Page 54 of Pretty Monsters

"See, Shane can't claim this. He has no idea what magic you can do with your cock."

"Are you sure?" he teases.

I wave my hand in front of my face to quiet my laughter, but it doesn't work. Tears spring to my eyes, and I bury my face in the pillow to try and stop the hysteria.

"Oh god, I'm going to pee," I say between bursts of laughing.

He shoves me. "Go, dork."

I climb out of bed and make my way to the door. "Raven," he calls out, stopping me with my hand on the knob.

"Hmm?"

"Come back after you use the bathroom."

I nod. This is definitely going to be a weird friendship.

After I use the restroom, I crawl back into bed with Ford, and he lifts his arm for me to settle next to him. "This is another thing Shane and I don't do. He insists on being big spoon, and obviously I'm supposed to be."

"Go to sleep, doofus."

"I prefer when you call me, hot stuff."

"I bet you do."

His arm rests around my waist, and not once does it move seeking more.

* * *

A loud screamjolts me out of sleep. It's three A.M., and my heart starts to race.

"What is that?" Ford asks groggily.

The sound of thrashing and pained groans penetrate the walls. My hand goes to my throat.

"Do you think they found me?" I ask. The terror in my voice can't be masked.

In the moonlight I see Ford shake his head. "Shane's grandpa is a bit paranoid. There are sensors set up all around the perimeter, along with motion lights."

"Ford, my father would know how to get around those."

He nods, and opens the drawer next to his bed. He grabs a flashlight.

I grab his arm to stop him. "You can't bring a flashlight as a weapon."

"There's a shotgun in every closet in this house. I'm just going to get it and take a look around."

The strangled shouting comes again, but this time I recognize it's coming from Sin's room.

"We aren't in danger," I say, knowing what's going on. "He has night terrors."

"Can you help him?" he asks. If I wondered before if he meant what he'd said earlier in the night, I was sure now. He wants us to be friends and nothing more.

"Yeah. I think so. Are you okay with this?" I still need to make sure. Sin has hurt me over and over. I want to go to him, but I won't do it if it hurts Ford.

He scratches his hand through his hair. "You know, I was afraid after we talked that I'd regret not pursuing more with you, but I guess I'm sure now. I don't want you to get hurt, though."

I smile at him, and kiss his cheek. "You really are amazing."

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