Page 73 of Ramshackle
His face pinches, then relaxes, and he nods. “Alright.”
He grabs a blanket from the air mattress and brings it to the couch, settling it over both of us before he turns on a romantic comedy. It’s sweet and simple, which makes it an easy distraction long enough for my eyelids to grow heavy.
I shift to find a more comfortable position if I do fall asleep, and Dane lifts his arm when he notices. “Here.”
I have a few seconds of hesitation, staring at his side and then his face. He doesn’t seem annoyed or put out by his offer. He looks…like Dane. Like I’d remembered him on the island. Giving in, I settle into his side, and his arm and the blanket cocoon me.
The change in position gives me a new burst of energy, so I focus on the screen again and try not to think about the solid warmth from his body. Or the way he didn’t shy away from holding me against him. There’s nothing hesitant about his touch as there had been a few months ago.
His thumb grazes over my skin, brushing against the exposed area where my shirt has ridden up above my pants. I fight back a shiver at the light touch and try to keep my attention on the movie.
Eventually, sleep beckons me again, and my eyes close. The sound of the movie is like white noise in the background as Dane’s touch continues to lull me to sleep. We haven’t done this in years, and yet the second his arm wrapped around me, it felt like coming home.
Safe.
Warm.
Cared for.
A loud noise in the movie startles me from deep sleep, but fingers stroke continuously over my scalp and keep me from waking completely. My eyes stay closed, and I shift my head against what feels like a pillow before I sink into slumber under words softly spoken above me.
“Shh…go back to sleep. You’re safe. I’m here.”
Chapter twenty-one
Dane
The movie credits scrollup on the television screen, and I realize it ended. I didn’t watch a single minute of it while Rae was pressed into my side.
I can’t focus on anything but her when her warm, soft frame is leaning into mine. When the smell of vanilla fills my nose and draws out a feral side in me that I never knew existed. The need to touch her is overwhelming. My body is practically vibrating with the need formore. To wrap her in my arms.Kissher. To breathe her in as I trace her skin with my lips.
Fuck.
Stop thinking like that.
It’s that line of thinking that forced me to slide a pillow between my lap and Raegan’s head.
Even that amount of separation isn’t enough to calm the demanding desire to do more than stroke my fingers through her hair like I’m doing now. I tuck the blanket back in where it popped free and exposed her shoulder to me.
I was tempted to kiss it.
A bare shoulder.
I’m so fucked.
I return to her hair, slipping my fingertips between her blonde strands at her scalp and dragging through to the base of her neck before starting again. It’s not much, but at least the action keeps my hand busy and Iamtouching her in some way, even if it’s far friendlier than what I wish it was.
I restart the movie. I’m afraid she’ll wake up if it’s too quiet.
And I’m not ready for this moment to end.
I know I’m an idiot for pretending like this means anything. I hadn’t expected her to agree to lean on me when I offered. After all I’ve said to her…all I’ve done and she’s been through because of me…I don’t understand how she doesn’t hate me. How she can smile at me. Comfortme.
I should be the one comfortingher.
I’m the reason she was put in the position that killed Vera.
I’m the reason she was stuck with Gordon for a year and had to endure his abuse.
