Page 109 of Twisted Temptation

"Breathe," I say. "Just breathe, baby."

I pull her upright against my chest, and she presses her face into my neck. I feel her tears against my skin.

I hold her tighter, and minutes pass before the shaking eases and her grip on my arms loosens.

She pulls back, and I see her face is tear-streaked. But it’s the haunted look in her eyes that I feel all the way into my soul.

She’s terrified.

"Sorry," she whispers. "I didn't mean to wake you."

“Don’t apologize.”

She lifts her beautiful eyes to me. She’s calm now and gives me a small smile. “I must’ve had a nightmare.”

"Who's Jeremy?" I ask, feeling something tighten in my gut. Every instinct in me tells me I am not going to like the answer.

But the change in her is instantaneous. If I thought I was going to get an answer, I was wrong.

She slides her gaze away. “Who?”

“Jeremy.”

She swallows thickly. "I don’t...” She shrugs.

"You were screaming his name."

"I don't remember."

She remembers.

"Sunny."

"It was just a nightmare. I get them sometimes." She pulls free from me. "I'm fine."

She's not fine. She was sobbing thirty seconds ago. And the fear and panic I heard in her voice will live inside my skull for a very long time.

But I know emotional walls because I've built enough of them. Pushing against this one right now will only make it higher.

She needs to feel safe and cared for.

And it kills me to know that she doesn’t feel that with me. Not enough to confide in me.

But I understand it. For the past few weeks, I’ve been her nightmare. It’s only fair that she needs more time to trust me.

"Lie down," I say.

"I should go back to my room."

"Lie down, Sunny."

She looks at me, then softens and lies down.

I pull the sheets over her and settle behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist, drawing her against my chest.

“This is your room now,” I whisper.

She nods softly and relaxes into the embrace, and within minutes she’s asleep.