Page 24 of Shameless Expectations

“I’m glad you’re awake.”

Athena jerked with a start. She swiveled her head toward her desk sharply, pain searing through her neck and chest with how quickly she moved. Monti was still there? What the hell time was it?

Monti put her hands out in front of her, but she stayed in the chair at the desk. She shook her head, worry etching across her face. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry.”

She was scared. Athena’s heart ran wild in her chest, and her entire body was on high alert. She hadn’t been able to stop that from happening. “What time is it?”

“Almost nine.”

“In the morning?” Athena nearly screeched, but she caught herself just in time. Fallon was going to kill her. She was beyond late, and she was someone who was never late.

“Yes.” Monti relaxed slightly, still staying in the chair but shifting so it was easier for Athena to see her. “I already texted Fallon to let her know.”

“What did you tell her?” If Monti had revealed anything, Athena would kick her out of the house before she could say anything else.

“That we were still in a session.” Monti looked exhausted. Deep dark bags were under her eyes, her skin was pale, her dark brown short hair was askew atop her head.

“Did you sleep in that chair all night?” Athena dug her fingers into the covers on the bed. It was the only thing keeping her rooted to the spot right now, and she needed it.

“I think sleep is too kind a word.” Monti stood up then, pressing her palms into her lower back and stretching. Her breasts jutted forward, her nipples peeking through the fabric of her shirt.

Athena hadn’t noticed that before. She hadn’t seen that Monti wore nothing but yoga pants and a thin t-shirt, and clearly no bra underneath it. Not that she necessarily needed it. Her breasts were small, well-rounded, and her nipples looked—what the hell was she thinking? Her cheeks flushed with heat—this time burning, unlike the warmth she had woken up with. Immediately, Athena dropped her gaze to the covers and tried to find herself again.

With sleep, she must have lost what was left of her sanity.

Monti groaned, and the sound sent a thrill through her body, taking that heat from her cheeks and putting it in places Athena had long thought to try and kill off. She couldn’t do this. She could not handle this. Not this morning. Hell, not any morning.

“How are you feeling?” Monti asked.

Athena held back her groan of despair, but barely. She clenched her eyes shut tight. Monti wasn’t asking about the thoughts racing through her brain. She was asking about the sleep and nothing else. About how the massage had gone the night before, the one that had relaxed her so much that she had somehow allowed Monti to stay in the room with her, completely vulnerable, for the entire fucking night.

“I’m fine,” Athena croaked out.

“Try again.” Monti smiled at her and moved closer to the bed. She gestured to it. “Do you mind? That chair isn’t very comfortable.”

Athena looked down to the mattress and back up at Monti, those dark brown eyes pulling her in. She couldn’t resist. She couldn’t stop the words from leaving her lips. “Feel free.”

Monti sat on the edge, still giving Athena a lot of space, which was something Athena would be forever grateful for. Pulling her knees to her chest, Athena wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. When was the last time she had allowed herself to sit like this? When was the last time she’d allowed herself to become this weak?

“How are you? Really?” Monti asked pointedly. “And don’t avoid the question again.”

Athena wanted to push against her, wanted to avoid, wanted to refuse to answer simply because she wouldn’t be forced into anything. But Monti was just trying to check in and make sure that she was okay. With a deep breath, Athena straightened up and slid to the edge of the bed. She wasn’t sure how long she could stand to be here.

“I’m fine.”

“What does fine mean to you?” Monti rubbed her eyes, using one finger to pull the sleep from her lashes.

“Did you sleep at all?” Athena asked, her palms on either side of her as if she was ready to get up and leave. But something chained her to that mattress. Some unseen force kept her there, staring into Monti’s dark eyes, her ashen and weary face.

Was it compassion?

“Not really. I don’t think you can count the few times I drifted off only to jerk awake when my chin met my chest.” Monti gave her a half smile.

“You should have slept.”

“Perhaps.” Monti ran her fingers through her hair again, raising her gaze to meet Athena’s. “But my job was to ensure you a safe space. I don’t take that job lightly.”

Athena’s heart stuttered, her breathing became ragged. There was that heat again, that same warmth she’d woken with and the heat from before. Monti was trying to create a safe space for her, and somehow, in the three times they had met, she had managed to do that. At least enough that Athena had put some trust in her.

---