Page 30 of Fire

Thank fuck.

He took the opportunity to flip his hand around and lace their fingers as he raised his head.

He met her eyes. The anger in them was gone but hurt still lurked. “I know I fucked up—and I can’t say it won’t happen again—but I’d like another chance? Can we start over?”

“No.”

A strange tightness constricted his chest at her quick response.

“You hurt me.”

At those words, the band around his chest grew tighter.

“But I do think everyone deserves a second chance. I don’t want to start over, but we can pick up where we left off.”

His heart beat so heavily, he felt it pounding in his neck—the result of a crashing adrenaline rush. He’d known he wanted her, but until the last few days of going out of his damn mind, he hadn’t realized how desperate he was for her.

His fingers flexed, pulling her hand and bringing her body toward his as he leaned into her. “I’ll try harder,” he promised.

Her free hand reached out to cup his cheek. He captured it, bringing her palm to his lips for a kiss.

She shook her head. “No need to try harder. It’s enough you keep trying.”

Chapter 8

Blake tucked her into bed, and fully clothed—except for the removal of his suit jacket—lay down behind her on top of the covers.

“You’re staying?”

“Until you fall asleep. I’ll let myself out and lock the bottom lock.” His hand landed on her hip as his chin hit the top of her head.

Yawning, she’d snuggled back into him. “There’s an extra key on a hook by the coatrack. Allie’s forever misplacing hers, so we keep a spare.”

She felt his body grow solid, the arm around her tightening for a second before it loosened and his body once again relaxed, making her wonder if she’d imagined the whole thing.

“Okay.” His lips replaced his chin, and he gave her a light kiss as his arm moved to surround her, pulling her even closer. “Go to sleep.”

And she did, falling asleep faster than she had in four days.

Gwen awoke to heat at her back and a strong arm wrapped around her middle. She remained still, savoring the gentle rise and fall of Blake’s chest accompanied by the warm air that hit the top of her head every time he took a breath.

She was surprised he was still there. That hadn’t been the plan.

Bright light fought its way through the slats of her blinds, but she wasn’t sure what time it was. The apartment was dead silent with no telltale signs of Allie moving around.

“You’re awake?”

She wasn’t sure how he knew. She hadn’t moved a muscle. “You’re still here.”

“Didn’t want to miss sweats and ponytail day.”

His voice was sleepy-gruff, and she imagined his eyes were still closed. She moved closer to his heat, and his arm grew a little tighter around her. “I wonder what time it is.”

“Morning time.”

She chuckled. “It could be afternoon. The sun is bright enough.” She could crane her neck to look at the clock on her nightstand, but she didn’t want to move. She was too comfortable.

“It’s not afternoon. I never sleep that late.”

---