Page 10 of Secrets Within Us

Even through the bruises and cuts, she was perfect. It made my chest ache with an unrealistic need to tear apart whoever hurt her. Someone, a man more than likely, beat her almost to death and then left her out in the freezing cold to die.

Who would do something like that? She said it wasn’t an ex or a boyfriend. But who else would attack someone as small as her? It was almost inhumane to think about how unmatched that fight must have been. Especially around here, the town was tiny, everyone knew everyone else, and I couldn’t think of one person who would want to hurt her. Not a single person.

I looked over at her, huddled under the blankets, so incredibly tiny next to me, so helpless and vulnerable. But I could tell she didn’t live her life helpless or vulnerable. She was calculating and confident. In her normal life, she probably controlled everything she could as best as she could because there were so many things she physically couldn’t have the upper hand in.

Just then, she turned in her sleep towards me, slowly and easily scooting closer to me until she was curled around my arm between us.

Shit.

She was like an adorable, loveable puppy that I just didn’t want. Every time I was short or curt with her today, I could see the rejection and pain on her face until she just stopped trying to interact with me at all.

The sooner the roads cleared, and I got her into town and back on her way home, wherever that was, the better. There was a void inside me, leaving no energy to foster feelings for her or to extend my concern beyond her overall wellness.

I just couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to them.

She didn’t deserve my affection or kindness; she hadn’t earned them like they had.

I raised both arms up over my head on top of my pillow to eliminate the contact she initiated. Resigning myself to a sleepless night, when she moved in closer again, probably just seeking my warmth.

She was still sleeping, mewling quietly as she moved closer. She settled her head on my shoulder before curling her body around my stomach and legs, effectively wrapping herself around me like a tiny cat.

I stared at the ceiling as she settled completely after giving out a contented sigh into my neck.

I should have pushed her away, I contemplated it multiple times as I lay there being lulled by the steady puffs of breath coming from her lips against my chest. But instead of doing what my head was telling me to do, I did what my body was telling me to do. I brought my left arm down, wrapping it around her back, laying my large hand on her tiny hip as I tried to ignore how well her petite body fit against mine in such a foreign way.

She wasn’t at all like Molly.

My soulmate, the love of my life.

The only one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

Opposite my wife, the little curvy pixie next to me in my bed was completely different. My wife was tall and leggy, with blonde hair and clear blue eyes. Molly was my equal in every way; she was physically strong and capable, never needing me to do anything for her that she couldn’t. She always found a way. And she was always a rock, holding our home together while I was away constantly.

Having the pixie in my bed was a slap in the face to my incredible wife. Even as innocent as I intended it to be. But as I had mentioned earlier, it was best for me to avoid temptation.

“Shit,” I murmured quietly, guilt and hate washed over me for the millionth time since I’d laid eyes on Hadley’s angelic face early that morning.

“Please don’t be mad at me. I didn’t mean to make you mad.” Hadley pleaded from her spot on my chest.

I looked down at her face to see she was still fast asleep, talking through a dream, perhaps. Her small hand came up to my chest, her short nails digging into the skin as she fought some internal battle in her head.

I gently slid her off my shoulder, replacing it with her pillow as I sat on the edge of the bed. I needed to be careful with her. She was way too much of a mystery to me, I couldn’t chance anything happening between us.

“Fucking hell,” I muttered into the dark again as the images of her naked in my living room rushed back into my head. I knew I should get up and put distance between us, but I couldn’t get my body to move away from her.

“Is something wrong? Did I keep you awake?” I heard her soft voice, barely audible, coming from behind me. She leaned up on her elbow as I glanced over my shoulder. The shirt she was wearing had slid down off her shoulder, showing off her delicate collarbone and dainty neck. Her bright green eyes glowed in the dark as she let her gaze rove over my back and side.

Lust shined through the darkness as her eyes snapped back up to mine.

“You’re a bed hog,” I said harshly. Instantly regretting it, her eyes dropped to the sheets in embarrassment. Shame burned in my stomach.

“I’m sorry, I’m not used to sleeping next to someone. I’ll just go downstairs.” She gently raised herself up and started scooting to her side of the bed again to get out.

“Stop,” I commanded, turning back towards her. But she didn’t stop moving towards the edge.

“No, it’s fine. I’m sorry for disturbing you, I’ll just go sleep in the chair.” She continued.

“Stop,” I said more aggressively as I leaned across the bed and grabbed her elbow. She said she wasn’t used to sleeping next to anyone, so that must mean she was single and had been for a while. That information shouldn’t have excited me, but it did. “It’s fine, just lay back down. It’s an adjustment for both of us.” I pulled her arm back until she laid down flat on her back, but not before I saw her shiver from her toes to her teeth. “Are you cold?” I carefully pulled the blanket up and over her bare legs, ensuring she was warm before I turned to lie on my side, my eyes locked on her.

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