look on his face I couldn’t decipher. When he was near his friends, it was cold and unforgiving. But when he looked at me, the hardened lines softened, and his rigid stance relaxed.
Instead of my mind telling me to worry, to stay awake and watch him to make sure he wouldn’t touch me, my heart flipped in my chest.
Trust him.I could hear my heart whisper.
“Sleep,” he commanded.
My eyes drooped once or twice. The calm hum in his throat lulled me deeper. I rolled onto my stomach, fists gripping the pillow beneath me. “Sleep,” he said again, adjusting himself on the couch.
Instead of fighting my mind, I listened to my heart and obeyed. Finally, my eyes drooped after an exhausting night.
My night was filled with nightmares of my past.
I would wake to see Grim still sleeping on his side on the couch, only to fall asleep again. He stayed there until the sun just barely came over the horizon when a rattle at the door jolted him awake. His bare feet hit the floor with a thud, and he looked over at me.
He was always looking at me. Checking on me.
He sighed, his nose flaring. I didn’t know you could angrily walk to the door, but he certainly did.
“What?” he ground out. Sizzle stood on the other side with a white plastic bag in his hand, holding it up to eye level.
“Food,” he smirked, walking in the door, and set it on the counter.
I retreated to the further side of the bed, next to the wall, shielding my body with my knees.
