Page 43 of Thanks for Coming Along

He settled under the covers, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him through the thin fabric of her t-shirt. She froze, her body perfectly still, even her breathing reduced to a whisper.

She had never felt so powerless. Usually, she went after what she wanted without hesitation. But with Ronan, it was different. She couldn't read him; he was a journal with a lock and key. Despite the mystery, she sensed the undeniable attraction that simmered between them, hinted at by the few comments he'd made.

Are you pleased with yourself, gorgeous girl?

I'm not talking about earlier, Devil.

Ronan's sensual voice lingered in her thoughts. Her mind was in a chaotic whirlpool while Ingrid's warning echoed faintly in the back of her thoughts. She couldn't help but question Ronan's sincerity.

It was hard to imagine him being deceitful; he seemed so genuine. Her mind raced and churned, exploring every angle of their interactions. The mental turmoil seemed endless, a relentless storm within her. Eventually, exhaustion took over. Worn out by the ceaseless raging of her thoughts, she fell asleep.

27

Eden

Eden was jolted awake by the sound of shouts, her heart pounding in her chest. Had Bozo, the life-sized clown in the corner of the room, somehow come to life? After all those Chucky movies she'd watched throughout her childhood, the idea seemed possible. She glanced hesitantly at the imposing figure of the clown in the corner, half-expecting it to lurch into motion.

Her gaze shifted to Ronan, and her concern grew as she observed him thrashing in his sleep. She sat up, blinking to adjust her vision in the dimly moonlit room.

Concern flooded her as she leaned over, trying not to startle him awake. She reached out gently, feeling the dampness of his sweat-slicked arm. The moon's glow revealed his contorted features, his brows knit in a grimace of distress. His eyes were tightly shut, his face contorted with fear. Ronan's eyes darted beneath his closed eyelids, his chest moving rapidly with ragged and erratic breaths.

"It's okay," she whispered softly, stroking his arm soothingly. "Ro, I am right here."

Ronan let out a slight rasp, and his eyes opened quickly, his breaths coming out in quick pants and his eyes focusing directly on her.

"I've got you," Eden whispered, her hand still lightly resting on his damp arm. His chest was still heaving, and his eyes were unfocused. They remained in silence for a few lingering moments. Eden leaned closer, draping her arm gently over his trembling body. His muscles tensed beneath her touch. She slowly rubbed her thumb over his chest, his muscles trembling under her fingers.

"Is this okay?" Eden asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked up at him, searching his face for any sign of discomfort.

He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. Instead of answering, he wordlessly drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. His skin was damp with a cool layer of sweat, and she could smell the clean, masculine scent mixed with the faint fragrance of soap. That distinct smell was male and addictive. She took a breath to breathe it in.

She pulled his head gently beneath her chin. Chills erupted over her skin as his warm breath brushed against her neck. Under the blanket, their legs tangled together, his sturdy limbs draping over hers. Eden began to run her fingers through his thick, dark hair, gently grazing her nails along his scalp. Ronan took a sharp inhale at the sensation, his body tensing slightly at her touch.

"It's okay," she whispered soothingly, and he nodded faintly. She continued to scratch his scalp lightly, feeling his hands bunching the fabric of her t-shirt at her lower back. After a few passes of her nails over his head, she noticed the tension in his shoulders gradually melting away, and his breathing began to slowly even out. His hands slowly released their grip on the fabric of her shirt.

His body fully relaxed, and she knew he had fallen asleep. She didn't want to sleep yet. She wanted to enjoy the feeling of Ronan's solid body on hers. The soft, downy hair on his legs grazed her smooth legs. His strong arms enveloped her frame, the warmth of his body radiating through the thin cotton of her t-shirt. The soft movement of his breath while he slept, how it brushed over her neck. The rhythm of his heartbeat against her chest made her feel like she was basking in a warm sun, her body becoming languid. She felt like nothing could hurt her as she lay there.

Safe. That was what that feeling was. She felt safe. That warm and cozy feeling was new to her; she had never felt that feeling before, never with her parents or previous partners. Her eyes flickered shut slowly while she basked in that feeling and allowed it to whisk her back to sleep.

28

Ronan

The first thing Ronan heard when he woke up from a dead sleep was a feminine giggle, and he felt a warm weight over his leg and waist. Then, he felt a soft rise of a breathing body that was wrapped around him. He cracked open his eyes slowly. He was face to face with his most recent affliction, Eden's breasts.

Okay, they were two separate afflictions. Very generous and pert afflictions. He couldn't help but notice his morning wood protruding from his gym shorts. He moved slightly away from Eden, not wanting to jab her with it accidentally. Another soft giggle emerged from Eden with his movement.

Her body was bathed in the soft glow of the morning sunlight that seeped through the partially drawn curtains. Her white shirt had ridden up her smooth legs to reveal her upper thighs. The blankets must have been kicked off during their sleep. Her long, chestnut locks cascaded across the pillow, framing her face in a soft, tousled halo.

He looked up at her face. She looked serene, and her forehead was completely relaxed. She was breathing gently, her lips slightly parted. Her long, dark lashes rested gently against her cheeks, casting delicate shadows with every flutter of her sleeping eyelids. Her nose was slender, gently tapering down to a pair of full lips that were tugged into a soft smile. He didn't think he had ever seen such a beautiful sight.

He rubbed his thumb lightly over her full lips without thinking. The skin was so soft on the pad of his thumb. He could feel the tiny, dewy breaths from her mouth; a shudder ran through him at the feeling. The motion had caused Eden to pull him closer, pulling herself towards him and clasping their bodies together. Her center grinding deliciously on his erection, he couldn't help but let out a groan. The warmth of her center was radiating enticingly through his shorts. He squeezed his eyes tightly.

"God, Ronan," she mumbled in her sleep, continuing to grind her center on his dick. His eyes popped open,Jesus. Was she dreaming about him? The thought that she was fantasizing about him made his dick impossibly harder. If she kept this up, he was going to come in his pants like he was 13 years old. The gentlemanly thing to do was to wake her up, but the indecent part of him was thoroughly enjoying it.

A horrifying mechanical laugh rang out in the motel room, clearly making his decision for him. He swiftly raised his head, eyes darting around the room for the eerie sound. On a bedside table, he spotted a clown-shaped phone with a flickering light in place of its nose.

Ronan carefully extricated himself from Eden's embrace and gingerly reached for the clown-shaped phone. He held the clown's body, cradling the speaker that was embedded in its front. He prayed that the phone wasn't cursed with some sinister clown voodoo.

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