Page 53 of Saving Her

“Well, you haven’t made them with me. I want to be your safe zone, Gabriella. When you’re with me, I’m not going to judge you on your past. I will not judge you at all. There is only you and me, and the rest of the bullshit doesn’t matter. What happens between us is just us. No one else is involved.”

“Having me involved is enough. I can barely look at myself in the mirror.”

“I think I can understand some of that feeling. I mean, hell, I just got my divorce papers fast tracked in a week because my ex couldn’t wait to get married to the man of her dreams. It wasn’t so long ago, I thought that was me,” I laugh bitterly. It might sound superficial, but my ego has definitely taken a hit.

“It’s okay, King. It will get better for you. I know it. Besides, you have a lot of good karma on your side. You have a bright future.”

“You’re really big on this karma shit, aren’t you?”

“Get on the wrong side of her and you’ll understand,” she mutters.

“Gab—”

“King, I’m not even sure I could be with another man after what happened. I’m having panic attacks constantly. I don’t sleep because the nightmares are always close by. I really want what you’re offering, but I just … can’t.”

I study her and let out a breath. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being disappointed, but strangely, it makes me respect her, too. “Okay, then,” I mutter as I get up. I walk over to my duffle bag that I saw on top of the chest when I came in. I’m not sure how Gabby decided all the rooms and had our overnight bags brought to them, but I have to say, I’m pretty damn impressed. When we got here, the club just had us put our duffle bags—if we had them—in the main room for later. I’d actually forgotten all about mine until I got in this room. I take it and throw the bag on the bed, unzipping it.

“You’re really good at organizing. I’d forgotten all about my bag.”

“Well, it wasn’t hard. Only you and Lyla brought one. So, your club was kind of easy,” she laughs. “I should probably get going so you can rest. I won’t be here in the morning, so I’ll say my goodbyes now. Have a safe trip back, okay?”

I reach out and catch her hand, keeping her from going to the door. “Here,” I murmur.

She looks down at my hand as I hold out one of my favorite tees toward her. It’s a Led Zeppelin T-shirt. For some reason, I really want to see Gabby in it.

“What’s this?” she asks confused, taking the shirt but looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Something for you to sleep in. We don’t have to have sex, but you can sleep here and let me hold you.”

“King …”

“Give me this, Gabriella. I want to hold you through the night. Maybe I just need the company. Hell, I don’t know. I think we both need it.”

“I don’t sleep that great,” she warns. “I may keep you awake.”

“I’ll chase the nightmares away,” I promise her.

A smile plays on her lips as she looks at me. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”

“If I don’t, then we’ll talk through the night until they disappear,” I compromise.

“You’re a crazy man, you know that?”

“I believe the word you’re looking for is determined,” I counter.

She laughs and then shocks the hell out of me by going up on her tiptoes and kissing my cheek. “Thank you, King.” I watch as she walks into the bathroom. Before she closes the door, she looks at me with a sad little smile. “It seems you’re always saving me.”

She closes the door, and I strip quickly. I’m not really the type to wear clothes to bed, and I normally go commando, too. Luckily, because I was staying at a strange club and you never know what kind of shit will go down, I brought some joggers with me. I grab them and put them on quickly.

Gabby comes out in my shirt, making me grin. My shirt swamps her. It falls just a couple of inches above her knees. She looks damn good in it, though. Looking at her now, I don’t get how anyone could say she looks like Lyla. I see nothing in common at this moment—and that’s a good thing.

“Go ahead and get in bed, Wildcat.”

“Okay,” she answers, pink tinting her cheeks.

I make quick work of brushing my teeth. Gabby must have laid out a toothbrush still in its packaging. Using it, I grab some mouthwash and then head out. I slide into the bed with a visibly nervous Gabby.

“Relax, Gabriella. You’re safe, remember?”

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