Page 36 of In the Cover of Darkness

Feeling her breathing change, she relaxes into sleep. I can hear my phone vibrating in my pants on the floor but I'm not leaving her even for a second. A gentle knock on the bedroom door comes sometime later and it opens with Ace and Nova standing in the entrance.

“She's asleep,” I whisper. “Really shaken, but she'll be okay.”

I see Ace nodding his head, Nova's silent tears falling down her cheeks. “All good brother. We will be downstairs if you need us,” as he softly closes the bedroom door.

I'm not sure how much time has passed as I doze in and out of a light sleep, suddenly aware of every creak the old house makes, the breeze blowing against the house and the occasional sound of an animal outside.

The dogs knew something was off and have been sitting between the door and our bed, alert for anyone they don't know. I should have asked Ace to put them in the kennel, but I feel better having them with us just in case.

She rolls over in my arms and I adjust us so our legs are intertwined, our chests pressed firmly together as I run my hands gently up and down her back.

“He was just there,” her voice catching slightly. “I sent Ashley home 10 minutes early. It had been a quiet afternoon and I couldmanage fine for the final few minutes. I did everything I needed and went to the door to flip the closed sign and lock up … and he was just there, across the street, looking at me.”

She nuzzles further into my chest, breathing heavily, grabbing at my back as if she needs to be closer to me.

“It's okay now, baby. We'll find him, he wanted to scare you is all.”

“Well it worked,” she yells into my chest, her voice muffled.

Wrapping her tighter to me I kiss her head and continue to rub her back until the sun crests the mountain tops in the distance.

Stretching like a cat, she peeks up at me, her eyes puffy and red from crying.

“Don't look at me, I look awful,” she says, her voice husky.

“You look beautiful, baby, you always look beautiful,” I say, kissing the top of her head.

"Do you want some breakfast or a shower? We could even stay in bed some more if you want, but I know that when you're ready Ace and Nova are downstairs, and would love to see you smile.”

Sighing, she moans the wordshower, and I move her so she's sitting on the edge of the bed while I turn the shower on to warm up for her.

“Come on, it's ready for you,” I say, pulling her up and guiding her to the bathroom. I leave her standing by the basin, telling her to call out if she needs me, not bothering to lock the door. I go about getting some fresh clothes out, gathering what I need, still in the boxer briefs I slept in when a distressed sounding “Dante” calls out from behind the bathroom door.

Instantly I'm through the doorway and I find her leaning over, her hands on her knees, breathing heavily. Reaching out she grabs onto my wrist, almost like she anchoring herself to me.

“Can you just stay, please? I don't … I don't want to be alone,” she whispers.

Without needing to say anything else I gently pull my henley up over her head, leaving her in her underwear and I walk into the shower, pulling her in front of me so she's standing under the hot water.

She moans slightly as the water cleanses her from the panic of the day before. I turn her around so she's facing away from me, grab the shampoo and start to massage her head, taking my time to go through the motions of washing her. I memorise every curve of her body, every feel of her soft skin under my hands. The way her head tilted up to the shower head, leaving her neck exposed to me, or the way her body tensed slightly when I ran my hands over her soft stomach. We're both still in our underwear, I didn't want her to think I'd take advantage of her when she was so raw and exposed. I don't touch any part of her that's covered by cloth but her soft moans do nothing to stop my raging hard on, my cock struggling for dear life to get free. Trying to angle myself so my pelvis is tilting away from her, she accidentally bumps my cock that is so willingly standing to attention, ready to serve her as she reaches to take some body wash into her hands. I hiss, at themuch wanted, but not the time and place for itcontact, seeing her look down and realise what's happened.

"Just ignore it, baby, it just sees your irresistible body in front of me and doesn't realise it's not the right time."

I'd almost believe what I just said if I couldn't hear the strain in my voice, the wanting for her. But as usual, my sunshine does the unexpected, and instead of quickly leaving the shower like I expected. She gathers more body wash and places her hands on my chest, taking the time to wash me as tenderly as I did her.

Dressing quietly, we are about to go downstairs when I pull her to me sitting at the end of the bed, and tug her onto my lap. Brushing her wet hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear, I reach into my pocket and pull out the switchblade I planned to give her the day before.

“I got this for you, and with everything that's just happened I think it might be the perfect time for you to have it.”

Opening my hand, it reveals the small hot pink switchblade and I look at her face, hoping a small grin is on it but what I'm met with is more than I could have imagined. The biggest smile and a laugh come from her, a sound so sweet it could melt ice.

“I love it,” she says, and she reaches out to take it. I cover her hands, showing her where the release button is, letting her feel its balance and weight.

“Thank you, it's perfect. Don't think I'm ungrateful when I ask, but why pink?” she says, grinning at me. “You know my favourite colour is black, right?” a small frown forming on her face, her grin dropping slightly.

“I know, but all of my knives are black and I didn't want ours to get mixed up. I got you a girl colour,” chuckling at her.

“Now I know you didn't just say that. You're such a dick, Dante.” Her laughter fills the room, as she pushes me back onto the bed, and I pull her down on top of me.

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