Page 59 of Blade
“I know, it’s just?—”
My shoulder sag and tears burn in my eyes.
“For some reason, I don’t want to be alone. It’s as if something terrible will happen and I won’t be able to defend myself.”
“Defend yourself?”
His eyes narrow and I catch my breath.
“It’s as if my memory is playing tricks on me and telling me that bad things happen when I’m alone.”
I’m shocked when he reaches out and pulls me close against him, his arms wrapping around my body like a welcome home. The last time this happened we were at the cabin and I sigh withrelief. I’m safe here. Blade is home to me, and I hope for his sake he never realizes that is how I think of him.
CHAPTER 26
BLADE
Thank fuck for that. The last thing I want is to watch Delilah walk away from me, but I couldn’t make the first move. She must want me beside her. I’m not a man to force any situation with a woman, and yet the thought of her lying in the next block to me was already messing with my mind.
So, I wrap my arm around her shoulders, and we take the short walk to my room, and I’m amazed how natural it feels.
I wasn’t kidding; I never take women back to my room, preferring to spend the night in theirs instead so I can make a swift exit when it’s polite to do so. I’ve never met a woman I wanted to spend time with outside of sex, and if that makes me a monster, then they’d be right. I am.
But Delilah is different. I like her company. I’m obsessed with her and nobody is more surprised than me about that.
It’s obvious she’s nervous, and as we reach my room, she hesitates in the doorway, an anxious expression on her pretty face.
“Come in, darlin’. I won’t bite.”
She nods, closing the door behind her and whispering nervously, “You don’t mind, do you? I mean, I’d hate to impose.”
“I will say this only once.”
I flick her a soft smile. “You are welcome here anytime. It’s a safe place for you, and if anyone tries to get to you, they will have to go through me first.”
She visibly relaxes.
“I appreciate that.”
I turn on the set, and the room bursts into life, cutting through the awkward atmosphere. “Take a seat, darlin’. I can make some coffee, or something stronger if you prefer.”
“Coffee is fine.”
She perches nervously on the edge of the couch, and I roll my eyes. “Make yourself at home. There is no need to be awkward around me.”
“I’m sor–” She checks herself. “Okay.”
As she shrugs out of her leather jacket, heat floods my core because, fuck, does that crop top look good on her. I can hardly tear my lecherous gaze away, but what would that make me? I must be a freaking monk around her because my protection is all she wants from me.
I turn my attention to making coffee, and when I return, she is curled up in the corner of the couch, resting her head on one of the cushions, gazing at, but not seeing, the movie flickering on the screen.
She is lost, and it tears me apart because I can’t help her. Picturing what she went through makes me feral, and I’m uncharacteristically gentle as I hand her the coffee mug.
“For the lady.”
Her smile is a grateful one, and as her fingers wrap around the mug, her eyes shine.
“How long have you been here?”
