Page 297 of Once Upon a Fable

I backed up, blinking and trying so damn hard to remember why she was naked, how we’d gotten outside, and—

The bath.

I drew her a bath to apologize.

We slept together.

I gulped.

Christ, how had I forgotten that part? Even for a second?

“Kas, tell me what just happened.” She planted hands on her hips, twisting in the mud, tracking me as I darted around her to grab the towel that I’d put aside.

I hadn’t done a very good job of cleansing her. Even now, I could see a sliver of my cum mixing on her thigh with the droplets from the bath. I’d dirtied her all over again. She needed another wash.

But my mind was done.

My eyes were heavy.

My thoughts were sluggish.

I needed to sleep.

And soon.

And I couldn’t be near her when I passed out.

“I need to go inside. On my own.” I shoved the towel into her hands. “Take this.”

My broken arm killed, the cuts on my knuckles stung, my mind was a scrambled mess, but the sudden pain and hurt in her eyes was what drove a fist into my heart and wrenched it clean out of my chest.

“You don’t have to go.” She clutched the towel as if it offered answers to my mood change. “We have so much to talk about and—”

“Not tonight.”

She flinched. “Why? What just happened? You spaced for a good couple of minutes. Did you have another...flashback?”

I shook my head, fisting my hands. “No. I’m just...I’m tired.”

“Well, we’ll go to bed then. It’s late, after all.”

I gave her a pained smile. “I promised you were safe tonight.”

“And you kept that promise.”

“And I wouldn’t be able to keep that promise if we went to bed together. To sleep.”

She stiffened. “I don’t think you should be alone.”

“And I don’t think it’s wise for you to be near me when I crash unconscious.” I stepped toward her only to step right back. If I touched her, I might not have the willpower to do this. “I think it’s best if we sleep apart, don’t you?”

She bit her lip, her eyes racing with thoughts.

Agreement. Denial. Followed by reality.

Sleep for me would come at a price for her. And she’d already paid fartoo much.

Finally, she sighed. “Where will you go? Which room?”