Page 88 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

I shut my eyes and slowed my breathing, letting go of everything that had happened today. I was used to sleepingunder stressful circumstances. When I felt Emily’s body relax, I let myself rest.

Together, the three of us fell asleep.

* * * *

For the first time in years, I slept the entire night all the way through. More than that, as I opened my eyes, I realized I was incredibly warm. Not only did I have Emily snuggled up against my side, her head on my chest, Rhodes’ arm was locked around us both. And I didn’t wake up frightened.

Even when we had our weekend together before everything turned to shit, I still woke up scared, jumping out of bed each night terrified of where I was and who was in bed with me. Rhodes would calmly approach, walk me back to bed, and then wrap me in his arms as though none of it ever happened. I eventually would fall back asleep when my heartbeat calmed and my fight or flight dissipated, but it still happened every single night.

Last night, holding Emily and Rhodes holding both of us…nothing.

I did not have the time or the mental capacity to break all of that down as my bladder was screaming at me.

Slowly, I detangled myself from Rhodes, shifting his arm along his side. Then I rolled so that Emily rested on the pillow. She mewled like a baby cat in her sleep and Rhodes instinctively acted, his arm shooting out and curling around his girl. All while he slept. Emily settled, and I held my breath as I slid out of the blankets and headed to the bathroom.

When I came back from doing my business, brushing my teeth and washing my face, I noticed Rhodes’ eyes were on me.

“You okay?” His voice was a rumbled, gritty whisper.

I nodded and hooked my thumb at the restroom.

He extended his arm, and I walked over to his side of the bed. He curled his fingers around my hip then stroked my thigh affectionately.

“I’m going to get some coffee. You want some, or are you going to sleep more?”

“Coffee’s good. I’ll stay here in case she wakes.” He squeezed my leg, and for some reason, I felt compelled to bend in half and place my lips over his. Rhodes hummed as I teased his lips gently before pulling back, my cheeks heating as embarrassment flushed my face.

“A man could get used to that kind of wake up, babe.” He grinned and licked his lips.

I rolled my eyes as I moved around the bed and put on the slippers then quietly left the room.

When I reached the kitchen, I found Alana wrapped in one of her silk robes, this one a pristine white. Matching bottoms swished around her dainty feet, her cherry red painted toes just poking out from the hem.

“Morning,” I said.

She turned around and leaned against the counter, a coffee mug in her hand. “Bonjour. Did you sleep okay?”

I nodded. “Better than normal. We ended up crashing with Emily. She was scared.”

Alana’s spine straightened and her jaw firmed. “I don’t know how we’re ever going to live with the pain and fear we’ve caused our niece,” she shared.

I frowned. “No one blames you or Christophe for anything that happened. Angus is a despicable human being. He put your best friend in a horrifying situation that ended up costing her life. I’d say the ten years he got wasn’t nearly enough.”

Alana sighed. “I hope Rhodes agrees.”

I moved around the island and approached her, once again feeling driven to make emotional and physical contact,something I always strayed far away from. Regardless of my desire to hold back from these connections, I pushed myself to comfort the one woman who’d been there the most for me. It was my turn to be there for her in whatever way I could. I reached out and put my hand on her arm and gave it a squeeze.

“You know he doesn’t blame you. He thinks you’re a hero for protecting his daughter. Both of you survived with no physical injuries. You made sure Emily was safe. That’s all that matters to him. Besides, he loves you and Christophe as though you were his brother and sister.”

Alana put her cup down and embraced me. I held on, hugging her back, and was surprised to find genuine comfort within her arms. Much like I remembered having with my own mother before I was forced out of the only home I knew. Tears pricked at my eyes, and I breathed through the sudden onslaught of emotion as I cleared my throat and pulled back.

She smiled gently in that coy, knowing way that was entirely Alana.

“Thank you,chérie. You’re a good friend.”

I looked down and away. “Of course,” I mumbled, feeling awkward and shy.

I didn’t have any female friends. The women at Sam’s motorcycle club were okay. They were civil to me as Sam’s chosen sister, but I wouldn’t call them friends. Sam called them ‘biker bunnies’ and they tended to the men in whatever capacity they wanted. I kept my opinions on that situation to myself. It wasn’t my business, and those women were not being held against their will. They came and went as they pleased and were treated pretty damn well as far as I could tell when I visited or attended one of their parties.

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